You have some other issue if it is going out every 15k miles. You need to find out just what it is in the opti that is failing.

 

Umm..what exactly do you hate?? If its acting up just replace it. How many people hate their transmissions when they get old and start to slip?? Doesnt make sense. Just get it fixed.

 

im pushing 160k miles on the original opti, and wires are also original going to change the wires soon, starting to have off the line hesitation im hoping its the wires.

 

Bah...urban legend. I've washed my entire motor every time the car gets washed since day one and I'm still on the original opti. I even soak the entire engine with that engine cleaner foam while I wash the rest of the car, then spray it off. I ain't scared!

My opti doesn't act up. It just fails. [/QUOTE]

Sounds like a bit more troubleshooting is in order...what you're experiencing isn't normal and likely not the fault of the opti. Something is taking it out, or in the process of replacing it something is getting disturbed by coincidence. What brand of replacement are you using? Are they replacing the entire thing, or just using a rebuild kit? Has the wiring harness been checked thoroughly? Has the inline filter been replaced? Once or twice is fine to replace something, but certainly by the 3rd or 4th time you or your mechanic needs to start asking some serious questions. Something's obviously not right and unless figured out, you'll probably continue to replace them on a regular basis. Next time, get the old one from them and take it apart...might give some insight into the root cause.

 

not even a week after i got my car i washed the engine the opti died so i guess its my fault but ive always washed other cars engines and it was fine so i hate it.

 

To all opti haters:

Would you have been happier with a regular distributor on the back of the engine that you would have to pull the motor to remove? I don't think so. A regular distributor that did not have the accurate cam and crank postiioning capabilities of the opti? I bet not. Ever get a conventional distributor wet? It conks out.

Yeah, maybe they could have done something different, but they didn't. If it is such a nuisance, get an LTCC or buy a different car.

I am finding there is one thing I really don't like about it - the dreaded opti "whine".

 

Maybe it's time to try a different dealer...

 

My old school distributor lasted 130K miles. Actually it was still working when I replaced it since I went with vacuum advanced when I swapped carbs.
I didn't have to remove my waterpump to chnage it though.

 

Glad everyone has such good luck...well most that replied to me anyway...thanks for rubbing it in that yours lasted so long...you have no idea how annoying it is to replace so much especially when i are not good enough to do it yourself and pay $$$$ for it.....as far as something else being wrong, some told me that was the problem....no one has ever found any reason for the opti to fail so soon...everything on the vehicle has been checked many times and everything is perfect and i have no other problems with anything...i have no crazy mods, don't race it......so well....perhaps some LT1s are just prone to this....it really sucks.....if anyone has any other ideas what to look for or why it fails...i'd love to know. I won't be changing it for a autozone one...i already had it done at GM last week...so i will wait till it goes again.

 

What are they charging you to swap opti's?
My brother has been swapping opti's left and right trying to eliminate a high rpm miss. He does it himself since we have the tools and the time.

 

sorry....someone asked me if i had a breather line or of filter done i think...i believe the 94 did not have this....as far as i know i have a sealed unit....everything has been gone over and no one can find anything and i know many of the techs that work on my car....they aren't trying to screw me as far as i know....and GM doesn't care so no help from them. I just probably will drive it 1000miles a year for the next 15 years...lol....then it will go again

 

Was there any upkeep on it though? I thought you had to change points and whatnot every so often to keep them working correctly.

Forgive me if I'm wrong though...I've never tinkered with a distributor other than an opti.

 

I just changed the cap and rotor, it's like $10.00 for those.
Sometimes the module will go bad, that is about $30.

 

Yeah, '94 was the last year for the sealed unit. As far as your other optis that conked out...did you pull them apart to see if they had been contaminated by water or oil, or did you just pitch them and throw a new one on? You'll know right away if water has gotten in there...the optical disk will be covered in rust.

 

Mine just recently quit on me @ 94k miles.

Maybe one day there will be a replacement for it