Hi Guys!

If I let my car sit overnight or 5 or 6 hours, it takes a lot of whirling the starter to get it started. It doesn't flood. It does sputter though!

Fuel pressure is 45 to 47psi with key on not running. 39 or 40 idling running. and It jumps to 45 or 47 when revving the engine.

Is this a symptom of the Opti because after it warms up it sputters while idling. It doesn't miss in the upper RPMs or at WOT!

I did have to have the water pump replaced last year because it had a leak in the weep hole!


What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks Lee!

 

I have the same problem, and I replaced my opti last week, and it didnt cure anything. I'm thinking its fuel pump or somtin. Im doing my fuel pump tomorrow. So, ill let u know by the end of the weekend whether that fixes it or not. Thanks, Michael

 

Have you checked your charging system (alternator, battery).
It could be many different things, start with the basics.

 

Leaky Injector maybe...??

 

Mine had symptoms similar to yours, except it would idle fine after it started. I replace almost everything, turned out to be the fuel pressure regulator. You may want to check it, just pull off the vacuum line going to the regulator. If there's gas coming out or you can smell it in the line, then your regulator is going or gone. But then again, that was just me. I wasn't able to get a pressure reading because my fitting is broken on my fuel rail(bought it that way, but didn't know about it until now ). Good luck, hope that helps some.

Tom

 

Thanks for the replies!

Keep them coming !!

 

You might want to check/clean your TB to make sure it is operating correctly for initial startup. If it doesn't start easily when it is cold, you might not be getting enough air, even if you say it isn't flooding.

And after it warms up, it doesn't choke anymore and it works ok. Just a thought.

 

That could be your opti. My car used to shake pretty bad at idle. I replaced the opti and it doesnt shake at all. It feels like the day when I bought it, maybe even better, except my car keeps dying at stop lights for some reason. My car experienced every symptom, that there was for an opti going bad. You will know when its gone bad. My car was backfiring, hesitating, shaking, throwing codes, I would turn it on and it would immediated die. It was horrible. I have a list of symptoms, I can cut and paste if you want me too, if u think thats what ur problem is. Thanks, Michael

 

I was getting Low fuel pressure and hard starts, turned out being my fuel pump, and my symtpoms were exactly as you described. Although you mentioned your fuel pressure seems to be bang on, so don't know what think of that

 

Yep FozzieZ28 send me your list of problems!


Thanks Guys! Keep the replies coming !

 

TTT

 

Here is the list of symptoms from and article from gmhightechperformance magazine. I hope for your sake this is not your problem. Because changing it out wasn't fun in any respect. good luck.

Is Your Opti-Spark Failing?

LT1 owners have dealt with the Opti-Spark distributor for 11 years now, but there is still much confusion regarding the causes and symptoms of a failing unit. Tapping into the PCM with a scan tool is a good way to start, but sometimes no codes will be set. Before diving into the Opti-Spark, be sure to verify that your grounds are good and the coil and wires are not the source of the problem, as they are much easier to change.

Symptoms:

* Car suddenly dies and won't restart
* Starts but immediately dies
* Extended cranking to start
* Rough idle
* Sputtering
* Backfiring
* Trouble reaching higher rpm
* Black smoke from exhaust
* Poor performance with car warmed up
* Weak plug wire spark
* Codes 16, 36, and 42 may be set

 

in the morning try turning the key on and of about 5 times then try to start your car. If it fires up like normal then it is your fuel pump won't keep up the pressure over time

 

kinda what i was thinking. for some reason or another the fuel pressure is leaking off which means a hole in a fuel line, bad pump or maybe even a bad FPR but i dont know enough about them to say for sure. if one starts going bad i dont know if bleeding down the pressure is a symptom... maybe somebody else could shed some light on it.

 

I dont believe its a leak because the fuel pump should prime the pressure with the key in... its likely the pump if it fires normally after it was running for a while (since the pressure is still in the system).