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

Opti spark problem..

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 3, 2010 | 08:29 PM
  #1  
Jcl_96TA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: Akron PA
Default Opti spark problem..

Okay i don't know a whole lot about the thing but here is what happened. I was driving along minding my own business when all of a sudden, out of now where comes a punk in a GTI reving his **** all up and what not in the next lane over. So when the light turned green i punched it and took of in a cloud of smoke after the car shifted into second it started sputtering and about died. (I felt like a *** at this point) I tried not to look him in the eye when he went flying by and limped my way home. I Suspected it was probably a spark issue because the car had been a slight miss at idle. So i changed all the plugs and wires, and decided to remove the timing cover because it was leaking and everything was covered in oil. Any how i took the opti off and it was a MSD one which looked fairly new after i cleaned it up a bit. So i took the cover off to see what it looked like on the inside and saw one of the screws that hold the rotor on had come out and the other was loose. So it took it all apart, cleaned it up, and put it back together. It looked like it was all in good shape, but the car wont start. So should i by a rebuild Kit (Cap and Rotor)for the Msd one or just buy a whole new opti? Are these Things really that sensitive to damage? It isn't getting spark at the plug. Any input would help.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2010 | 08:42 PM
  #2  
MattSapp95_T/A's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (35)
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 2
From: Macclenny Florida
Default

well is it a MSD opti or just the MSD cap and rotor?????....


If it is a MSD billet opti I would send it to MSD and tell them to rebuild it..

If it were my car and knowing what I know now I would buy a Delphi opti from thepartsladi on ebay for $260 and be done with it...

Be sure its not your ICM or your coil as they can have similar symptoms....



Matt
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2010 | 10:00 PM
  #3  
Jcl_96TA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: Akron PA
Default

Originally Posted by MattSapp95_T/A
well is it a MSD opti or just the MSD cap and rotor?????....


If it is a MSD billet opti I would send it to MSD and tell them to rebuild it..

If it were my car and knowing what I know now I would buy a Delphi opti from thepartsladi on ebay for $260 and be done with it...

Be sure its not your ICM or your coil as they can have similar symptoms....



Matt
It is a complete MSD opti it is mostly aluminum i dont know if it is better than most and worth fixing or just toss it and get a cheep one off ebay?
so i am not sure what to.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2010 | 10:13 PM
  #4  
MattSapp95_T/A's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (35)
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 2
From: Macclenny Florida
Default

If you wanna toss it I will take it off your hands and send you a cheap ebay one with a lifetime warranty...

The MSD is a good piece that you can have rebuilt.....
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2010 | 07:46 AM
  #5  
my1994z28's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: michigan
Default

did you put some lock tite on the rotor screws?what did you use to "clean it up"?If you sprayed anything on the optical disc its no good.
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2010 | 09:44 AM
  #6  
Jcl_96TA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: Akron PA
Default

Originally Posted by my1994z28
did you put some lock tite on the rotor screws?what did you use to "clean it up"?If you sprayed anything on the optical disc its no good.
I Just wiped it off on the outside with a rag. Took the 4 screws out and took it all apart. I removed the eye and the metal disk with all the windows in it and washed the oil and grime of the cases and covers with soap and water. I did not get the eye or the two metal disks wet at all! I put it all back together after i was certain it was all dry and put blue lock tight on the two rotor screws. I marked the rotor direction in relation to the metal disk and noticed that there was only one way the disk could properly be attached back to the bearing shaft. So i am confident that i put it all back together correctly. I got the car started yesterday but it is still running like *** and stalling in neutral. I examined the opti one more time and noticed a small half inch crack in the red epoxy stuff that covers the conductive pathways inside the cap. It was down at the bottom by where the connection for the ps front spark plug wire goes. Could that little crack in the cap be causing the horrible miss fire? I think i need to send the whole opti back to MSD to have it rebuilt, but i need something to put on my car in the mean time. If anyone has a working one they would like to part ways with cheep in any condition i would appreciate it? I am not going to be working again till May 1st, so cash is tight right now, but if anyone has one to spare and will sell it cheep now or accept payment at a later date for a expensive one send me a PM.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:09 PM.

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