Bad Optispark?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: O’Fallon, IL
Bad Optispark? Greetings,
I have a 94 Formula that I have been working on for quite a while. I’ve been working on it off and on for a couples years now and finally got it working. Long history of this car not working. However, after finally getting it to work, I ran into the issue of the car spewing out radiator fluid out of reservoir and rad cap (this is where I suspect my optispark issue originated from). My guess is this is happening because of the original issue that messed up the car. The last time I tried to start it, the engine sounded like it was trying to start, but that only half the pistons were trying to start and I have not been able to get the car to run. I like to work on cars but I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a mechanic. I’ve tried to include the video of me trying to start the engine. My question then, do I need to replace my opti spark?
I’ve been doing some research on opti spark replacements, and it seems pretty dismal to find a good replacement opti. Still, any recommendations?
Also, what is a 24x conversion that replaces the opti spark?
Thank you for any and all assistance in this matter!
I have a 94 Formula that I have been working on for quite a while. I’ve been working on it off and on for a couples years now and finally got it working. Long history of this car not working. However, after finally getting it to work, I ran into the issue of the car spewing out radiator fluid out of reservoir and rad cap (this is where I suspect my optispark issue originated from). My guess is this is happening because of the original issue that messed up the car. The last time I tried to start it, the engine sounded like it was trying to start, but that only half the pistons were trying to start and I have not been able to get the car to run. I like to work on cars but I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a mechanic. I’ve tried to include the video of me trying to start the engine. My question then, do I need to replace my opti spark?
I’ve been doing some research on opti spark replacements, and it seems pretty dismal to find a good replacement opti. Still, any recommendations?
Also, what is a 24x conversion that replaces the opti spark?
Thank you for any and all assistance in this matter!
Last edited by Rodan94; Jan 28, 2024 at 11:05 PM.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,146
Likes: 62
From: Little Rock, AR
The spewing coolant could be as simple as the small hoses at the top of the radiator being switched. Refer to this: http://shbox.com/1/radiator_A4.jpg . Or it could be a bad radiator cap or worst case head gasket(s).
Don't go the opti route without extensive diagnosis. Petris is about the best replacement opti option out there at this time. Search the forums for 24x options or visit https://www.torqhead.com/index.html for info on their opti conversion.
Don't go the opti route without extensive diagnosis. Petris is about the best replacement opti option out there at this time. Search the forums for 24x options or visit https://www.torqhead.com/index.html for info on their opti conversion.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 112
"If" the Opti got a coolant bath, if you remove it and take cap and rotor off you can carefully clean out any coolant that got inside. You need to remove the reluctor wheel also to use a kleenex o gently slide through optical sensor to clean it
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: O’Fallon, IL
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I believe I have some sort of head gasket leak. Radiator fluid was disappearing although oil wasn’t murky and exhaust smoke wasn’t white. I do not find puddles under the car (until it starts spewing).
I’ll double check the hoses one more time. It’s a brand new radiator cap so I am fairly certain that’s not the issue.
Are people starting to get rid of the opti and replace it with that 24x or something similar? Only asking because I know parts for these cars are becoming very slim.
Fingers crossed that the opti is just dirty. Any good guides to taking it apart to clean it?
I’ll double check the hoses one more time. It’s a brand new radiator cap so I am fairly certain that’s not the issue.
Are people starting to get rid of the opti and replace it with that 24x or something similar? Only asking because I know parts for these cars are becoming very slim.
Fingers crossed that the opti is just dirty. Any good guides to taking it apart to clean it?
I too was looking at the Torqhead 24X swap... The kit, has everything you need to do the swap. It's $1800.... Do you have $1800 to throw at that car? Probably not. I ended up purchasing a Petris Opti yesterday. $400 shipped w my Military discount. Could i spend $1800? Yep... but why not use that money elsewhere.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 112
IMHO, don't reinvent the wheel. 24x is WAY more to install than fixing an Opti. If a coolant leak gets on Opti it can contaminate it so it can be cleaned. With that said Opti does fail just like any part but having a coolant leak that gets on Opti can cause the Opti to fail as a result. Water pump fail is the most common cause because the weep hole pisses coolant right on Opti. Many have switched to an electric water pump to resolve that common issue. I did my EWP over 20 years ago with 100k mi on EWP now...and not one Opti fail since like I had with mechanical WP's
If the head gasket is leaking, not very common, that generally does not affect Opti unless the leak is front head area.
If the head gasket is leaking, not very common, that generally does not affect Opti unless the leak is front head area.
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Teching In
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: O’Fallon, IL
Thanks all!
Going down the line here:
I wish I had $1800 to fix this car right now! Water pump was working the last time I ran the car. I didn’t realize there was an Electric WP option. I may have to look into that for future reference.
If there is a head gasket leak, I do not see it affecting the Opti directly, but only by causing the rad fluid to spew out and getting it wet.
I changed all the spark plugs and reconnected all the wires. The car ran fine other than rad fluid spewing prior to the video. I turned off the car to let it cool. Then started it and backed it into the garage. The next time to start was the video.
Yeah I’m majorly nervous about aftermarket Optus because all of the reviews I’ve seen state negative comments. Hopefully this will be just a cleaning sensor job and be back to normal.
Going down the line here:
I wish I had $1800 to fix this car right now! Water pump was working the last time I ran the car. I didn’t realize there was an Electric WP option. I may have to look into that for future reference.
If there is a head gasket leak, I do not see it affecting the Opti directly, but only by causing the rad fluid to spew out and getting it wet.
I changed all the spark plugs and reconnected all the wires. The car ran fine other than rad fluid spewing prior to the video. I turned off the car to let it cool. Then started it and backed it into the garage. The next time to start was the video.
Yeah I’m majorly nervous about aftermarket Optus because all of the reviews I’ve seen state negative comments. Hopefully this will be just a cleaning sensor job and be back to normal.
IMHO, don't reinvent the wheel. 24x is WAY more to install than fixing an Opti. If a coolant leak gets on Opti it can contaminate it so it can be cleaned. With that said Opti does fail just like any part but having a coolant leak that gets on Opti can cause the Opti to fail as a result. Water pump fail is the most common cause because the weep hole pisses coolant right on Opti. Many have switched to an electric water pump to resolve that common issue. I did my EWP over 20 years ago with 100k mi on EWP now...and not one Opti fail since like I had with mechanical WP's
If the head gasket is leaking, not very common, that generally does not affect Opti unless the leak is front head area.
If the head gasket is leaking, not very common, that generally does not affect Opti unless the leak is front head area.
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 43
Likes: 14
The spewing coolant could be as simple as the small hoses at the top of the radiator being switched. Refer to this: http://shbox.com/1/radiator_A4.jpg . Or it could be a bad radiator cap or worst case head gasket(s).
Don't go the opti route without extensive diagnosis. Petris is about the best replacement opti option out there at this time. Search the forums for 24x options or visit https://www.torqhead.com/index.html for info on their opti conversion.
Don't go the opti route without extensive diagnosis. Petris is about the best replacement opti option out there at this time. Search the forums for 24x options or visit https://www.torqhead.com/index.html for info on their opti conversion.
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 43
Likes: 14
Im swapping on an opti tomorrow myself. Going to do all the timing seals and do the WP drain mod and put it back together. I think oil got in my last one and the one before that had a catastrophic rotor failure. Hopefully none of those issues this time.