please help...my baby is sick

[1993 quazar vette]

I got it wet and now it is SICK !

I recently purchased a 1993 40th anniversary year quasar blue corvette. A few nights ago I decided to pressure wash the engine, well evidently I got too much wet and possibly got excessive moisture in the opti-spark unit.;stupid
now the car is really sick, it idles rough, sputters, backfires and this is all new after the washing. If my problem is indeed the distributor, will it dry out and repair itself or am I looking at buying some new parts? If I have to buy new distributor, will the cap kit work or will I have to spring for a whole new distributor. Either way do you all recommend that I change the plug wires and plugs while I replace the Distributor (if necessary). The car has just rolled to 90K original miles and looks to be the original plugs, wires and dist.

P.S. is there a specific performance chip that you all would recommend for my vette.
I got it wet and now it is SICK !

 

[Rob]

Chances are, the Optispark will need to be replaced. Let's see what other members think.

 

[RedRagTop]

I would be exremely careful washing under the hood! If it is your dist&cap/wires which is most likely I just replaced all of mine with ACCEL parts and made a big difference. If you have original parts in place now it is time for a change anyway. I found one of my plug wires had broken inside and was arcing its way through. Plugs/wires/cap/distributor replacement is cheap maintenance. I put a supercoil on while I was in there...

 

[1993 quazar vette]

will I have to replace the entire distributor or will a $200 cap kit do the job...I have access to a great garage with a lift and pro tools so could this task be a DIY?

 

[RedRagTop]

I did mine for about $120US including wires, cap, rotor, supercoil and if you know about performing this kind of task you can DYI in a couple hours in your driveway. Mind you, all parts were new aftermarket ACELL

 

[1993 quazar vette]

my 1993 has the LT1 engine and the cheapest I have found just the cap and rotor button replacement is around $200 dollars + another $90 for plug wires and about $6 each per plug these are all delco replacement parts...this is looking expensive I hate to see what an entire delco distributor will cost if needed...some one please help if you have been down a similar road. The local corvette dealer wants $750 just to change distributor, wires and plugs...:cry

 

[compyelc4]

Try this before replacement:

1. Remove the harness from the opti at the 10:00 position. See if the opti end of the harness is damp. If so dry it with hair dryer. While you are at it direct the hot air down the receptacle hole where the harness came out of. That opening is open to the inside of the opti. Go have a burger and fries. By the time you get back it may be dry enough to run ok.

2. If #1 does not work I WOULD NOT JUST BUY THE CAP AND ROTOR KIT. Your problem is most likely in the 1/3rd section of the opti (the aluminum rear section). That is where the optical pickup resides.

3. Try gmpartsdirect. That place is awsome. New Delco opti for $277, including shipping/handling. Took me about 4 days to arrive on my door. Can't beat it. While you are at it check their water pumps. Should be the best price in town!

Good luck.

 

[1993 quazar vette]

Thanks to all for the great advise...I was able to dry out my opti last night and now it has returned to normal. I still plan to replace the plug wires and plugs in a month or so as a "tune-up" at that time I may go ahead and replace the cap and rotor to insure a good spark. I am planning on using the GM recommended rapid fire plug, does anyone have any suggestions also...what synthetic oil should I use in my LT1 and, does any one know of a good performance chip that will fit my 93 LT1

 

[RubyDropTop]

Many new owner's learn the hard way that water/moisture is pure evil to the Opti (why else would GM place it directly beneath the water pump :eyerole).

Anyway, I feel your pain. My Opti went at 25,000 miles. I had the water pump, spark plugs and wires replaced at the same time. Total cost with labor was $1,200.00. So, if you can do it yourself, you are better off.

My water pump gave no indication that it was failing, but once removed from the car it was evident that 90% of the bearings were gone. :eek After only 25,000 miles that is pretty sad.

Keep an eye on your Opti since you have had this problem. I was able to dry mine out once as well, but then about a year later it was definitely time for a replacement.

Since your car has 90k on it, I'd replace the the plugs, wires and water pump as well. Replacing the water pump is cheap insurance for a new Opti. Good luck.

PS - I use Mobil 1 in my car for an oil choice and a K&N oil filter; and I have a HyperTech chip in the car but can't say that it's really worth the money.

 

[FordNoMore!]

RJS Rocket, U have a L-98 engine , different then LT-1, LT-1 does not have a conventional distributor cap and rotor , it is an optispark and is located behind the waterpump, I would replace the whole optispark as long as you have to take it all apart just to replace the inards of the opti, search the net, u can get a good deal somewhere on opti's."beer

 

[Black Ice]

Put a Hair dryer on the opti for about and hour. Insert key in ignition drive and enjoy! This should work!

 

[compyelc4]

93quazarvette,

How did you "dry" the opti out?

 

[Black Ice]

So What happened? Is it working now?

 

[1993 quazar vette]

Thanks to all who contributed you personal expertise to my little problem...I was able to dry the opti with a dryer and then I pulled it out of the garage and started the engine and let it run for about an hour (it helped tremendously that the temperture outside was 80 degrees) it all eventually cleared up. In the near future I plan to replace the plugs, wires, opti and possibly install a performance chip and replace the mufflers. If anyone has any advise toward my future endeavor please post.

 

[UB2 SLOW]

Make sure you take the extra 10 minutes and remove the Throttle Body. The manuals dont tell you to remove it, but it allows you more room and it makes getting the water pump off and putting it back on easier. Also make sure you label the wires or you can accidently put one back on in the wrong spot and then you will have to take it all off again to find the problem. (not that I did that or anything:L )

 

[Black Ice]

I always do find a use for that hair dryer...