I have a theory of why some people seem to be replacing optis more often than say Me...

First of all lets put aside the vented/non vented... My theory is that they may be using multiple spark Ignitions..


Let me explain... I believe that an aftermarket multiple spark ignition has have to play a role in the optis cap and rotor wearing out quicker than an OEM ignition only because they are firing more times per cylinder than the one time only OEM shot per cylinder..

Laws of physics?? I am not expert but if you fire three to four time per cylinder shoulndt that reduce the life expentancy of Optis Cap conectors by that much at least?? or what if just cuts the life span by half?? it has got to. I mean several sparks each time as opposed to one...

Anyone agrees? disagrees?


Marvin

 

I have had an Accel 300+ ignition box on my 94 for most of its 135k and its still on the stock opti.
In fact I,m afraid to touch the thing for fear it will quit working, same cap and rotor as well.
Never been touched.

 

Although that makes sense, I've had an MSD on my 97 almost since about 10k miles, and I my Opti (I think that's the probelm0 just crapped out at 100k. I've NEVER power washed my engine, though.

 

I think most Opti issues are in peoples heads.

How many threads can you find in just the most recent few pages of the board where the person threw in a new Opti and it didn't fix the problem? Plenty. Often times they will replace other things at the same time, too, so this masks the problem.

 

The opti is a funny thing. Some people have great luck while some have a terrible time with them. Also, I don't think aftermarket ignitions shorten the life of an opti, if it did, nobody would be buying them. Although what you are saying kinda makes sense. Hope someone has a clear explanation to this. Injuneer, maybe?

 

I think your theory is just another guess. I run an MSD on mine and have looked at the opti after more than 10,000 miles of use and there was no evidence of accelerated wear that I could see.

 

I am not guessing Shoebox.. I opened the theory for discussion.

Marvin

 

Don't get excited.

My observations say there is nothing to worry about when running an aftermarket ignition. The opti's wear on their own anyway. Just like any distributor cap and rotor, they will deteriorate over time.

 

Good point Shoebox,, anyone else want to contribuite?

by the way... anyone know of any technical paperwork by GM where they state normal life expentancy of the Optispark? How would that compare to an optispark that has been subjected to multiple sparks per ignition cycle and under increased power load/delivery to spark plugs? (multiple spark ignitions claim to deliver more power)

I just curios..

Marvin

 

The most technical thing I have seen lately about the opti was http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...htp_optispark/

 

I had my first opti die at 38k miles. GM replaced under their 5/60 smog warranty. Now at 98k miles, my waterpump gave out. While I was changing it to electric, I pull the opti and found that the shaft drive did not spin smoothly. That and the fact that #2 plug change several months ago showed much dirtier that the others but the wire ohms was ok, is the reason I changed out the opti. While it wasn't dead yet, no sense in having to take water pump off again soon. Three weeks after the opti and waterpump replacement, my car ran rough coming home and then would n't start again. First thing I though was that oh sh$t my new opti, but it turned out to be the coil. The opti is just a fancy distributer that's a real PITA to change. I wouldn't mind if it was hard to change as long as I didn't have to empty the coolant which is always a mess, reinstall the waterpump and worry about potential leaks afterwards. One of those cheesy GM hose clamps didn't anymore and I had to spill coolant to replace it.

 

you dang right about the pain the the rear end... I feel GM could just have simply added the optical part to a completely seal unit and then would have left the rotor cap part to a distribuitor like device mounted where all the other distribuitors were in the first place.. I have to admit I feel the idea behind the Opti is sound but they just seem to think at GM that having people pay hundreds of dollars for parts that otherwise would be easy to replace its the only way to meet their quarter quotas.

The technology behind the cap and rotor... come on isnt it such a joke? I read the technical paper from GM....oh they finally found a way to get the rotor closer to the contacts in the cap... by doing what?? You see my point?

There is a great deal of things that could be done better... as in the temp sensor that feeds the instrument cluster.... is way off!! I could have done a better job using a potentiomenter to calibrate that thing and then just ad a resistor in the instrument cluster... time espent?? hmmm 5 minutes??

If GM wants to improve its bottom line they should pay more attention to detail.... I wonder how long did it take to that GM injeneer to design that thing... weeks??? looking for the right parts?? looking for correct place to stick the sensor in the car?? ohh and how much testting was done?? and How much is that guy making in dollar figures per year??? just to end up with a reading that in my car is 20 degrees off!!! I would be ashamed to call my self an injeneer ..... and be that much off in just a engine temp reading.... Radio shack Temp sensors are more acurate than that.... and I bet for a lot cheaper too.

Yes GM could do a whole lot better in design and also save in costs by making their designers more acountable for the product the turn out of their air conditioned offices..


My personal opinion though... I sure someone will disagree with me

Marvin

 

A lot of us will agree with you on the part about paying more attention to detail, but that is how Chevy is able to offer almost exotic-car matching performance at a fraction of the price. Other cars have other parts that constantly break down; on our cars, that seems to be the opti (although some people have never had any problems with them). Just try buying a M3 or a Porsche, and you will see how expensive repairs can get. And I definitely wouldn't call BMW or Porsche engineers uncapable of putting out reliable cars. If you think about how complex these cars are, you get a better appreciation for them.
Chevy must have also realized their mistake and took care of it on the LS1 engine. Unfortunately, we get to suffer, but then again, our cars are definitely one of the best bang-for-the-buck sports cars out there.

 

HONESTLY now that i think about it all of my optis have been because either one of the screws that hold the rotor down came loose or lately i think its because my cam dowel was too long and i just blew them all to hell! i honeslty have never replaced an opti just cause it went bad! such as your stating above!

 

I will apreciate a temp gage that its acurate....and other things... oh the Tach is off too.... I dont think the the GM injeneers are making 10usd an hour. If they are cutting corners to keep the cost down they must not be trying hard enough. If I can calibrate that temp gage with a pair of resistors from radio shack for about 3dollars..(1.25usd to be exact) and without an engineers degree... I am sure they could do it too...


Marvin