Well, I got my opti replaced and started working on putting it back together but figured I should give it a test start first. When I turn the key to start the ignition I was getting a single click then it was like all the power was gone, like it's shorting out. I can't figure out why it's doing this I've have a new MSD coil as well. Any suggestions? Sorry if there isn't much data here I'm a newbie at this stuff and not sure what all to post.

FYI this is on a 95 Z28.

Edit: I do hear the fuel pump when I turn the key.

 

First check the battery. And yes, they do just die like that sometimes.

 

Ok I got the battery tested and it looks fine, even charged it to full. When I put in the key and turn it the gages and everything come on, as soon as I turn it to start the car just dies, one click is all I hear from the starter and everything goes out. To me it sounds like a short but I'm not sure where to go from here? Any help would be appreciated.

 

did you mess with the wiring to the starter at all or any of the ground straps? Either not enough ground or a bad starter most likely.

 

make sure your cables are tight on the battery and that the ground is making good contact as well

 

Sounds like the positive wire on the starter. Just make sure you disconnect the battery before trying to tighten it.

 

Ok, here's where I am now. I finally got the car to start once with the same battery. Not sure what I did but it turned over so I shut it off and installed everything else (water pump and such). I had the same starting problem again so I decided the battery was old enough and got another one. The car started up just fine and sounded normal. I added coolant and used the bleed screw to get some air out.

Now for the problem, I took the car for a drive around the block (20 ish mph). I would guess from the sounds of the exhaust that the car was misfiring. It only seems to happen while driving, revving while sitting doesn't appear to have any strange noice. I then opened the hood and there appeared to be smoke coming from the rear or near back left side of the engine??? Any suggestions on a next step would be greatly appreciated.

Oh I also changed the wires on the driver side only not the passenger side which is where I'm thinking the smoke comes from. I also turned on the air in the car and it pulled in the smoke and smelled some what like gas... I'm am not getting any SES lights yet but I haven't tried to take the car up to a higher speed.

Please help, and thanks.

 

are you sure you lined the opti up correctly? do you have your plug wires on the right cylinders. i would check the obvious first. sometimes the 1 can look like a 7 or the 3 can look like a 8 especially if your tired or frustrated

 

I'm as close to 100% sure as you can be that the optispark is lined up correctly. I put it on and took it of twice to make sure before I put everything on. The wires I labeled as I took them off so I'm fairly certain that they are back in the same order, even when I replaced them I did it one at a time to make sure they stayed in order, although I'll go back and double check this.

 

Ok I got a chance to get under the car and two wires were plugged in wrong, it's running great now. Thanks everyone for taking time to help out this newbie.