live95-
It is possible that the opti-spark harness terminal end got damp. This is the cable that runs from the Opti (10 o'clock position) up the front of the engine and then across the passenger side of the engine, under the black plastic injector cover, just south of the second injector. The termination is mounted on a metal "stand-off" bolted to the intake manifold. That terminal is an opti to ECM (computer) test point.
A damp or corroded terminal end on end that goes into the opti side will show symptoms similar to the opti going out. It is actually kind of hard to get moisture in the inside of the '94-'96 opti unless it is continually bathed in liquid such as from a leaking water pump. The opti is really sealed up pretty tight and even has an inlet and outlet supporting a fresh air intake system to help keep condensation at a minimum.
You might want to pull the opti-side of the connector and check for moisture or corrosion, or both. The terminal is kind of hard to get to but if you follow the terminal bundle (it is enclosed in a plastic sheath) you will see that the terminal end pushes down into the opti about 1". The terminal then self-clamps on to the outsie of the opti terminal "lug" at the 10 o'clock position (looking at front of engine). To release the terminal end, I take a 10" long 1/8" screwdriver and GENTLY insert the blade down through a slit in the locking tab of the connector. That allows me to kind of lift the locking tab up a little in order to release it. The screwdriver is used as a tiny lever. Then it is just a matter of gently pulling up on the screwdriver while the blade is engaged in that slit. Keep a little outward force on the blade of the screwdriver so it stays put in that slit. I doubt you will be able to reach the terminal end with your hand. To get the terminal back in the opti, again I use that little screwdriver trick. Hope this helps. Let us know what you find.
