Best solution I have found so far-

1.) Find a pyscho chick with an LT1 to date
2.) Mess with coil wire so car runs like crap
3.) 'Diagnose' her car with a faulty Opti
4.) Convince her with a Google search on "Optispark" showing how prone to failure they are
5.) Suggest she buy a full MSD Opti to avoid future failures and also volunteer to install it to save her the $500 in labor charges from dealership
6.) Go out to garage, close garage door and throw wrenches randomly around on the floor for 4 hours with a buddy to simulate working on car
7.) Install new coil wire for $10
8.) Give perfectly running car back to pyscho gf
9.) Give her the boot 2 months later and keep the MSD opti for the rainy day when yours quits working.

True story....

Other than that I went the Autozone route- and then proceeded to replace it under warranty for 3 years straight until they said I couldn't return it since my car was 'modified'. Simple fix was go to another Autozone down the road. Good thing they are on almost every corner.

 

This my friends, is why there are relatively few manufacturers in the US. People like this would rather waste their time changing part after part instead of paying more up front and buying a quality part that lasts.

As many people have learned, don't buy electrical parts from cheap auto parts stores.

And stay away from the MSD opti. Do a search.

 

People like this? I think perhaps you should be careful with generalizations...I guess I should have noted when I tried the Autozone opti it was 10 years ago in college. At the time I couldn't afford the genuine part but could afford the 3 hours to swap an opti out-I was doing other things to the car so it didn't really matter. I don't believe I am to blame for them making a part that wouldn't last over a year...which I'm sure even though they did replace it a total of 3 times, I severely doubt they lost money on it. .

So let me get this straight- a company puts a lifetime warranty on a part, whether quality or junk- and then we as consumers are suddenly to blame for the downfall of US manufacturing for making the company honor their warranty?? IMO if a company are willing to put a lifetime warranty on a part then why should I feel bad by making them honor it?

I am the first one to say buy quality once instead of junk two or three times- and as far as the MSD Opti goes its been going strong for 4 years now- maybe I just got lucky But when it does go bad someday I guess I will go buy a new one instead of using the warranty...who knew warranties were to blame for overseas production...

 

O'reilly auto parts can get a new full distributor assembly with lifetime warranty from a manufacturer called Richporter Technologies. I have personally do not have any experience with them, but here is a link to their page... it appears as though it comes with the opti harness as well!

http://www.partcat.com/richporter/index.php

Jeff

 

New, yes. OEM, no. As has been stated many times in multiple threads, AC Delco, GM or Delphi (all the same) is the best way to go.

I think that's true will all the sensors, including the O2's......

Believe me, I'm not a "keep your GM car all GM" guy and I use aftermarket suppliers for many things..just not sensors or ignition parts, excluding plugs..

 

I think my last Delphi opti was made in Mexico...If I still have the box in the garage, I will verify that.