I've had an issue for the past month with the car sometimes not starting or sometimes shutting down while running. (lots of backfiring and tach jumping around and then at zero before the shut down) It would sometimes run great and other times have problems. I have taken it to my mechanics and they have has some trouble recreating the problems consistently.

So far what has been replaced is the ICM, Coil, MAF sensor. Fuel filter and spark plugs were changed two months ago. Wires looked fine at the time. Two years ago (~10,000 miles) I replaced the opti with a dynaspark.

Does anyone have any ideas?? I tend to believe it is something sensor or electrical related because of the tach readings. A fuel pump wouldn't do that would it?? I also wasn't sure if it could be the opti, but I bought the dynaspark so I wouldn't have to do another.

I don't have a laptop to scan the car yet, but it doesn't throw a code when the problems happen.

Thanks for any help or direction,

CanadianZ

 

Sounds like you may have problems with the optical cam position sensor in the Optispark distributor. Doesn't matter what brand the Opti is - it still uses the same type optical module. That's where the PCM get the signal it sends to the tach.

You don't have to use a laptop to scan it. Find someone with a simple OBD-I scanner like an Aujto Xray. Problems with the optical cam position sensor will set DTC 16 and DTC 36, which do not turn on the SES light.

If you can't get it scanned, check both ends of the short "Opti" harness for corrosion or pin damage.

 

Thanks very much. I was afraid it might have something to do with the opti. I will check the harness first and see if that might be somewhere to start.

I know dynaspark uses the stock opti components but they do make a better housing, bearing and it is vented which wasn't done until after '94.

Thanks, CanadianZ

 

I'm familiar with the Dynaspark. Recently, there have been a couple posts on this site with regard to failures of the units right out of the box. Where no one had problems with them in the past, things seem to have changed. Do a "search".