74c395c4

My 1995 had the optispark and water pump replaced by the Chevy dealer. It runs about 3,000 miles and then starts missing again. The dealer has replaced the optispark 3 times now over the last 9 months at no charge. They have most recently replaced all vacuum lines. Anyone had this problem?

Redeasysport

What is going wrong on them?
How did you know it needed replaced any codes?
Did they all have water in them? Can not see how that would be unless your water pumps are going too.
You don't happen to wash your engine do you?

corvetteronw

THAT is wierd. Chris Petris told several of us in a recent C4 class that the 95 and 96 Opti normally lasts for about 100,000 miles.
Shoot him an e-mail at chris@corvetteclinicinc.com and tell him that Ron with the loud mufflers wanted to know. Then tell us what he comes up with.

Redeasysport

I know Steves40th had some trouble eating dynasparks he is looking at timing chain as a source of vibration. I would like to know what is failing on 74's

Pro Street Muscle

I have the same problem. I have a 96 LT1. I drive for about a mile the it starts to mis fire. The mis fire only lasts for about 1 mile or so.
I replaced the following"

New Opti Spark . Cap Rotor.
NewFuel pressure reg.
New MSD Wires & Coil.
New Plugs

The only thing I havent replaced is the fuel filter.

74c395c4

No trouble codes according to the dealer. The water pump is not leaking. The engine would miss and then run fine for a day or so and then totally quit. I had to be towed 2 times to the dealer. No water on the engine. It is not washed. The Chevy dealer customer care center told them to make sure that the vacuum lines are not stopped up. I'm waiting for it to happen again.

74c395c4

I sent Chris a message explaining my problem. Thanks very much. I will let you know.

Redeasysport

You still did not answer my question why did they have to be replaced? What part of the 3 optis went bad? You never had any codes from all 3?

74c395c4

I dont know what part went bad. The receipts show that the entire optispark was replaced each time. No codes according to dealer

Jet-Jock

The vacuum to the opti is only there on the 95-96 models to put a positive vent on it rather than the static vent the previous models had.

I some how doubt the service tech tried to analyze the failed (or subject) opti when they replaced them. They are most likely just returned.

Is it possible that the ignition module/ignition coil are subject? I suppose it's possible to have a couple out of the box failures but the probability is rather remote after this many exchanges. Something else is causing the problem or inducing the problem. I don't suppose they checked the wires with a DVM to ensure its not a failing wire?

74c395c4

They did replace the coil wire this last time. The service manager said it looked bad so I guess no test was conducted.

Redeasysport

another high tech analysis
If you had no codes it sounds like poke and hope mechanics.I would not trust them.They should have told you exactly what was wrong with the ones they took out I always ask for the replaced part( and let them know I will be) when I pick the car up it is good pratice and keeps them honest

If it was truely bad optis with no codes that means cap&rotor went south. If it happened 3 times then either you are over reving your car our there are other issues to look at. Good Luck

74c395c4

Thanks! No over reving. I'm 52 and only exceed the speed limit when necessary. I drive the car 71 miles every weekday.

mitymek

well that would be a bummer.
for you and the dealer as well.im sure they will figure it out.good thing its under warranty.
could you imagine the same dealership exchangin an opti 3 times if one of us yard mechs did a garage repair on that?
i bet you would have a hard time getting your money back.
its a good thing its them doing the install
one more reason to go with the deltq or similar setup instead of a new optispark.man that would kill me to pay through the nose for an opti and have the new one be bad and then have them not warranty it.

TomHamill

........ glad to hear that !!

74c395c4

The same problem just happened again. This time the dealer said the harness connection was the problem. Again no charge. Does anyone think the coil could be causing this?

74c395c4

It was the wires. Carried it to another dealer and within 30 minutes they called and said replace the wires. They did and no further problems.

mitymek

WOW wonder if anyone else got a notice about this post from 05 !
holy cow

mitymek

interesting to go back now and rethink this all.
i ended up with a newer style opti and swore to do the cam upgrade and all whenever my opti misfired but its still purring like a kitten.
well, now that i think about i did have er up and quit on me the last trip out this summer.
puff of smoke and raw gas smell and she just died on a low idle coast up to a stop sign.
no restart either.pushed it across the street and called for a tow but when my bud showed up we tried again and restarted.
it was flooded,had to floor it to get it to catch,cleaned out quick though and then ran fine for 30 miles home.
i wasnt suspecting opti, was betting fuel pump (could hear it btw), but now maybe i better consider that opit upgrade for next spring

mszietlow

4 years and 30 minutes later, the problem is resolved! I think the mechanics enjoyed working and looking at your ride at the other dealership.. hahaha