backfire through the throttle
 

I recently tried to start my motor and it backfired through the throttle, not just a small pop, but a loud boom that shook the car, and blew my air filter (fipk) and a vacuum hose off my intake tube. All of my intake tubes were fillled with smoke. I think I know what caused it, my optispark wire (not plug or coil wires) has a short and causes the engine to stumble and die if I touch it.

My problem is that I can't get the part for a at least another few days, possibly as long as 10 days, but I want to know if the car will run as I have to get to work, so my question is does anyone know how dangerous an intake backfire is? Should I risk another one, or should I try to start the car as that opti wire has been bad for about a week now and never caused an intake backfire before? Thanks for the help.

Re: backfire through the throttle
 

hell no u dont want to risk another one get a ride

Re: backfire through the throttle
 

Agreed, unless you really want the job to get bigger and cost more $$;)

Re: backfire through the throttle
 

yea good call, parts will be here in three days, last thing is another intake manifold leak. Thanks for the advice.

Re: backfire through the throttle
 

Good chance you may have damaged the parts attached to (or related to) the intake and ducting, including the throttle body blades, MAP sensor, MAF sensor***, brake booster, HVAC check valve, etc. You need to make sure the IAT and all the vacuum lines are correctly reconnected. If you know the "Opti wire" is damaged, fix it. If it messes up the low res signal from the optical sensor, its going to be firing the plugs and injectors at the wrong time = BACKFIRE.

Any chance you have a nitrous system.... a leaky solenoid can cause that problem as well.

*** You didn't tell us what year your car is, so we don't know if you have an MAF sensor or not - why not add a "signature" with basic info about your car - year, model, engine, tranny and any major mods????

Re: backfire through the throttle
 

could it have been a crossed wire?, like he said tuning way off, i'd lead toward a stuck lifter in the intake position,