03/08/2006 I replaced both my water pump and opti. I drove the car around for a month and then havn't drove it any in the past 3 weeks. Its been in the shop getting some work done (headers, etc). I had a local shop replace the water pump and opti and have a high performance shop doing the headers and stuff right now.

Anyways, to get to the point I got this e-mail today from the guy working on my car right now:

"I am getting the engine back together. I looked at the opti spark, and I had though you mentioned that this was replaced or serviced. I took the cap off to inspect the insides, and it is NASTY. I suggest that you replace the complete unit, I can supply a brand new GM opti for $289. Or I can just install a cap and rotor kit for $135. The cap that is on this opti does not have the second vent line for some reason. In other words it’s the wrong cap.

Call me when you get a chance, I hate to put it back together like this because I know you will eventually have problems with it. Most likely sooner than later."

He told me there was like corrosion "growing" all over. Luckily the part is under warranty for 12,000 miles so hopefully it will be covered.

My question is: How could this have happened? How could the first shop have messed it up this bad? Did the put the wrong cap on, is that what caused this? I JUST had them put in a brand new opti and now i'm getting told I need ANOTHER one. The current opti only has a few hundred miles on it (only drove with it for 2 weeks or so).

Thanks for the help,
Hoping for a quick responce since im going to have to make some phone calls in the morning
~Kizzle

 

Might help to know the year of your car so we know if it was supposed to be vented or not. Add a "signature" with basic info about your car.... year, model, major mods, etc.

Sounds like they might not have actually changed the Opti the first time.

 

1995 Camaro Z28. 120k miles. Was completely stock other then flowmaster catback.

 

The connection on the cap is for the vacuum supply, so in effect you were running an unvented system. Its unlikely that it would have corroded badly in a period involving only 5 weeks of use. Sounds like the first shop might have just swapped on an old unvented cap.

 

He said they looked like new parts other then the corrosian "growing" on it. I didn't get a chance to go to the shop to check it out but if he's recommending to replace the whole thing then i'd assume its pretty bad.

I'm having the two shops call each other to talk in the morning, hopefully they can get everything sorted out. I'm mainly just trying to get some background information on HOW this could have happened.

Opti installed 03/08/2006
Car driven (5 days a week) until 4/14/2006
Car in the shop since then.

Thats like 28 days of driving and i'm getting recommended to replace the entire thing... again.