Well, my gf & I decided to head down tyhe shore tonight. ABout an hour drive. Stop for gas and shut the car off. Starts back up fine and we're off. Get there fine, shut car off again and start back up later and we're off. So we begin the drive back home...we get to a light about 2 miles from my place so I am slowing down. Light goes green before I get there so I go to hit the gas and the car is making all sorts of sputtering sounds and not moving, but it is still running. So I coast over to the shoulder and the car finally dies! Tried to start it tons of times, but no go. It tries to start. I can hear the exhaust start to rumble and such, but she won't turn completely over.

I would like to add that, lately, after it has rained a good bit the car doesn't wanna start. Doesn't matter if it was just driven a few hours ago or sat for a week. It would do the same almost start stuff that I just described.

So my guess is that my opti, at 93k miles, has finally taken a crap on me.

So if you think this is not opti related do tell.

I have 2 options now. Replace the waterpump and opti in the parking lot of my apt complex or have it towed to Joe Prince at some insane cost for the tow + whatever he wants to do the job and I could have a cam tossed in while it's there.

I think I am going to just replace the junk myself. So who can give me the info I need to replace them? What tools and what sizes I will need would also be great. I figure I can get it done in about 4 weekends time

 

First question I have is did you check anything or just guessing at this point? I assume from your "rain" problem it doesn't matter if it's parked or not. If that's true your problem could be anything. My first inclination would be fuel pump. Have you ever checked fuel pressure? I have seen many a fuel pump go bad right after the fuel level has gone real low on older cars. A cheap way to check is turn the key on, wait 5 seconds and turn it off. Then push the schrader valve on the fuel rail and see if gas comes out. Watch your eyes. If no fuel, fuel pump is not working. Still doesn't mean the pump is bad but likely. You should test the relay under the dead pedal to see if it has power.

Spark is easy to check. Have you checked spark at either the coil or the plug wires? I'm not one to just throw parts at a problem. If you have the time I would suggest you do a little investigation. Could save you a lot of money and aggravation in the end.

 

Fuel pump turns on & I get spark

EDIT: Will I have to buy part# 1104032 AND part# 10457293 AND part# 12130319

 

Checking fuel pressure, not just if the pump turns on, would be the more definitive way to do it.

I recognize the opti part number, but identify the others so people know what they are.

 

The others are cap & rotor & the electrical harness

EDIT: I just checked the schrader valve & fuel did come out.

 

1104032 is a complete opti w/cap and rotor, ready to bolt on. Nothing more needed. You don't need a harness unless yours is broken/damaged.

A pressure check should be done with a gauge. It's real hard to tell 20 psi from 40 psi by pushing on the valve.

 

Thanks for the part#.

I tried to start her again before I left for work. She fired up, but stalled out a few seconds later. Tried again and same result. Tried again after those two tries & she fired up and ran! I moved her into a different parking spot and let her idle till she got to op temp. then shut her off and started her again and she started no problems!

So, now, I dunno whether I should be relieved or pissed cuz I guess the opti is not dead, but I do need to find out wtf is wrong with her.

I still think the opti is failing because of this and what she has been doing when wet or raining...

 

Have you checked to make sure the coil ground is not loose???

 

Have you checked your wires to everything? Like the one going from coil to opti? Also i had a similar problem to you a couple years ago. Would start up fine, but would run like crap as soon as i tried to drive it or let it warm up. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Out of all the things i thought it was, it ended up being a clogged cat. Would run fine until it warmed up, then it would clog itself and give me probs. Goodluck on getting it fixed.

 

I checked the wires. I replaced the coil wire a couple weeks ago & it still does the same crap it did before I changed it. Cat is a year old random tech cat

 

Do you have an aftermarket ignition? If so, redo the ground connection. Mine, also a 95, did the same thing and I bought an opti but it was just a bad ground on the ignition box. If you rule out all possiblilities and it still seems like the opti then let me know. I have a spare I'll sell you for cheap. Leave the opti as the last option because all other possibilties are much easier to replace.

 

I just have an Accel supercoil in there. Been in there for a year. I'll check the ground when I get a chance later in the week =/