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Topic: New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!)

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New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (12/22)
5/19/10 7:49am

redvette89
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Huron, OH - USA

Vette(s):
1989 Red Convertible - 160,000 fun-filled miles -

Joined: 12/5/2009
Posts: 179

Thanks Phil for the terrific write up and pictures. All of your helpful hints are invaluable

Dave

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New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (13/22)
5/26/10 10:32am

Horton1339
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Ashburn, VA - USA

Vette(s):
1993 40th Anniversary Coupe

Joined: 10/30/2009
Posts: 13

This is great stuff. Thanks for sharing. I have a 93 that I know I will be replacing the opti spark soon. When I first bought the car 3 years ago I decided to wash down the engine compartment. Bad move on my part. 3 Days later the car started.
Anyway I also get that slight hesitation when it first starts up. Will follow your guidelines once I get the balls to dive into the project.

Mike

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New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (14/22)
5/31/10 5:05am

C4Shane
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Charlotte, NC - USA

Vette(s):
-1993 LT-1, Coupe, 6speed, white/black -1986 L98, Coupe, 4+3, Black - SCCA TT Racer -1979 L48 Coupe, Auto, Red/doeskin

Joined: 5/15/2010
Posts: 26

Good job and thanks for taking the time to share. The photos and description are much better than the few cryptic instructions from my factory manual. I will have to do this job soon myself. Thanks!

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There is no problem a little horsepower can't fix!

C4s: 1993 LT-1 coupe, 6-Speed, White w/black 1986 L-98 Coupe, 4+3 Trans, Satin Black w/red-black interior - SCCA Time Trial racecar.

C3: 1979 L-48 couple, auto, Red w/doeskin interior.

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New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (15/22)
6/11/10 10:39am

RonRock
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Underwood, IA - USA

Vette(s):
1995

Joined: 6/9/2010
Posts: 2

Great write up. Should be very helpful to many. Should be a "Sticky"

Are these "Opti Spark" modules that sensitive to water? Can I power wash my engine without much concern?

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New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (16/22)
6/11/10 4:02pm

96LT1
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Powhatan, VA - USA

Vette(s):
1996 Polo Green LT1 Coupe

Joined: 3/20/2009
Posts: 305

[QUOTE=RonRock]Great write up. Should be very helpful to many. Should be a "Sticky"

Are these "Opti Spark" modules that sensitive to water? Can I power wash my engine without much concern?
[/QUOTE]

There is a seal (large o-ring) between the opti distributor cap and the distributor housing-- that is usually what fails with age and over time--allowing moisture/water inside the opti distributor. In the case of a water pump ( directly above the "opti") leaking--- then coolant can get inside the "opti" and ruin it.

In your case assuming you don't know the history/age of the opti---I'd suggest covering the opti distributor w/plastic trash bag-- use your engine cleaner of choice and a water/garden hose to rinse-- NOT a pressure washer. In '95 & '96 GM improved the "optis" they are vented using engine vacuum to help pull moisture out of them---but if the seal is bad/weak it's possible a pressure washer might force water inside the "opti".

When cleaning the engine---it should be cold--when finished take it for a nice long drive to dry the engine. The reasoning here is if you "soak" a hot engine and let it cool while wet the distributor can pull water inside as it cools--if for example the seal is not 100%. This ignition system is not as lousy IMO as some people think---just use a little caution and good judgement when cleaning the engine compartment. Hope this helps.

Vaughn

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Re: New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (17/22)
12/28/22 9:11am

Dans vette
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Hartselle, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1994 C4 corvette

Joined: 12/11/2015
Posts: 17

I put in three OPTi sparks in 12,000 miles. The last one only lasted about 1000 miles. I did away with the optispark and put in a MSD ignition. It cost me a little bit but I plan on keeping the car and driving it. It is a 94 with only 92,000 miles on it. The car has run better now than it has ever run since I had it. OK, it may not be original now, but it is not going to leave me sitting on the side of the road again. I have been sitting on the side of the road. At least a half dozen times. I could drive it and it would just shut off. Sometimes it would crank right back up. I could try to crank it every day for 2 weeks and it would not start. The next day I go out there it starts and runs fine. The next day I get in it, it turns over and doesn’t start. That’s why I went with the MSD ignition. Got rid of that problem.

|UPDATED|12/28/2022 10:11:26 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

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Re: New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (18/22)
5/15/24 2:17pm

Joeydibis
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West Harrison, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1995 Corvette, black , coupe 350, 300 hp

Joined: 4/17/2023
Posts: 2

Nice job , great photos

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Re: New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (19/22)
5/15/24 4:16pm

manchester
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Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1993 LT1 convertible triple black 4L60 2003 Zo6 Electron/Black 6 sp

Joined: 11/12/2017
Posts: 71

Hi, My 93' let me down at 70 mph on the four lane in Kentucky. I live in Pennsylvania! You guessed it. Opti spark was done. Had it trailered back home. Once it was opened up, Everything was replaced. Senders, hoses, wires, plugs, waterpump, coolant, belts. If it had to come off to fix it, I replaced it. Waterpump was leaking, and gaskets were bad. V.A.T.S was bypassed. Caused some angst as well. Runs good now, and starts with a bump of the starter. A driver for a enjoyable ride. Glad your project is the same.

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Re: New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (20/22)
5/17/24 4:52am

Bob DeCardenas
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Cocoa, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1990 C4 convertible Polo green/tan interior&top 1991 C4 ZR-1 red/tan 2020 C8 coupe Rapid blue/silver stripe/red interior

Joined: 8/21/2022
Posts: 32

Glad you were able to fix it and keep it running. Enjoy!

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Re: New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (21/22)
5/29/24 10:10am

KAHB
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Waterloo, IA - USA

Vette(s):
1994 C4, 5.8L, LT1, Admiral Blue, Coupe

Joined: 11/27/2021
Posts: 4

Did the things you replaced fix your crank/no start problem? I had that same problem. At times it would start immediately and other times it would crank but was totally dead. The cause of my problem was a partly broken wire in the VATS system!

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Re: New Opti and water pump install (Dial-Up BEWARE!!) (22/22)
5/29/24 11:04am

Dans vette
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Hartselle, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1994 C4 corvette

Joined: 12/11/2015
Posts: 17

Ditch the opti-spark!!!! I put 3 on in less than 1500 miles. Found someone to replace it with a MSD ignition. Been driving it for 2 years now with no problems. The problem is the opti-spark is not vented and builds up condensation and corrodes. The MSD has a vacuum line running to it and keeps the condensation out of it.

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