I am planning on takin a look at this Z28. I know the basics of looking for oil leaks and slipping transmissions, suspension, and brakes. My question is how can I "test" the opti-spark to make sure it is good?

Camaro Z28

I am stationed on Hawaii and everything here is ridiclious for prices though.

 

You do realize it says it has an LS1 motor? Or have you determined that is a typo - which I suspect it is?

 

I've determined it to be a typo. Ive also determined that a lot of people who sell stuff here in Hawaii have no idea of what they are selling.

 

i believe shoebox's site outlines the test for the optis...or should i say for spark... but a good drive will let u know rather than wasting ur time....

id check it for signs of accidents.

not sure if u have access to a scanner...but scan it...make sure its not holding any codes...or the bulb was not removed... or even that it was just reset (u will be able to see the monitors have not set.

obviously climb under...look for leaks and rust...

check panel gals and panel color match as well as rad support for signs of a crash....


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

 

As mentioned previously.. Only good test for OPTI is driving, hesitation, missing, get it hot and find a freeway or open road where you can run it up to high RPM (4-5K) under load. You don't need a dragstrip it's an A4 so a couple of 0-60 pulls in 3rd when the engine temp is 190-210 on gauge will test the ignition. Bring a flashlight and look for any water pump coolant OR oil from front seals on the OPTI.


By the way I like the color, mine's a hardtop.. [IMG][/IMG]

 

Thanks for the advice everyone. This will be my first V8 car and I jumped on my V6 Camaro rather quickly and ended up bighting me in the ***. Hopefully this Z will make up for my rash decision.

 

ull love the v8 over the v6


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

 

Well I test drove it today and a few issues I noticed were as follows. The temp gauge was inop and the low oil light was on. I checked the oil and it was full. So I am guessing that it could be the oil level float in the oil pan stuck? As for the inop temp gauge, I checked the radaitor and over fill bottle and both were empty, prior to driving. No skipping though at speed and doing 0-60 either. I heard a rattling noise from underneath where the drive shaft sits, but I couldnt get a good look underneath as the dealership was closing. Im assuming its the exhaust rattling around underneath. Any thoughts or opinions?

 

The coolant temp gauge is driven off a 1-wire sensor in the drivers side head. Could be as simple as the wire being off the sensor, or a faulty sensor. The PCM reads a different 2-wire sensor on the water pump housing.

I'd be very concerned if the car was driven with no coolant and the temp sensor (possibly intentionally) disconnected, so you couldn't see it was running hot. Run the LT1 engine too hot and you will have head gasket problems.

If the radiator was empty, the low coolant light should have been on. That's another area where pulling the harness connector of the sensor (passenger side radiator tank, a few inches below the fill neck) will prevent the light from turning on.

I'd be little hesitant about the engine at this point.

Oil level sensor problem is not unusual on an 18 year old car.