Well i finally diagnosed my hard starting to be the opti. When i finally got the cap and rotor off of the opti i noticed it was in real bad shape! Most of the terminals were yellowish and quite burned.

Now, my real question is how do you determine if you need a new opti versus a new cap and rotor? My opti spins without any weird noises or clanks and 'feels' normal, but what the heck is normal?

Money is definitely a concern.. so if i can save by getting a cap and rotor instead of a quality opti that would be optimal.

 

I'm in the same boat.... Hard starts with a low res code, I dont know whether I should buy a cap kit or new all together... If the sensor is dead cap/rotor would not do anything right?????

 

The low res code says 'new Opti time'.

The cost of a new cap and rotor vs. a new opti is pretty close. How many miles on the original?

 

The only thing with my case is that the car wouldnt throw any codes, no SES light. It just ran like crap and ran rich.

 

I just bought the car, so im assuming 109K on the original (if it has never been changed). The car was badly maintained. Everything looks original.. including the plug wires and plugs themselves.

 

If that is the case, I would just install a brand new opti assembly w/cap and rotor and throw in fresh plugs/wires. The car will probably run like a whole different animal after that.

 

Yea but thats what every one says (no offense), but with out getting the low pulse code how do i know that the opti is bad.

 

How do you know that its good?

I have never had good luck with getting a used/dirty cap or base to seal to its new counterpart. GM or aftermarket. In fact I have seen ac delco rotors dig into the cap.

If you are going through the time and the trouble put a whole new unit on the car. Nothing like the fun of ripping it all back apart again and then spending more money.

 

Well i assume its good because im not getting SES or DTC's saying that there is a problem with the opti. Also, the condition of my plugs and wires is so bad that i would say its those parts before the opti. Its not that im not willing to take the advice of the very people i asked the question to, but like i said.. money is a concern..

 

Think of it more as preventative maintenance. A new AC Delco unit should give you peace of mind for another 100k, you would be taking a gamble in hoping that your stock sensor will last as long.
Also if you have 109k on the original water pump, then you might as well swap in another one along with a new opti.
Coughing up dough sucks, but so does replacing the same parts a few weeks or months later.

 

Good point on the insurance. I guess i'll just pop for the complete opti. My water pump looks like it had been replaced. The bearing and spline are nice and tight. It was actually leaking because the 'tards who installed it did not tighten the 3 bolt on the left flange.