LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Please double check my troubleshooting skills

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 18, 2008 | 08:37 PM
  #1  
1995Transamconvert's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh,NC
Question Please double check my troubleshooting skills

I read and read on this optispark thing. Please tell me if you think I'm right. It's a 1995 Trans Am 5.7. Driving this morning and it starts, spitting and sputtering, black smoke, missing,...you get the point. It had run flawlessly up to this point. Check engine light comes on and that's it. It won't restart. Had it towed home and starting trying to read any codes in the computer. It shot out 42, then tons more...16,18,36...

So on a whim I buy a NEW ICM and coil and swap them out. No effect. New TPS and Air Charge Temperature sensor (intake temp sensor). No effect. I really didn't want to consider the opti, but I'm pretty much out of ideas now. Is there a way to test the opti with it still on the car? Or am I spending my Sunday putting a new one on?? Damn GM.

Thanks
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2008 | 08:48 PM
  #2  
1995Transamconvert's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh,NC
Default

Forgot....42psi fuel pressure...no drop. and put inline spark tester on a plug wire and it's firing like crazy. blue/white spark.
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2008 | 10:02 PM
  #3  
jester1614's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: west phx
Default

if i remember correctly 16 and 42 are both opti codes

try cleaning both ends of the wire that runs from the opti to the passenger side of the manifold


opti is probably shot tho
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2008 | 10:37 PM
  #4  
trump167's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default

did u check the (eng. sensor) fuse under the hood? i had a similar prob with an lt1 car throwing off da wall code and wouldnt run for anything and it ended up being a freakin fuse after changing every sensor on the car including the opti
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2008 | 07:03 AM
  #5  
1995Transamconvert's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh,NC
Default

Originally Posted by trump167
did u check the (eng. sensor) fuse under the hood? i had a similar prob with an lt1 car throwing off da wall code and wouldnt run for anything and it ended up being a freakin fuse after changing every sensor on the car including the opti
I looked in the fuse block under the hood and the one inside the car and nothing was blown.

Jester, are you talking about the wire harness that plugs into the opti?
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2008 | 06:48 PM
  #6  
1995Transamconvert's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh,NC
Default

Ordered a distributor...should be here Tuesday.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2008 | 03:34 PM
  #7  
1995Transamconvert's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh,NC
Default

New opti in. Still dead. Changing spark plugs now.
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 08:24 PM
  #8  
1995Transamconvert's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh,NC
Default

New plugs fixed the problem. When the opti died it fouled all the plugs.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 08:32 PM
  #9  
LT1's Avatar
LT1
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 4
From: NorCal
Default

Was there coolant leaking on the old opti?
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:10 AM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE