Is my Opti bad again?

**LT4Hawk9** · 04-05-2011, 08:10 PM

I know, I know...YES.

'97 LT1 in a non-stock application. LT4 Hot Cam, LT4KM, and deleted rear O2 sensors. Otherwise pretty much stock. Recently started misfiring and then chucking big fireballs out both pipes (true duals without any kind of crossover...making it a misfire on both banks for certain). Sometimes it misfires for a few seconds then runs okay, sometimes it nearly cuts off...or does if I'm moving slowly...before coming back to life. Sometimes it lasts for just a few miles before acting up, sometimes 40 or 50 miles.
With the fireball situation happening, I assumed it was ignition related, because to me that indicates that fuel is getting into the cylinders in excess, then when the ignition returns it lights off all of it resulting in the fireballs. I replaced the ICM since my old one was cracked...figured I may get lucky. Nope. Then I figured the coil is a heckuvalot cheaper than an Opti, so I replaced it. Went from barely idling when I put it in the shop, to running GREAT with the new coil. Then 40 miles later it went to crapola again. Tonight I washed it and now it won't start. No spark. So, I'm pretty well figuring it's the Opti, but it is a new Accel unit with about 60k miles on it, and I really don't wanna believe that it is the problem. I scanned it for codes before I put the coil on, and nada. That was just a few days ago, but will scan it again tomorrow just for giggles.
So, I guess, help me diagnose it. Does the PCM shut down spark if fuel pressure drops?...or since I have no spark does that necessarily mean it IS ignition related?

**5.0THIS** · 04-06-2011, 12:12 AM

Sounds like the opti. Fuel pressure is easy to check with a gauge that you can rent if you want to eliminate that first.

**LT4Hawk9** · 04-06-2011, 04:38 AM

Thank you. I am stuck in the Opti Denial stage right now. I'll accept it sooner of later.

I have a gauge in my truck to take to the shop today and check it. I just didn't have it there last night. But still, is there any reason for the PCM to tell the ignition to NOT fire?...or am I pretty much looking at an ignition problem?

I wanna check fuel pressure this morning, then pull the opti harness out to lay eyes on it, then I guess I'll oprder an MSD opti. I was supposed to be heading to the Charlotte Auto Fair tomorrow in it.

**krese** · 04-06-2011, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by LT4Hawk9

Thank you. I am stuck in the Opti Denial stage right now. I'll accept it sooner of later.

I have a gauge in my truck to take to the shop today and check it. I just didn't have it there last night. But still, is there any reason for the PCM to tell the ignition to NOT fire?...or am I pretty much looking at an ignition problem?

I wanna check fuel pressure this morning, then pull the opti harness out to lay eyes on it, then I guess I'll oprder an MSD opti. I was supposed to be heading to the Charlotte Auto Fair tomorrow in it.

just get the AC Delco, don't waste your $ and time on the MSD because it really isn't any better....... just my .02

**LT4Hawk9** · 04-06-2011, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by krese

just get the AC Delco, don't waste your $ and time on the MSD because it really isn't any better....... just my .02

Find me a GM one for a deal, and I'm game for whatever. I do like the MSD's "extra bolts" to help seal it anyway, but less money will make me go for the GM one. No big deal to me either way, really.

The best price on a GM one that I have found is Summit, and it's $392.90 shipped/ This MSD is $416.87 shipped...worth the extra $25 to me for the MSD. LINK

**bigrondownhiller** · 04-07-2011, 03:45 PM

You might also want to check the harnesses that go to the opti.

**LT4Hawk9** · 04-07-2011, 04:37 PM

I pulled the harness, and it looked like new. Contacts and seals were all good. I didn't check it with an ohmmeter, but it looked good.

**LT4Hawk9** · 04-13-2011, 07:20 AM

New MSD (which eliminates the opti cable, BTW), new Autozone coil and ICM. Same symptoms.

NEXT?

**TLS_Addict** · 04-13-2011, 12:46 PM

Getting fuel?

**LT4Hawk9** · 04-13-2011, 01:01 PM

Yessir. You can let it idle for a good while, long enough that the fans come on, then cycle a time or two, then it's like you flipped a switch and it starts to run rough, idle speed drops to too low and rough to maintain idle, and it dies. Fires right back up and idles fine again until it suddenly starts to run rough again.

Going down the road it is fine, then suddenly runs like crapola. Seems to be electrical, thus my replacing most of the ignition parts. Am I chasing a fuel problem in the electrical system?

**TLS_Addict** · 04-13-2011, 01:37 PM

When I had issues with my LT1 I replaced a lot of stuff. Mine would run great then like crap and then it even shut off a few times but it would start right back up and run fine and then like shit.

I put some seafoam in the gas, changed the fuel filter, air filter (cut lid as well), plugs, wires, opti-spark, and the water pump. I even had the garage check the ohms and what not on the injectors to make sure everything was within spec. After that it ran like a raped ape!

**LT4Hawk9** · 04-13-2011, 01:39 PM

Well, I'm well on my way to replacing all that. The expensive stuff is down.

I've got a setr of Taylor wires, but I can't get the crimps to stay put on the friggin things. Maybe I'll get a set from Summit, premade. Plugs and fuel filter might get done tonight.

**LT4Hawk9** · 04-13-2011, 02:15 PM

I put a fuel filter on it, still not right. I'm just running around the couple acre lot here, and afraid to hit the road with it too much for fear of having to drag it home. It seems to run okay at half-or-more throttle, but misses and carries on at low throttle position. There is a misfire code in it, but nothing else.

**bigrondownhiller** · 04-13-2011, 03:32 PM

Check for vacuum leaks. Does it show which cyl has the mis?

**5.0THIS** · 04-13-2011, 05:49 PM

Just take it to a good GM tech, pay the 100$ diag, and save yourself alot of time and money. A good tech, with a tech2 scanner and good electrical testing equipment can track this down.