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Car Wash kill opti?

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Old Sep 30, 2008 | 10:25 PM
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Default Car Wash kill opti?

I was at the shop a couple weeks ago and they were getting air pockets out of the radiator and when they finished, she hosed the engine with water. Couple days later the car has lack of power and is sluggish under load, wondering if they could have damaged the opti?
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Old Sep 30, 2008 | 10:35 PM
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Yep, that would be my guess. Especially if you have never changed it before. Might as well spend the money on the MSD opti. What year is your car. The early model lt's don't have a vent to let out moisture. But me personally I would do away with the opti if you plan on keeping the car.
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Old Oct 1, 2008 | 01:18 AM
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i dont know, ive heard so much about opti's going out from a little bit of water. but ive owned several different year lt1s (92-94 style opti and the vented 95-97 opti) and i drenched the engine all the time washing it and never once had a single opti problem. first one had 145k miles with a leaking water pump, second one had 80k.

i wouldnt jump to the opti so quick. i'd take the MAF off and see if thats wet or has some corrosion or anything, getting that wet would do it. also check the coil or ICM. those could be wet and corroded.
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Old Oct 1, 2008 | 07:58 PM
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ok so im gonna try plugs and wires. just got them in today, but the only problem is, the guy sent me the 8.5mm superconductor msds, not the 8mm, will this be ok to put in my car, or should i try to send them back?
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Old Oct 1, 2008 | 08:08 PM
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nah thats fine.
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Old Oct 1, 2008 | 08:20 PM
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k good, i was worried
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Old Oct 1, 2008 | 09:11 PM
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If it is the Opti, you will know. It can get carbon tracking and/or water damage. I replaced mine (94 Z28) after the weep hole on the water pump took a crap.
It ran terrible... not just a lack of power. It's like pulling a plug wire.
Check your plug wires and make sure they are all dry.
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Old Oct 1, 2008 | 10:05 PM
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im changing plugs/wires saturday, the car seems to be getting worse. it vibrates like a cell phone would, but thats what i feel when im driving it, but when it goes into neutral, it goes away a little bit...but the car is just running like absolute ****, no stalling or anything, but no power and wierd vibration all the time.
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Old Oct 1, 2008 | 10:21 PM
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Well, it could be quite a few things. Yes, the Opti is a pile of turd. But, in most cases it does last for a long time. The MSD unit is a nice upgrade, yet it will cost you. Even better would be a DIS settup.

Just shoot through most usual trouble shooting steps, you should be alright.
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Old Oct 2, 2008 | 10:02 AM
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yea im gonna put plugs and wires in on sat. see if that helps, if it doesn't ill look into opti.
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Old Oct 2, 2008 | 10:37 AM
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It just sucks that it is so hard to get to. In pretty much all other cars you would just say I will do a cap and rotor along with the wires and plugs. . . . . But, no. . .
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Old Oct 2, 2008 | 12:20 PM
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yea, it sucks.
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Old Oct 2, 2008 | 12:20 PM
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it feels like my whole car is vibrating all the time, it is messed up, like the car is making some wierd rattling noises now.
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Old Oct 2, 2008 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by LT1Formula26
it feels like my whole car is vibrating all the time, it is messed up, like the car is making some wierd rattling noises now.
Any recent mods, changes or maintenance?
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Old Oct 2, 2008 | 03:58 PM
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Ah, the good old opti spark. Even the smallest amount of water could ruin it. My water pump had a small leak and eventually killed the opti.

That was on a '96 with the vented version.

Just go buy a LS1
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Old Oct 2, 2008 | 10:15 PM
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no recent maintenance other than temp sensor...which is when they were figuring out that it was the sensor, they got some air pockets out of the radiator and got some on my car, so they ******* took a hose to it and sprayed the engine and spots with fluid on it.. i am hoping it is just my wires and plugs. jarretthise is willing to put another opti in if the wires and plugs don't work. but man the car is sounding and running like ****.
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Old Oct 3, 2008 | 04:32 AM
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Originally Posted by LT1Formula26
no recent maintenance other than temp sensor...which is when they were figuring out that it was the sensor, they got some air pockets out of the radiator and got some on my car, so they ******* took a hose to it and sprayed the engine and spots with fluid on it.. i am hoping it is just my wires and plugs. jarretthise is willing to put another opti in if the wires and plugs don't work. but man the car is sounding and running like ****.
That makes me wonder! Might just be the Opti...
When I cleaned my LT1, I had to covered up certain parts and was real careful not to spray the Opti. I had a 94 non-vented version too. Eventually, I had to replace mine and ended up chaging out the water pump as a precautionary measurement. It wasn't hard to do but a straight up PITA to get the dowel pin aligned (anyone who changed one knows). Mine had moisture AND lots of carbon tracking. At the time there were no aftermarket options... I went with OEM. I'd go with an MSD or JEG'S unit now IMHO.
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Old Oct 3, 2008 | 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by DRGnFLYZ28
It wasn't hard to do but a straight up PITA to get the dowel pin aligned (anyone who changed one knows).

Well, last time me and some douche bags did one. We totally forgot about the dowel and broke the new Opti unit.
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Old Oct 3, 2008 | 11:00 AM
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wow that would suck...i hope fine is fine, but im prepared for the worst
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Old Oct 3, 2008 | 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by samson_420
Well, last time me and some douche bags did one. We totally forgot about the dowel and broke the new Opti unit.
mine was a 97 so it didnt have a splined dowel, it had the offset alignment pin or whatever. well you know that three leaf clover shape in the back of the opti? then one of those has a deep hole for that alignment pin? yeah i didnt really pay attention... ended up installing the opti 120* off. car ran. like **** and for no more than a second or two. i immediately realized what i had done and i thought it was funny it even ran.
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