running poorly

[Injuneer]

Could still be the Opti. The dielectric strength of the cap breaks down, and the thin wires embedded in the cap to route the cap buttons to the correct wire tower start to cross-fire. That would account for it blowing back through the intake on start.

Did you consider the coil or the IC Module? Check them? When you replaced the plug wires did you insure all the terminals were free of corrosion, including the Opti and the coil? Did you inspect the Opti harness connectors for corrosion?

What do you mean when you say you " jack(ed) it up and check to see if it was firing its still firing"?

Have you checked the fuel pressure.... at idle and under load?

[Atl_Monte]

Could still be the Opti. The dielectric strength of the cap breaks down, and the thin wires embedded in the cap to route the cap buttons to the correct wire tower start to cross-fire. That would account for it blowing back through the intake on start.

Did you consider the coil or the IC Module? Check them? When you replaced the plug wires did you insure all the terminals were free of corrosion, including the Opti and the coil? Did you inspect the Opti harness connectors for corrosion?

What do you mean when you say you " jack(ed) it up and check to see if it was firing its still firing"?

Have you checked the fuel pressure.... at idle and under load?

it doesn't run so can't check fuel pressure at idle or under load

and I was saying I jacked up up so I could get underneath to better access the plug wires since the car sits so low, and no I haven't checked th coil or IC...the car just cut off turning into the drive way and has yet to start back up since

[Atl_Monte]

anything I should once over again before I start working on the timing chain..

[Trans Am]

its quite a lot of work to get to the timing chain, why not try the other possibilities first...icm, ignition coil . As far as i know the timing chains are pretty strong on these cars, so its more likely the problem is elsewhere.
You could try and open the optispark and clean the contacts on the cap with some very fine sandpaper, maybe try and clean the lens if it looks dirty. but before that i would try with a new coil, they are pretty inexpensive

[Joe 1320]

here is a proceedure to troubleshoot

Step 1. Connect a spark plug tester to a spark plug wire and
check for spark while an assistant is cranking the engine.
Check each plug independantly. this checks for open
spark plug wires. Spark in one or more than one wire
indicates the problem is in spark plug wires or optispark.
If no spark exists, go to step 2.

Step 2. Check for spark at the coil wire with the spark tester
while cranking the engine. A spark indicates the problem
is in the distributer (optispark). If no spark go to step 3.

Step3. Perform check on ignition coil.
a: Unplug coil electrical connector and check pink wire for
12v. If power go to b.
b. using ohmeter low scale, hook up the leads to the
primary terminals on the ignition coil. Should indicate
very low resistance. If not, replace coil.
c. Using the high scale, hook up one lead to the primary
terminal, the other to the secondary terminal. Should
not read infinite resistance. If it does, replace coil.

Step 4. Disconnect the ignition module connector and with the
key on, check voltage at terminals A and D on the harness
side of the connector. (pink/black and white/black wires)
If under 10 volts check for faulty circuit from the ignition
module to the coil or check for grounded external coil
circuit. If 10 volts or more, change the voltmeter to a/c
scale and measure voltage on terminal B while engine is
cranking. (white wire). If 0 volts, Have ECM checked. If 1-
4 volts, with the key off, disconnect the module
connector. Install a LED type test light on the positive
battery terminal and probe terminal C on the harness side
of the connector (black wire). The light should illuminate.
If not, check ground wire in the harness to the module. If
the test light is on, go to step 5.

Step 5. Remove the coil wire from the coil and ground it to the
frame. Connect LED test light into the optispark harness
connector red wire terminal C. The harness connector that
you will use is located on the passenger side of the
engine up near the fuel rail. You will need to insert a back
probe pin into terminal C. If the test light flashes when an
assistant cranks the engine, the optispark is suspect. If
no flashes, replace the ignition module.

If the above tests results are correct and there is still no
start, it is tough to to tell the difference between a
faulty module or optispark. Module = Cheap$$, optispark
=moderate $$$.