just completed my first opti/water pump replacement
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
just completed my first opti/water pump replacement
Not as bad as I thought. I must say that I was much more knowledgeable after reading all the posts on the forum. Thanks everyone!!
It took 1 evening after work and an entire Saturday ( I changed water pump, temp sensor, opti, plugs, wires, coil, and module. I also took my time and cleaned some of the grime off the front of the motor. It runs much better now.
I tore the old opti apart and found a screw from the rotor floating around. no wonder it only started when it wanted to.
For anybody thinking of trying this, give it a shot. I do recommend using a puller puller for the crank though. saved me a lot of time!!
It took 1 evening after work and an entire Saturday ( I changed water pump, temp sensor, opti, plugs, wires, coil, and module. I also took my time and cleaned some of the grime off the front of the motor. It runs much better now.
I tore the old opti apart and found a screw from the rotor floating around. no wonder it only started when it wanted to.
For anybody thinking of trying this, give it a shot. I do recommend using a puller puller for the crank though. saved me a lot of time!!
#2
Race Director
Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (96redvette)
Great job! Any tips you found to help the next guy out? Put in a tech tip. The C4 guys always help out each other here on the forum. I love this place.
#3
Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (96redvette)
how many miles on your 96?
mine has 93k and I am just wondering how much longer I have on my pump,opti,wires,plugs.
mine has 93k and I am just wondering how much longer I have on my pump,opti,wires,plugs.
#4
Melting Slicks
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (Oldman)
"Price compare", yes. The Last Detail has the 95-96 opti for $297 and the waterpump for $181. And I'll bet their shipping is tons cheaper than GMpartsdirect. :thumbs:
#5
Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (Oldman)
I am one of those guys that doesnt fix anything til its broken so I will probably let the parts run their course and go from there. I got the car at 76k miles and I have no way of knowing if anything was replaced before I bought it...plus the shortage of cash keeps me from doing anything I dont have to. Chris at Superior seems to have the best prices and only takes 2 days to get to my house...my brother just bought a water pump from Chris for about $150 and I will be installing that tomorrow and his 96 CE only has 40k miles on it so you never know what will break.
#6
Burning Brakes
Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (96redvette)
What about the A-1 sold at Autozone and Checkers? I saw the price and I am confused. For a $150, are you not getting the complete thing or what? I know it is rebuilt. It seems like a good deal with a lifetime warranty. Also, which part goes bad with moisture, the cap or the dist. Last time I pulled mine(during cam change) it looked like a sealed part but I saw caps for sale on one web site.
How about that module? Are you taling of the one right above the coil. I have been debating as to get rid of it or not. Does it serve a purpose with an aftermarket ignition?
How about that module? Are you taling of the one right above the coil. I have been debating as to get rid of it or not. Does it serve a purpose with an aftermarket ignition?
#7
Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (kman0066)
I purchased a A1 Cardone (Spelling) from PartsAmerica.com (Kragen) for my 94 LT1. I only started to tear the car apart once I had the parts in hand. I tell you what, get a pulley puller!!! I tried and tried to break mine loose and finally resorted to fabricating one at home, lucky I have a welder. Anyway, once I had the old parts off the car, I compared the new to the old and I nearly lost my top :mad . The parts did not match at all. In the end, I had to modify nearly every part to make it all work. Although the factory parts did fail, they were of much better quality then the aftermarket ones. Parts were not plated, they were of thinner gage, etc.
In the end I did manage to get all the parts in but I was very dissapointed in PartsAmerica and what they though was a 94 LT1 Opti Spark.
PS; I made sure to seal the new unit up with a lot of RTV with the only vent being the pipe which I extended to ensure the thing did not fail again.
In the end I did manage to get all the parts in but I was very dissapointed in PartsAmerica and what they though was a 94 LT1 Opti Spark.
PS; I made sure to seal the new unit up with a lot of RTV with the only vent being the pipe which I extended to ensure the thing did not fail again.
#8
Race Director
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Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (96redvette)
Not as bad as I thought. I must say that I was much more knowledgeable after reading all the posts on the forum. Thanks everyone!!
It took 1 evening after work and an entire Saturday ( I changed water pump, temp sensor, opti, plugs, wires, coil, and module. I also took my time and cleaned some of the grime off the front of the motor. It runs much better now.
I tore the old opti apart and found a screw from the rotor floating around. no wonder it only started when it wanted to.
For anybody thinking of trying this, give it a shot. I do recommend using a puller puller for the crank though. saved me a lot of time!!
It took 1 evening after work and an entire Saturday ( I changed water pump, temp sensor, opti, plugs, wires, coil, and module. I also took my time and cleaned some of the grime off the front of the motor. It runs much better now.
I tore the old opti apart and found a screw from the rotor floating around. no wonder it only started when it wanted to.
For anybody thinking of trying this, give it a shot. I do recommend using a puller puller for the crank though. saved me a lot of time!!
#9
Racer
Thread Starter
Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (96redvette)
I have 172,000 miles! I'm not sure if it is the original motor or not. It doesn't act like it though! It runs very good. I got all my parts from gmpartsdirect.com and spent $500.00. I think the opti at my dealer is $425.00 alone.
I was able to squeeze a puller in between the frame (very tight though) but it worked like a charm.
Only problem now is I keep getting a bank 2 catalyst effeciency is below threshold code. I am hoping it will clean itself out.
If anybody needs help with any of this stuff, I would be more than hapy to help.
I was able to squeeze a puller in between the frame (very tight though) but it worked like a charm.
Only problem now is I keep getting a bank 2 catalyst effeciency is below threshold code. I am hoping it will clean itself out.
If anybody needs help with any of this stuff, I would be more than hapy to help.
#10
Drifting
Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (96redvette)
What kind of puller did you use? I dont see how to squeeze anything down there. Some suggestions I have seen on CF to remove the lower puller was to remove the bolts and "bump" the motor over. Anyone tried this? And - does the pulley have to be pressed back on or will the bolts drive it back in?
#11
Racer
Thread Starter
Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (96redvette)
I used an old gear puller that just barely fit around the pully. There is an area about 1"-1 1/2" that I was able to fit above the frame. It just barely fit in between the steering rack and lines. I tried taking the 3 bolts out and hitting it with a piece of hard wood, but it didn't move.
It went on real easy, no need to press it on, tighten each bot a little at a time.
It went on real easy, no need to press it on, tighten each bot a little at a time.
#12
Instructor
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Re: just completed my first opti/water pump replacement (kman0066)
Beware on those reman Opti's! :mad
I have posted on this before - I bought one from AutoZone, modified it for the vent tube set from a '95 - turned out when it was remanufactured their testing didn't pick up the defect with that particular one - it would cut out when the engine got up to temp. Had to live with this for almost a whole season!
Replaced it with an OEM AC-Delco unit this May - NOW the car runs like it used to!!
In a nutshell, the warranty was voided when I opened up the weep holes for the vent mod.
You get what you pay for - I THOUGHT it was a bargain at $150 (it didn't come with the rotor or covers), but in the end I spent more than I needed to (over $1K for service at Goodwrench for them NOT to find the problem since this problem would NOT show up on their diagnostic equipment)!
I got my OEM unit at Sam Taylor Buick for my '92 for $288 delivered - they are at http://www.samtaylor.com if you're interested!
Good luck!
I have posted on this before - I bought one from AutoZone, modified it for the vent tube set from a '95 - turned out when it was remanufactured their testing didn't pick up the defect with that particular one - it would cut out when the engine got up to temp. Had to live with this for almost a whole season!
Replaced it with an OEM AC-Delco unit this May - NOW the car runs like it used to!!
In a nutshell, the warranty was voided when I opened up the weep holes for the vent mod.
You get what you pay for - I THOUGHT it was a bargain at $150 (it didn't come with the rotor or covers), but in the end I spent more than I needed to (over $1K for service at Goodwrench for them NOT to find the problem since this problem would NOT show up on their diagnostic equipment)!
I got my OEM unit at Sam Taylor Buick for my '92 for $288 delivered - they are at http://www.samtaylor.com if you're interested!
Good luck!