optispark

[94conv.]

I know probably every optspark issue has been covered already but I have an opinion type question. A little over a month ago my optispark started acting up, it wouldnt idle and would stumble backfire and die so I had it towed over to the dealership where they found it had moisture in the optispark and spryed some sort of drier/cleaner in it and it ran fine for a couple of weeks, I dont drive it everday so actually it ran fine a few times, then about two weeks ago I got it out and it started fine then would hesitate and backfire when I tried to accelerate over about 30mph so I got it home and let it sit for about four hours and then its ran fine the few times Ive driven it but its hard to think its back to being reliable and I feel the optispark is going out, I can smell a slight hint of radiator fluid after about forty minutes of driving but it seems to go away after a little. Anyway I found this optispark from dynotech engineering in FortWayne,In.
http://www.dynotech-eng.com/dynaspark.htm and was wondering if anyone on here has used one of them? They are about 599.00 but they are billet alluminum instead of plastic and they have addressed alot of the orginal problems with the old one, this one already has vents (vacuum lines) and they claim it to be bullet proof and by the time I buy the vent kit and the original optispark Im probably looking at close to the same money, any opinions on this one?
One more question, I was going to change the coil, plugs, wires,filters, etc until I saw the quote for labor, now Im rethinking what all needs to be done? The car has 27k miles on it and it doesnt get driven but about 5k miles a year since Ive had it. Any opinions on what all needs to be done? The estimate for just the waterpump and optispark wasnt bad but the plugs and wires really made it jump. Thanks for any advice or information.

 

[warren s]

The opti spark, water pump job is a do at home job to me. If you must have it done its a good time to change the wires.

With 27K miles on the car its more of a matter of age on the wires than mileage. Unless the dealer wants over $100 for labor to change the wires and plugs I would do it.

I read on various forums that the dynotech unit is good, but never actually met some one who had one.

 

[92ghost]

I doubt you will fix the problem by replacing the Opti with a new one. It sounds like you have a small fluid leak right around the Opti that may be causing this problem. Unfortunately the water pump and hoses in/out are very close to the Distributor. Any leak will cause even a new Opti to miss fire if it gets enough moisture. IMO look at the water pump or hoses as the problem. I think the pump has a small hole in the back (right next to the Opti) that will start to leak when the bearings in the water pump are going out. Check for signs of leakage or dried radiator fluid at the base. I would just hate to see you replace the Opti only to find out it was the water pump.

On your other subject. The spark plugs, wires and coil etc. should last 100K. Under normal conditions this is probably true but it depends on the way you drive the car. I have 60K on my 92 coupe and still the original Opti.

Question: Did you wash your engine recently? I strongly advise against washing the engine. There are several threads on CAC about what happens to the Opti after the engine has been cleaned.

Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[misterKTM]

I'm in the midst of replacing my opti. I bought one from GMpartsdirect.com for $391 deliverd to my door. I'm going to add the vent kit that came on '95-'96 and shouldn't have another problem with it after this. I'll keep a close eye on water pump - and never wash the engine !!! I think the gal that I bought the car from washed the engine right before selling to me....

 

[94conv.]

No, I didnt just wash it or get it wet in any way, it had been sitting for about month or more when it acted up the first time about five or six weeks ago then it sat for another two weeks at least when it acted up the second time but only after I had driven it about ten miles and shut it off then took off again, thats when it wouldnt accelerate past thirty miles an hour with out missing out and stumbling with a slight backfire. Im going to look a little closer to see if I can see any clues to the water pump being bad but its getting replaced either way when the optispark gets replaced. Thanks for the reply, Im just not sure what all I can get away with not replacing, like plugs and wires and coil, I may be able to replace those myself, I just dont want to tackle the optispark after I read how you had to get it all lined back up and the pulley as well. I'm notorious for getting things a** backwards.

 

[94conv.]

where do you get the vent kits? and was it alright after it dried out?

 

[motorman]

go to www.charm.net/~mchaney/optisprk/optisprk.htm for all you want to know

 

[biggrizzly]

Just another note that I would try first before replacing an Opti with such limited mileage. I had similiar hesitation and stumbling, and reduced fuel economy unitl I replaced both my plugs and wires. Granted, my plugs and wires had 100k on them, but made a significant difference. Additionally, the sputtering and hesitation would manifest in mid-range rpms just as I would put a load on the engine. It would dissapear after some serious gas peddle.

Don

 

[compyelc4]

Your symptoms=bad opti=bad water pump. Take it from one who knows and who lost his opti at 12,000 mi. AND about 18,000 mi. due to bad pump AND "that radiator fluid smell".

As to the DynaSpark, those folks seem to know all that was wrong with the old opti. I compared them piece for piece. As to billet aluminum, I believe the Dyna and the orig. opti are billet part way. The other 2 pieces are basically plastic on each. The Dyna sounds good if they do everything they say they do, but for the extra money ???????????? I'd say if you keep moisture off the stock opti you will be dollars ahead, especially if you do your own work.

For my money I would go with the gmpartsdirect opti, and a new lifetime water pump from Autozone (they have very well made new ones IMHO). As for the vent kits, just make sure you have the correct vacuum limiting check valves in place or you are going to have one crappy idle.

 

[pci_raid]

I just installed a Dynaspark unit last weekend. 610.00 with shipping. I believe it is worth the extra money. Its a very well built unit. They will rebuild it for 39.00 labor. It uses the genII cap and rotor.

But the major fixes are , there are no holes in the rear of the unit. The venting is rerouted so that the air is pulled away from the rear low voltage side toward the front hi voltage . It is completely sealed on the rear side. No screw holes or anything.

My car still wont start , but thats another story. I think in the long run , It is a very good purchase if you have a 1st gen opti! I also looked at the venting and such of the OEM unit. In the end it's allmost as much as the Dynaspark costs and it still has many flaws. Buy the dyna.

Bob

 

[caddy]

I'm curious I have a 94' what all has to be removed to replace the wires on the drivers side? the Passenger side was a piece of cake but that drivers side..........WOW! what a mess, I can see why the dealer would charge about $100
thanks

 

[94conv.]

The estimate I got for just replacing the plug wires was $240.00, just labor, I havent called them back yet but this had to be a misprint. The estimate for just putting the optispark and waterpump in was about the same, thats what makes me think it was a misprint.

 

[Skyguy007]

I replaced the OptiSpark on my Vette with a DynaSpark this past summer as part of a leaky water pump replacement. My car had about 75,000 miles when the pump started leaking. The leak was very slight - I had noticed the smell of antifreeze - then got noticably worse after a cross country trip back to MD from the Cruise Fest in Auburn, IN. The biggest pain in the whole deal was getting the harmonic balancer off. (Look for an old thread on this site re: "Demonic Balancer".)

I had a chance to repeat the whole thing just before Carlisle because I failed to note where I had routed one of the DynaSpark's vent hoses, which lead to the hose being rubbed in two by the power steering pulley. Everything's back together now and running great. I'm pretty sure the DynaSpark comes with vent hoses attached, which would eliminate the need to buy an extra kit for your pre-vented Vette.

 

[Edmond]

The estimate I got for just replacing the plug wires was $240.00, just labor, I havent called them back yet but this had to be a misprint. The estimate for just putting the optispark and waterpump in was about the same, thats what makes me think it was a misprint.

They usually have a shop manual that gives them an estimated time to complete the project. Then they multiply that estimate by their hourly rate. It wouldn't surprise me that they would charge $240 to do the work because it's not easy getting in there. It's not hard either but it's time consuming.

 

[Jughead]

I put one of the Dynaspark units on my 94 coupe last December. Believe me when I tell you it is a first class piece of engineering and manufacturing. They supplied everything you would expect except for the elbow grease (or money) you need to install it. I replaced mine when the water pump started to leak at 32k and will soon be installing one of these units as a pre-emptive strike on my 93 convertible. If you're going to keep your 94 for any length of time and can afford the extra coins.... go for it. I don't think you would be disappointed with the Dynaspark. Good luck !

 

[92conv]

Quick question, I am under the impression that the Dynaspark will not work if the optispark gave out... might not be true just something I heard. Also how long did it take you to get the replacement job done?

 

[Jeb]

From your description, it seems to me that the water pump may be leaking after the cooling system is pressurized.....which takes about the amount of time you can drive prior to the thing acting up.

What may be a tiny leak turns into a torrent when the system is under pressure.

 

[94conv.]

The dynaspark is the same as the optispark, just a better built replacement. The job wasnt really that bad if you're just replacing the optispark, replacing the plug wires took as long as just replacing the optispark, the secret is to loosen the power steering brackets and pull it away from the block to replace the drivers side wires and also feed them through in order going from bottom to top ( on drivers side of course ) and if your digging far enough to replace the optispark go ahead and replace the wires, this was reccomended to me and when you dig into it, it makes perfect sense.

 

[gratuities]

Just did plugs and wires myself.That dealer quote isnt a misprint, a local dealer wanted $450 to do the job. Good Luck!

 

[Edmond]

Just did plugs and wires myself.That dealer quote isnt a misprint, a local dealer wanted $450 to do the job. Good Luck!

How much time did you put in?

How many beers did it take?:L

How much cursing?:L