Hey all,

In the 2 year saga of me trying to figure out why my car runs like garbage, a new problem has arisen. What a shock. Anyways, I had a cam/header/lifter/rocker setup installed 2 years ago, and since then, the car has never performed how it should. The bottom end torque is there, but the upper RPM pull just flat out sux. I have gone through numerous programmings and diagnostic scans, no target area showing any major problems.

So just recently my starter died. I had an expert mechanic friend of mine install a new one, and try some new knock sensors, since i log 5 degrees of knock at WOT. When he went to test the new sensors, smoke poured out of the passenger side. Apparently a wiring job done by someone previously on the car was bad, and contact between wires was made at a fuseable link. After a lengthy examination and rewiring process, everything got up and running the other day. Well, now I noticed for the first time, the scanmaster reports a trouble code 16: Optispark low resolution pulse not found. hmmmm. I had always been suspect of the Opti, since I get an occassional miss when flooring it from a roll. The O2 readings at WOT are EXTREMELY sporadic at WOT passes, anywhere from 100-900 millivolts and consistently 5 degrees of knock retard.

Well, what is it guys? time for a new Opti? It should be under dealer warranty, and if it goes again, it's Delteq time. What else should i probably look into? Two years after the cam install and it still has TERRIBLE upper RPM power. I'm completely lost. It feels like I have started over and over again with the same results. Any input, comments, and opinions are definitely welcome and appreciated. Thanks guys, sorry about the lengthy post.

 

How is your opti under warranty?

 

If you see DTC 16, but your engine is still running, its a "stored" code, and not an "active" code - unfortuantely, ScanMaster does not differentiate between the two. From my experience, it isn't unusual to find DTC 16 in a scan. It might just have set when the PCM had difficulty finding the low res pulse on startup. Or, it may be a sign that the optical sensor in the Opti is getting dirty, there is corrosion on the connector, bad wire, etc.

Clear the code (pull "PCM BAT" fuse for 30 seconds) and see how fast it comes back.

If the optical sensor is dying, you would need a new Opti to support the Delteq, since the Delteq needs/uses the optical sensor pulses. And your stock PCM would still need the low res pulse signal to fire the injectors. Until Delteq steps up to the plate with the "total replacement" package, you are sort of stuck. And even then, they will have to provide a synthesized pulse pattern to the stock PCM to keep the car running.... as was done with the Electromotive Opti-Eliminator/SDI setup.

 

Interesting. As always, thanx for ur help Fred.

I'll have to clear the code tonight when I get a chance and see what happens. How long does the scanmaster store codes? After reading through the list of codes, I'm quite surprised others weren't listed, like when my evap line was broke, and my EGR was broke. The fact that this is the first code I've seen on the scanmaster led me to believe this is somewhat recent of a problem.

 

The codes aren't stored in the ScanMaster... they are stored in the PCM. Each code has an associated number or "drive cycles" that must be completed without the problem coming back, then the PCM clears the code.

 

I had the ol code 16 show up on the scanmaster once. I was driving my car through a parking lot, and killed it from driving too slow in 2nd Its not my daily driver, and my daily driver was a cummins that was impossible to stall I got that code. Car wouldnt start up for 1 min. I later cleared the codes, and it hasnt come back for about 8 months now. Maybe you'll get lucky too