Accel 300+ Digital Ignition Woes
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 26,670
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From: New Iberia Louisiana
Accel 300+ Digital Ignition Woes
Installed the proper system for my 96 LT4 engine (OBD2).Double checked the Dip settings.All wiring checked for continuity.Upon start:
1.Runs rough.Real Rough!!!
2.Backfires!!!
3.Stalls.Hard to restart.
After disconnecting system and returning to stock,runs fine.
Anyone have this problem.The only thought I have that might have a bearing is that the PCM has been reprogrammed by Ed Wright.Would the reprogramming have an effect on the aftermarket system???
1.Runs rough.Real Rough!!!
2.Backfires!!!
3.Stalls.Hard to restart.
After disconnecting system and returning to stock,runs fine.
Anyone have this problem.The only thought I have that might have a bearing is that the PCM has been reprogrammed by Ed Wright.Would the reprogramming have an effect on the aftermarket system???
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove CA
Re: Accel 300+ Digital Ignition Woes (ET)
Disconnect this system and throw it as far as you can...sorry man, but I went through three of them with one thing in common: they all let me down at some point in time. Never was I able to see any power gains on the many different dyno pulls that I did (this engine has had about 80 dyno pulls total). The opti-spark system does not like the 300+, in the best case scenario you will experience shorter opti life with it, in the worst case you get what you have.
Believe it or not your '96 opti is the best of the breed, and requires NOTHING to light off the cylinders well into the 7,000 rpm range. The '96 comes factory equipped with a low impedence ignition coil (first year for this coil) which cannot be improved upon by any of the aftermarket systems - the factory piece is very efficient, and has an extremely rapid recharge rate. Replace your ignition wires as needed (I used the Taylor 409 10.4 mm spiro pros), and change out your high resistance platinum sparkplugs for some plain 'ol copper core standard plugs - and then never look back, because you are done!
Thomas
Believe it or not your '96 opti is the best of the breed, and requires NOTHING to light off the cylinders well into the 7,000 rpm range. The '96 comes factory equipped with a low impedence ignition coil (first year for this coil) which cannot be improved upon by any of the aftermarket systems - the factory piece is very efficient, and has an extremely rapid recharge rate. Replace your ignition wires as needed (I used the Taylor 409 10.4 mm spiro pros), and change out your high resistance platinum sparkplugs for some plain 'ol copper core standard plugs - and then never look back, because you are done!
Thomas
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 26,670
Likes: 4
From: New Iberia Louisiana
Re: Accel 300+ Digital Ignition Woes (The Green Rocket)
Thanks Rocket.I will take that under advisement.Already changed out to Taylor Wires.Haven't changed out the coil.(Although,I bought the matching unit to the 300+.)It's nice to know that the stock unit is as good as it is!!! :)
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove CA
Re: Accel 300+ Digital Ignition Woes (ET)
Depending on how many miles you have it might be a good idea to service the opti with a new cap and rotor. It is not a fun job I know, but the opti's cap and rotor need to be periodically serviced just like a more conventional distributor for peak performance. Chances are good that if the 300+ made it run worse than there is already some amount of carbon tracking in the opti distributor cap.
Thomas
Thomas
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
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From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Accel 300+ Digital Ignition Woes (ET)
I'm still using the stock set up and my OEM coil has 97,000 miles on it. I've got the LT4 red wires and platium plugs.
Have not had one problem.
Have not had one problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,095
Likes: 1
From: modland CT
Re: Accel 300+ Digital Ignition Woes (ET)
i went through a few myself (300+ ignition). i do not like them. i must say accell is great about replacing them....i figure they must get lots of returns??? :confused: :confused: im definetly gonna get a msd next time! :yesnod: :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
From: La Fontaine Indiana
Re: Accel 300+ Digital Ignition Woes (yoslambo1@cs.com)
Dam after reading this I'm glad I bought MSD I used the 6al until they came out with the digital 7 I have been using it for over a year with no problems. In some cases I would disagree with the statment that the opti-crap is as good as anything else. I have never seen one that will retard the timing when the nitrous starts flowing or set timing for each individual cylinders or retard timing while cranking. Also has built in two stage rev liniter. Maybe you don't need these benifits but for myself I don't think the stock opti- crap would be better. :seeya
