Laffs

I think my car hates me.....

I was sitting in the drivethru, when suddenly my car died out, so I restarted it and it dies again. I do this 5 or 6 times, then climb out the ttops (driveride to close to building) and push the car through the drivethru.

Get to the end of the drivethu, and run around car to pull ebrake, of course the handle breaks off and hits me in the face, so i stick it in gear and let it sit.

Start it up a few minutes later, all seems fine pull it onto the road, bam dies again. Fiddle with gas a bit and manage to get it back in the lot. Car sits for 30minutes, start it up, it drives ok, but I dont want to chance it and call a tow truck.

Get it into my driveway, notice the nice dent on my passenger side 1/4 (where I was pushing the car) swear a bit and go get my laptop. Scan it and....

MALF 16 Low Res Failure
MALF 36 Hi Res Failure
MALF 51 Eprom/Flash Error

Hooray for dead opti. I guess I'm ordering a new GM opti come monday (or tuesday) might do a WP too as I don't trust the one on the car. Then I get to call around to some painless dent repair places. Cars suck, just had to vent.

c5z28

iTrader: (11)

lifes a bitch then you die. I just fixed a dent on my car ran me 200 bucks, good luck man.

halucinator

iTrader: (3)

So its not just a bad harness?

lt1z28camaro

iTrader: (2)

Depending on size of dent... if it's not very big you can take a blow dryer (heat) the dent area, and then take compressed air, turn it upside down and spray the frozen **** on the dent, should pop out.. just suggestion. It works, just make sure the area is warm where you're heatin.

Fastbird93

iTrader: (10)

If you've got someone local, try swapping ICM's before you order the opti. I've seen many cases where the 16 and 36 get set from extended cranking with no firing from a dead ICM or coil.

Laffs

Ok, I have a spare msd coil, and I'll try to procure a spare ICM. Wierd thing is the cat runs fine, just all of a sudden will sputter to like 200rpms then die.

kinglt-1

iTrader: (26)

sounds like the icm is breaking down thermally! Thats why after it sits for a while, the car will start back up.

Fixxer99TA

iTrader: (5)

Definitely check the ICM/coil first, dont want to throw a 250-300 dollar opti at it and go through ALLL that to have it not be it

If its not the ICM/coil, that is the classic opti death...

Laffs

Would an ICM cause code 16 and 36?

Fixxer99TA

iTrader: (5)

Its possible, like Fastbird93 said it could be set by extended cranking with the dead coil/ICM. Just check those first, like I said its never good to just throw parts at it...

If its not those two, then its got to be the Opti.

blackz93

iTrader: (2)

Check the wiring, too. The connector at my ICM is bad/loose. Found this out after a couple weeks of chasing opti symptoms.

Fixxer99TA

iTrader: (5)

While you are checking connectors too, check the opti harness too as its very common for the wires to rub/melt through and cause the problems you are describing.

Laffs

I checked the opti harness, looked good and connections weren't really dirty, icm connections were fine, I put in my other msd coil, it started and idled fine, but I don't think it will die unless I drive around and get it nice and hot, and I don't want to buy another tow. There were a few instances where it looked like the idle was going to die off like it did in the drivethru, but it picked back up. I'm getting another icm to try tuesday. I might double check the harness again monday. I also forgot my laptop at home, so I couldnt scan it, will bring it with me monday.

Thanks for the input guys, hopefully I can avoid the opti swap, but im preparing myelf for the worst.

DADDY&GIRL93TA

Had a problem like this my self. About 18 months ago. About 3 months ago problem returned and i was chasing everything down Replaced my new /////msd Coil with a stock GM coil and lost the code 16 and 36 about 2 weeks later i noticed the car sounding differnt at higher rpms and mid level. replaced the icm a week later i bought a new opti. If you end up going the opti route make sure its a new GM save your self a big headache

Fixxer99TA

iTrader: (5)

Amen to that.

My MSD is also working quite nicely, I would reccomend it if you have any plans of taking the car to the next level in the future...

Laffs

Yea I only buy genuine GM Parts, had back luck with cheapies.

So I swapped the coil like I said, and let it idle for looooooooooooooong time, it never died out like it did in the drivethru. However after 10 or so minutes it started to do the jumping idle like it was trying to die out, jumping from 500 rpms up to 1100 rpms at points. Either way it never threw the codes again. So I guess I'll see what happens after I put in a different ICM and space it.

I have the datamaster scans, not sure what to make of them though, no codes, just an idle that would dip from 825 to 775, then after lots of heat would bog to 500 and then hop up to 1100 then level out.

Laffs

Well I put the new ICM in, car ran fine for first 5 minutes or so again, then the idle would start to bounce around intermitantly. No codes though. Don't know what to think now, affraid to drive the car around really for fear of having to tow it home.

Am I just being paranoid, is it normal for a car to have it idle bounce around after sitting hot at idle for some time?

Laffs

Heres a shot of the Datamaster sca nwhen the idle dips to its lowest, the purple line is rpm black is tps %

halucinator

iTrader: (3)

Jeezuz look at your knock count. Are you maxed out?

Fixxer99TA

iTrader: (5)

Yeah I was just going to say, knock looks a little pegged....