How do I go about checking my Opti, concerning my high RPM popping and sputtering? Thanks in advance.

 

I don't know that there really is a way to pinpoint those kinds of problems to the opti. Perhaps an experienced technician with an oscilloscope.

 

I took mine to a local shop that hooked it to an analyzer that was able to detect very small misfires and pinpoint which cylinders were misfiring. I had no codes and it was consistantly the same cylinders 5&7 and I had already replaced plugs and wires so I narrowed it down to the opti. The car ran pretty on the old opti but would occasionally hesitate just a little. New opti...runs like new again.

 

I had a buddy of mine take a ride in my car to see what he thinks. He was the service manager at a local GM dealership for as long as I have known him and now owns his own shop.

He says it does not feel or sound like a fuel problem because as soon as it shifts to the next gear it is right there pulling hard again until the 5000+RPM range. He is thinking that the cap or buildup in it might be spreading the spark to other cylinders. He says it feels like a rev limiter spreading around the spark....

So I guess the first thing I am going to check is the cap. How much of a PITA is this to take off??

 

I think by the time you get to where you can get the cap off you are only three bolts from having it completely removed. Not a 5 minute job but not too bad...I think I got to that point in about 1 1/2 hours but I am sure others have done it faster.

 

I went ahead and got me another Opti, which is on the way. Figured if that does not fix it, it doesn't hurt to have another Opti sitting here. Looks like it will be quite fun replacing it though....