I just replaced my opti with a Summit model. But then it wouldn't start. Found power going to the coil, but not out. Ran to the store and got a new coil. No improvement.

I was very careful to make sure I had the opti in the correct position to get the dowel pin in. If I missed it, would this cause the spark not to happen at the coil? My friend helping me is old school and doesn't know, but that's his speculation.

 

Even if the cam dowel pin is in the wrong slot, or even just in one of the recesses, as long as it's turning the distributor, you should get spark. Spark won't happen at the right time, but it will spark.

How did you determine "power .....not going out" of coil? Did you hold the coil wire near ground and look for a spark? If the Opti cam position signal is not getting to the ICM, the coil won't fire. By "found power going to the coil" do you mean you had 12V at the primary?

Are you sure the harness connector is inserted fully into the Opti, is not corroded and has no bent pins?

Do you have a way to scan the PCM? The fatal code for the Opti is DTC 16, indicating the PCM is not receiving the low resolution pulse signal from the optical cam position signal in the Opti - shuts down the fuel system, and doesn't produce any spark. That sets the code, but that code does not turn on the SES light.

Read this:

http://shbox.com/1/4th_gen_tech2.html#opti_test

 

With the key in the "on" position, we have fire at the white wire (3 wires). Reconnect then do the old screwdriver in the wire, no spark. On the off chance that the wire was bad, also went straight into the nipple with a wire and it also would not spark at the ground. So the coil is (apparently) not sending out a spark even though there is current to it.

Yes, but it was a very tight fit. I will check to make sure I didn't bend any pins.

No, I don't have a scan tool and I'm not good at all at mechanicking. My friend, however, is good at it. Just not so up to date on gasoline stuff with injection.

I'll do that immediately!

Thanks for all that. I'll check what I can and get back.