Opti help
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Opti help I have a 1995 Camaro that is going on to its 4th optispark in the last 14 months. Each time we do the optispark job we replace all of the seals around it that prevent coolant and oil from getting in there. We’ve also replaced the water pump twice. We are currently at a total loss of what could possibly be chewing through our optispark like gum. Any help is appreciated, thanks!
I have a 1995 Camaro that is going on to its 4th optispark in the last 14 months. Each time we do the optispark job we replace all of the seals around it that prevent coolant and oil from getting in there. We’ve also replaced the water pump twice. We are currently at a total loss of what could possibly be chewing through our optispark like gum. Any help is appreciated, thanks!
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2022
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Check your grounds and make sure those are are good. Check the connections on the opti harness that go to the computer and make sure those are okay. Make sure that the opti harness plug is sealed so no water can get into the plug area too. Ive been told that bad connections can cause issues and burn them out. Also considering its a 1995 is vented you wouldnt have to worry about dealing with ozone build up and shorting out the distributor but are you sure your not driving over puddles or going fast through rain ? Have you tried different brands of opti sparks ? I forget what kind im running now but even with my mechanic and all of his connections he couldnt get a genuine acdelco opti spark. Its an overall bad design and many things can cause it to short itself out.
I have gone through four in the last two years, im doing a 24x swap and I recommend you do the same.
I have gone through four in the last two years, im doing a 24x swap and I recommend you do the same.
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the first failure was because oil was getting into it but then we replaced the seals to prevent that from happening again. The second failure, the shop failed to install the center version of the optispark (for some reason they ordered the wrong one unbeknownst to us) and it failed due to backed up moisture. We are yet to hear back about what caused this third and most recent failure, but I can only imagine it is some internal fluid rather than rain water shorting it out.
Thread Starter
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Check your grounds and make sure those are are good. Check the connections on the opti harness that go to the computer and make sure those are okay. Make sure that the opti harness plug is sealed so no water can get into the plug area too. Ive been told that bad connections can cause issues and burn them out. Also considering its a 1995 is vented you wouldnt have to worry about dealing with ozone build up and shorting out the distributor but are you sure your not driving over puddles or going fast through rain ? Have you tried different brands of opti sparks ? I forget what kind im running now but even with my mechanic and all of his connections he couldnt get a genuine acdelco opti spark. Its an overall bad design and many things can cause it to short itself out.
I have gone through four in the last two years, im doing a 24x swap and I recommend you do the same.
I have gone through four in the last two years, im doing a 24x swap and I recommend you do the same.
the first failure was because oil was getting into it but then we replaced the seals to prevent that from happening again. The second failure, the shop failed to install the center version of the optispark (for some reason they ordered the wrong one unbeknownst to us) and it failed due to backed up moisture.
Ain't one, my guy. They are the way of the dodo bird. Even if you find one that is a Delco that doesn't mean it was manufactured the same with a Mitsu opti sensor. There are no dependable optis left these days. If you're going to keep the car it would be a good idea to start considering a 24x setup. As soon as the one on my car ***** the bed this is the route I'm taking.
I wish I could've kept the opti. HP tuners isn't cheap compared to the $60 cable for OBD1 and free software.
I was always envious of the people who get like 10 years on a $60 eBay opti.
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There's a few different ways to 24x swap. It removes the optispark in favour of a signal unit that provides a cam and crank sensor for a newer LS style PCM, and delivers spark through 8 coils.
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On The Tree
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Yeah me too. When I got my car 6 years ago I had no clue about the whole Mitsubishi thing. My oem opti was dead.due to rust inside. But the sensor looked good. But I threw it all away lol. Luckily at the time I researched, realized my mistake and I was able to get a rebuilt unit from the berryman1/opti doctor guy on eBay before he disappeared. So I will keep this one and rebuild if ever needed.
Launching!
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SS RRR has a good point, as time goes on opti sparks arent really being made anymore and the ones that are, are made with poorer quality, so add that onto an already bad design. So if you want to keep the lt1 engine, 24x is the way to expand its life. Id recommend look into doing it now and not sinking money into another opti only to be destroyed by the water pump going out.
Sure its pricey but its better than constantly replacing it and being left stranded.
Sure its pricey but its better than constantly replacing it and being left stranded.
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From: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY, Dalton GA, Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
People seem to have decent luck with optis from Petris Enterprises. Otherwise, there aren’t many reliable options other than switching to a different ignition system.
Unless something has changed, the MSD optis are known to suck.
Unless something has changed, the MSD optis are known to suck.
Last edited by BTC; Jul 1, 2023 at 05:43 AM.
And far more if you want to get a different ECU. I spent about $1200 for the Torqhead stuff (coil brackets, hub, signal housing) + $850 for EFI connection's harness for Holley ECUs + $2500 for a Dominator. Plus I had to get a welder make a bracket so it fits in the stock PCM location. It does fit, but it's a close! Then expect to get more nickle and dimed on other stuff from Holley, like a second wideband + harness.
Right. For the three active threads in here in a week’s time. The horror. Never answered why it’s funny there are those who may not be able to afford a $400 opti.
A ton of optis get called bad when the root cause is the jumper harness that plugs into the optical sensor. Those harness were a major source of a lot of intermittents and supposed failed opti's.
We kept a stack of em at shop for all the DPS and county cars with em. It's kinda like 6.5 injection pumps once you figure out where the root cause is they become a lot less problematic once the gremlin is determined
We kept a stack of em at shop for all the DPS and county cars with em. It's kinda like 6.5 injection pumps once you figure out where the root cause is they become a lot less problematic once the gremlin is determined
