Well i finally figured out my no spark problem. After double checking every wire and everything coming out ok, I decided to try a new opti. I got it from auto zone. When i had to take the cap off the old one, i noticed the little sensor that is rainbow shaped had a bubbled up area on it. It most definatly was fried. With the new opti, it fired right up. I took it out for a spin and the thing pings like crazy under load and has no power. What could be causing this? I dont see how I could have put in the opti wrong. It is a 94 with the splined shaft that can only go one way. Im really bummed out that i have spend thousands of dollars and my car runs like crap. It also is running extremely rich if that explains anything.

 

Some possibilities:

plug wires on wrong
opti installed wrong
opti no good

 

How can it be installed wrong? There is no way to put it in wrong. I doubt the opti is bad either since it is brand new and i checked all my wires. Any other ideas?

 

I wish I had $100 for every Opti that has been installed "perfectly" and actully ended up having the splines incorrectly indexed. I have read far too many posts where people managed to put the shaft in wrong, even though they swore they did it right. It is possible.

If you don't have the wires on the wrong terminals, and you aren't getting severe cross-firing on a few wires, there aren't a lot of other possibilities.

 

Don't bet on an aftermarket opti being good, either. There have even been some bad GM ones.

 

Ok, I dont know if you guys have ever seen an auto zone opti but it doesnt come with the cap and there is an extra cover that comes with it that isnt in the original opti. It is shaped kinda like a little plate. I didnt see how it would fit and I didnt put it in since it original didnt have one and it worked for a long time. Does anyone know what it is for and if that might be my problem? This thing is driving me nuts. thanks for the replys

 

Recheck everything and then im sorry to say this but redo it try it again and see what it does.. also if you have a scan tool see what everything is doing. then re do the opti or get a gm opti from jason cromer..

 

Yah, ill prolly just buy the opti from GM. Does anyone know if it comes with the cap and everything or is it like the auto zones? Does anyone know what i mean about the little plate shaped deal? Thanks.

 

A GM opti is complete and ready to install. Includes cap/rotor.

Not sure if the 93-94 opti is the same, but the part you refer to might be seen here.

 

THe one described as large metal plate is the one that i didnt put in since it wasnt in the original one. Did this only go in the 95 and up models or should i have put it in and do you think this is why my car runs like crap? Thanks

 

ttt

 

The unvented, factory Opti in a 1994 includes a thin metal "divider" that separates the high voltage section from the optical section. Is that what was missing in yours? I would suspect that is it needed to isolate the optical sensor electronics from RFI from the high voltage discharge in the cap/rotor section.

 

I did the Autozone opti thing for my 94 and my opti came with the thin metal plate...Like Injuneer said above, it's there to help shield off the opti side from the cap and rotor side... I'm not an expert in this but I'd assume if that shield is left off, it just gives a path for electricity to arc or get into the optical side and screw up the signal... I'd bet that's your problem... I'd go back to Autozone and have them open another box and see if it has the shield... I had problems with my cap and rotor kit from Autozone not having the plastic opti housing... They were helpful and opened every box they had and none of the kits had it... But I found out from this board that in some areas of the country the 94 opti was a complete kit, opti and cap and rotor kit... So maybe it's just another manufacturer screw up... I've had my Autozone opti on for 1500 miles or so with no problems so far.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I guess im gunna have to take it all back apart again and put that part in. If it still is screwed up, ill have to order a 300.00 GM opti i guess. It seems my car is starting to become an endless money pit.

 

I guess I didn't read your posts completely.. You said the new opti came with that shield... If I remember correctly, the shield can only fit on one way... I think it was notched around the plug for the wiring harness... After you look at it, it should be simple to figure how it fits on.. Good luck.