Need opti spark advice.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 153
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Need opti spark advice. I have a 1994 Impala SS and I think the opti is on its way out. The main thing it does is hard start in the morning. Crank and it try to start but just kinda runs on not actually starting. It takes about 5 mins of this to actually start and run. What opti spark is a good quality to get? I see they range from 50- 500 bucks. Also is there anything else I should change while I'm doing the opti spark?
TECH Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
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I would check fuel pressure first. Also after car does start and runs for a few minutes shut off and pull the rubber vacuum line off the FPR behind motor. If any sign of fuel in that rubber nipple your FPR is bad. This will cause a prolonged crank issue to start.
If FP checks out you need to look into ignition. Opti would be suspect but ICM a possibility as is coil so you want to confirm what may be your issue before just replacing parts.
If you have a front timing cover oil leak than likely the Opti got oil inside and this in itself will cause a no start or prolonged start/stumble issue. Typically you can just remove opti, cap & rotor and then disassemble opti to clean carefully inside it. The oil leak itself is often from the water pump drive seal, It takes either the "tool" or a Sharpie pen cap to install that seal to prevent the inner seal lip from folding over and thus a immediate oil leak
If the Opti electronically is bad..replacement choices are somewhat a crap shoot. The AC Delco remanufactured one being the best but not cheap (rockauto,com). The cheap off shore ones are a total crap shoot. Some have had them work and others find they are DOA right out of box. Whatever Opti you get, remove rotor screws and use blue loc-tite on them
If FP checks out you need to look into ignition. Opti would be suspect but ICM a possibility as is coil so you want to confirm what may be your issue before just replacing parts.
If you have a front timing cover oil leak than likely the Opti got oil inside and this in itself will cause a no start or prolonged start/stumble issue. Typically you can just remove opti, cap & rotor and then disassemble opti to clean carefully inside it. The oil leak itself is often from the water pump drive seal, It takes either the "tool" or a Sharpie pen cap to install that seal to prevent the inner seal lip from folding over and thus a immediate oil leak
If the Opti electronically is bad..replacement choices are somewhat a crap shoot. The AC Delco remanufactured one being the best but not cheap (rockauto,com). The cheap off shore ones are a total crap shoot. Some have had them work and others find they are DOA right out of box. Whatever Opti you get, remove rotor screws and use blue loc-tite on them
I have a 1994 Impala SS and I think the opti is on its way out. The main thing it does is hard start in the morning. Crank and it try to start but just kinda runs on not actually starting. It takes about 5 mins of this to actually start and run. What opti spark is a good quality to get? I see they range from 50- 500 bucks. Also is there anything else I should change while I'm doing the opti spark?
If it turns out that you need one.......
KW
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
I would check fuel pressure first. Also after car does start and runs for a few minutes shut off and pull the rubber vacuum line off the FPR behind motor. If any sign of fuel in that rubber nipple your FPR is bad. This will cause a prolonged crank issue to start.
If FP checks out you need to look into ignition. Opti would be suspect but ICM a possibility as is coil so you want to confirm what may be your issue before just replacing parts.
If you have a front timing cover oil leak than likely the Opti got oil inside and this in itself will cause a no start or prolonged start/stumble issue. Typically you can just remove opti, cap & rotor and then disassemble opti to clean carefully inside it. The oil leak itself is often from the water pump drive seal, It takes either the "tool" or a Sharpie pen cap to install that seal to prevent the inner seal lip from folding over and thus a immediate oil leak
If the Opti electronically is bad..replacement choices are somewhat a crap shoot. The AC Delco remanufactured one being the best but not cheap (rockauto,com). The cheap off shore ones are a total crap shoot. Some have had them work and others find they are DOA right out of box. Whatever Opti you get, remove rotor screws and use blue loc-tite on them
If FP checks out you need to look into ignition. Opti would be suspect but ICM a possibility as is coil so you want to confirm what may be your issue before just replacing parts.
If you have a front timing cover oil leak than likely the Opti got oil inside and this in itself will cause a no start or prolonged start/stumble issue. Typically you can just remove opti, cap & rotor and then disassemble opti to clean carefully inside it. The oil leak itself is often from the water pump drive seal, It takes either the "tool" or a Sharpie pen cap to install that seal to prevent the inner seal lip from folding over and thus a immediate oil leak
If the Opti electronically is bad..replacement choices are somewhat a crap shoot. The AC Delco remanufactured one being the best but not cheap (rockauto,com). The cheap off shore ones are a total crap shoot. Some have had them work and others find they are DOA right out of box. Whatever Opti you get, remove rotor screws and use blue loc-tite on them
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On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 159
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this guy at it again...did you run out of km to sell....you moved on to Opti's.? What gives I thought you could still get reman acdelco units? If not op you could try the msd version they will stand behind it and rebuild if necessary down the road. Loctite rotor screws just stay away from the cheap Chinese ones
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 159
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Everything else is sold, though.
Thanks for asking!!
KW
