Is there a way to test if the opti-spark is good or bad?

I posted a ? about how to replace it based on what the dealer said, but I'm kinda beginning to doubt him.

Should the car miss or stumble? Bad fuel mileage?

Reason I ask is I wonder if he may have confused the front seal, or valve cover or intake leak.

My car pulls strong to the readline in the lower gears (will even chirp third). Would it be able to do this if the opti was bad or going out?

The car only has 32k on it, so it seems a little early for a part like this to be going out

 

Optis can go at anytime....

 

Yes they can. Sometimes they throw a code and sometimes not. You can't really test them, it's kind of a hope and pray type thing. But with it pulling hard through third, I don't think it sounds like an opti. ?????

 

Sweetred95ta Yes they can. Sometimes they throw a code and sometimes not. You can't really test them, it's kind of a hope and pray type thing. But with it pulling hard through third, I don't think it sounds like an opti. ?????

Yep, pulls hard through 3rd and even 4th.

She laid down 271rwhp. I'm pretty sure the dyno test was in 4th.

I wonder if he is confusing the opti with the intake leak or something else.

If your opti is leaking, how much do they usually leak?

Mine leaks a dime to nickle size drop every couple days.

 

I have never had mine leak anything. Is it leaking oil?

 

Sweetred95ta I have never had mine leak anything. Is it leaking oil?

Yep, at least thats what the dealer said

Hmmmm, this sounds weird. I wonder how he came to the conclusion that my opti was bad?

They pressure tested my cooling system and said my water pump was going bad and my opti was leaking??

I've never noticed a drop of coolant and the car has never ran hot.

 

Yeah, even if your car did leak oil or coolant, it still wouldn't effect the way it ran. Atleast only leaking a little bit like yours does. You'll have to start doing what everyone does TRIAL AND ERROR.

 

There is nothing in the opti to leak out.

Now, if it got coolant in it and that's what was leaking out, you would have a problem.

 

Shoebox, i tried PMing you but it wont work...so i have two totally unrelated questions...do you have any good links on the K&N FIPK install on a 94 Z28, and randomly what gears are in a GU5 car? Thanks

 

shoebox There is nothing in the opti to leak out.

Now, if it got coolant in it and that's what was leaking out, you would have a problem.

Thats what has me wondering why the dealer said I needed a new opti??

I'm only leaking oil. The car isn't running hot nor is there any coolant leaking anywhere. The coolant recovery tank isn't noticeable low. And there isn't any coolant in the oil.

Can a waterpump go bad and not be leaking coolant?

Looking under the car, there is oil on the bottom pulley.

 

No llinks on the FIPK. It's pretty easy. GU5=3.23:1

 

thanks rob

 

If your car does not miss or stutter, then the opti is probably ok. There are three round seals plus the timing cover seal, itself, that can leak on the front. The trick is to get things clean enough to be able to see where it is coming from.

Can a pump go bad and not leak? Maybe, but leaking is usually the first symptom of them going out. Coolant leaks past the worn pump shaft and drips out the weep hole in the bottom of the pump.

 

Thanks Shoebox. The dealer story seems to be a little fishy since its not leaking coolant, and apparantly the opti doesnt leak oil.

Perhaps it is the front seal or intake that is leaking down and they wanted to take the blanket approach to fixing the leak at my expense.

I think I'm going to take it somewhere else and get a second opinion before I try to start replacing stuff or paying to have stuff replaced.

Thanks again guys.
CL