I was out in the rain yesterday and i came back to my car from the store, i tured the key and nothing...the car would turn over, almost starting...but nothing...my heart sank (as i was in the cold rain) and i knew it was the optispark..i poped thehood, looked around and tied the batter terminal tighter and tried again...after the 10th try or so it started up, but the idle was realy bad. it was heaving and panting like a fat kid that just ran a mile. there was also this scary sucking sound. after leaving it idle like this the check engine light went on and the car died again. i tried to start it up again, and suprisingly the car started right up with no problems but had the funny idle still. it was idling from 1500 rpm to about 500 rpm, rocking back and fourth, then once again it dies.. i tried again and this time it starts fine. no funny idle but the check engine light is on...then all of a sudden it just dies.
i check the engine again and notice a line is unplugged. i beleive it is one of the lines that is connected to the optispark. i know for those of you that have the vented opti there is a line that is attached to the intake elbow and another one that goes into the bottom on the intake manifold and has some wierd blue and white saucer things attached to it.. the hose was completly blown off and a small peice was stuck on to the manifold. i beleive it was a vacuum line or something. i conect it back on start it up and it runs perfect, check engine light goes off and i drive home without any stalls.


I have a couple questions to this.

Was the vacuum line the problem or was it just a coincidence and it die again on me soon

How the hell did the vacuum line explode off?

Is the hose im talking about realy a vacuum line?? what is it used for?

THanks guys.

 

Thats funny! The same thing happend to me (all though I was in a car wash). The Opti had gotten wet. Ever thing you that happen to you happen to me. I have the Up greade Opti (vented). I found out that during the Hard idle a back fire ( popping sound) is what blew the vent lines off the intake.
To awnser you're 1st question.
"Was the vacuum line the problem or was it just a coincidence and it die again on me soon?"

"Was the vacuum line the problem or was it just a coincidence and it die again on me soon?"
I vacuum line COULD have been a problem, but I done not think that I would cause the vechile to outright stall/die

How the hell did the vacuum line explode off?
Most likly a backfire (small popping you might have had the plesure to listen too when you were trying to get it to fire up.

Is the hose im talking about realy a vacuum line?? what is it used for?
It is not really a vacuum line, it is more like a 'vent' type line. It more or less allow the opti to VENT out mosture and let fresh air in. Thus the 2 line you have going to it.

I hope his helps you out. All in all you have the symptoms of a dieing Opti Spark. Sorry to break the bad news to you on Chrismas. Good luck Brother!

 

sounds good, alteast i know what it is now, and yea it did backfire on me. LOL. thanks for the info, i hope its not to late to ask santa for an opti this christmas