Hey guys,

Car was running like crap and finally died on me about 2 weeks ago - it had no spark at all. So I changed the optispark, and it then had all kinds of spark but would not start. It turned out that I installed the optispark wrong (not flush with the timing cover) -and that is why it wouldn't start.

Then, I re-installed the new optispark the correct way - and the car ran AMAZING for about 2 weeks. So I thought I was all set....

Now - the car is starting to show the same symptoms as it did before I changed the optispark in the first place (erratic idle, hesitation, etc.)
So I am wondering if I could have damaged the optispark by having it bolted down tight without being in the correct place and cranking the car over numerous times. My car is a 1997- so its the dowel pin set-up. I'm pretty sure that the 1st time I had the pin just into the butterfly indent and not in the hole. Because when I loosened it up to check it - the opti was pulling itself off of the timing cover as I loosened the bolts a little bit.

So do you think I may have damaged the opti during that process and it just took a couple weeks to start screwing up again? Cause I know your not supposed to put too much pressure on that wheel ( and I had it torqued down with just the pin pressing right on the butterfly). Or did I just get a bad opti?..... thanx in advance

 

I would double check all connections and see if it is something else first. I would think a visual inspection would tell if something is broke or out of place.

 

Yes, you may have damaged it.

 

Ya thats what I figured, darn!!

I just thought it was wierd how it ran great for around 2 weeks and finally started screwing up now. Just got back from taking it for another ride - it just threw the service engine soon light on and its acting like it wants to die just like before.

Even though it was my pretty much my fault - this will be 3 optispark removals/replacements in 2 weeks. I'm getting just a bit frustrated....

 

what codes do you have....could be something else

 

On the bright side, you should be quite good at doing them now after 3 times.

 

no, you didnt ruin the optispark.gm did!

 

i got a chuckle out of that

 

You might have something else in the spark circuit going south. Possibly the coil is on it's way out. A bad coil will act somewhat like a bad opti.

I did the same mistake as you when installing an opti, (many moons ago). and that opti was not damaged thankfully. I would expect yours to be ok too.

Karl

 

Well, the coil is only a month old. So it shouldn't be that. That was one of the things I replaced when I first started having issues.

I just have a bad feeling that I ruined the new opti. Especially cause I think I may have torqued it down more than necessary the time it was on wrong.

Plus - the current symptoms just seem like a bad opti. It stumbles and hesitates - especially in the lower RPM's. It pops and backfires while driving. It goes from good idle to poor idle, etc. and tries to keep catching itself, etc....