Ok here it goes ... I did a crazy thing and sold my 96 T/A well needless to say I wised up and bought it back from the guy I sold it to lol. Well anyhow he changed the cam from a cc305 to a cc306. Right before I sold it, I had put in a brand new GM Opti.

When I got the car back, it sputtered and stalled at low rpms. On a cold start the rpms would be extremely low and to get it to idle ok I would have to hold down the gas for a while and when I would feel a surge I let off and it would idle fine. At a stop sign, I noticed that it would want to die and when I would start to drive it would stumble even while pressin down on the gas then perhaps midway through the intersection it would kick in and take off fast.

I figured (perhps it was more wishful thinkin) that it could not be the opti. SO I changed the wires, plugs, cleaned the MAF, fuel filter and nada still the same. I also noticed that when I turn on the A/C the rpms drop and at a stop wants to die, but if I turn off the A/C in the same stop the rpms jump back up and car idles ok.

Needless to say the guy that had bought it from me ended up lettin me know that while the cc306 was being put in, coolant got on the opti and it did not want to start up but after drying for I think he said a day it finally started.

After finding this, out my fears were confirmed and I knew I had to buy a new one BUT it also dawned on me that I have a vented opti so I went to inspect and found that the hoses were missing and the parts on the opti where they should go were not plugged up. To add to this problem I assume after the cam install the timing chain cover developed a MAJOR oil leak and it is COMPLETELY filthy down there and the area of the opti that the hoses should be connected to have oil splattered around.

My question is this, either way I have to buy the opti hoses and connect them BUT do you think that this will dry out any moisture that may still be in the opti and thus allow me to keep money in my pocket that would go for a new one or is this opti done for and time to get a new one? Keep in mind this cam install was done perhaps eight months ago but the car just remained parked and never driven. It has only been driven the past month since I repurchased it so I am not sure if driving could maybe 'help' dry it out a bit more...

SORRY for the long novel but I just wanted to be very thorough and explain as much as possible.

PS I recently monitored the idle on Datamaster and noticed the TPS Voltage at .96 I think this is because the TB screw has been moved alot due to crazy idle, which I think now is becuz of the opti and I was gettin DTC MAP 33 (high voltage low vacuum) DTC was only on startup, after rev it up and get it to idle higher (1k) the SES light would go off. I think this could all be Opti related ... is that right or is that a different issue

 

Most probably the opti is fine, you only need to retune for the bigger cam.

 

Not having the vent lines connected can permanently damage the opti. Without the vent lines, ozone and other contaminates created in the high voltage section are not cleaned out. This can cause cross-firing inside the cap and rotor leading to poor idle, stumble, etc. In addition, the vent lines act as cooling for the opti. The optical sensor can be damaged by overheating of the opti as the vent lines are used to evacuate hot containated air.

 

Thank you guys, I do have a mail order tune from Bryan so the tune should be ok until I can dyno tune it. It also just hit me that the MAP 33 code is because the vent line from the opti is not connected to the intake manifold right?

I guess once I get the vent lines, I'll be able to tell if the new opti is required, but how long will it take for me to notice? Right away or does it take a while to 'clean' out the moisture/heat etc?