Need Opti Guide/ Info

[nascarnate326]

Anyone know of a GOOD guide on how to change an opti? I found a few but they dont seem very detailed.

My car needs a new opti I think.

Its almost like the opti needs to "spool" before I can really get the car to move. When the opti is "spooled" the car accelerates pretty fast. As soon as I left off to shift, it falls on its face for a second and will then pick back up. Also, if the car is cold it has no power at all. Once it warms up it tends to work a little better.

I put new plugs in the car over the winter, wires looked good but I may replace them anyways.

Anyone else know why my car may feel significantly down on power? I am not expecting LS1 power or anything but it shouldnt feel like it does. I also dont want to throw parts at it not knowing EXACTLY what it needs. Oh, I averaged 22 mpg going to gvsu and back. I think my driving style was fairly conservative on that trip too. Shouldnt it be around 25-26?

[bri2203]

I am glad I sold my LT1! This is the 2nd opti fail of the season.

Do you have any vacuum leaks? Is your car running rich?
I agree you should get more like 24-25 mpg if it is mostly highway with a 6 speed.

I am sure Joel or Brian know of a write up or would be willing to talk ya through it.

[nascarnate326]

I am glad I sold my LT1! This is the 2nd opti fail of the season.

Do you have any vacuum leaks? Is your car running rich?
I agree you should get more like 24-25 mpg if it is mostly highway with a 6 speed.

I am sure Joel or Brian know of a write up or would be willing to talk ya through it.

I dont know of any vacuum leaks. Car did run rich, but it now tuned for my mods. Having no cats...it always smells.



What all do I need to swap in a new opti?

Opti
Wires
2 Gallons of coolant
Water Pump gaskets


Anything else?

[2EVUL4U]

Sounds more like a vacuum leak, bad IAC, bad O2's, or bad TPS. OPTI's tend to act worse when warmed up & even worse at WOT (when failing)

[Fox Slaughter]

I'd say if you were closer I'd hook up DataMasters to your car and look at your live data.

[JoeliusZ28]

For comparison sake, I got 26mpg on the same day and similar trip he got 22. When my car was configured like his (bolt ons, no cats) I was able to achieve 33 mpg on that same trip.

I think something besides the opti is the issue here, an opti is usually choking or not... it shouldnt need to "spool" as you put it.

To replace the opti you'll need to add a pulley puller to your list nate. Not sure if you assumed that or not.

[nascarnate326]

What do you guys think it could be? The car has did this crap since I got it.


Joel you felt my car can pull, it just does this when it feels like.

Could the wires be shot?

[meissen]

I wouldn't jump to an opti fail just yet. Crapping out when you let off the gas doesn't sound like an optispark to me, it sounds more like a sensor is bad (o2s, IAC, etc) as mentioned earlier. You'll need to get someone to datalog it while you're driving so you can see what kind of readings it's all getting.

[nascarnate326]

Went to parts store, my right 02 sensor is having issues. This weekend I will swap it out with my other 02 sensor with that plug style. my car has rear 02's tuned out so I have one of each plug style extra.

Who knows if the tune is done properly, I would think it is though. Ion tuned it.

Took this video of my "noise" Sounds like a exhaust leak but we cant find anything that pushes air, loose header bolt, or anything.

In the video it sounds internal. I am switching back to synthetic 10w 30 this weekend.

http://youtu.be/YdCiFYMO1g8



thoughts?

[JoeliusZ28]

Thought 1: Nice post count.

Thought 2: you want synthetic 5w-40 or 0w-40.

Thought 3: thats a pretty bad tick... did you try the soapy water trick?

[97firehawk]

Does the car seem to idle high for a little bit when u come to a stop then calm down with it running rich id say if that's it it would be an o2 senser that's what my car dose when I need one then after a wile.it throes a code for it .