optispark

[94 formula]

How do I know if my optisparks going bad. It seems fine except when I hit gears at lower rpms or pulling out then the car seems to miss a little. I have 88000 on my car and am going to be replacing plugs soon should I just put a new opti in then too and is there anything else I should replace while i'm at it?

[Injuneer]

Common problems from a failing Opti could include:

-stumble off idle
-flat spots up to 2,000rpm
-erratic/inconsistant misfires at 4,500rpm and up.

Problem is, you could see some of the same problems from:

-worn out plugs
-aging plug wires and coil wire
-corroded plug wire or coil wire terminals on the Opti
-corroded harness connector on the Opti, or the gray "Opti test connector" on the passenger side of the intake manifold
-ignition contorl module (ICM) failing or overheating
-coil dying
-leaking EGR valve.....

So.... replacing the Opti should be looked at after you have ruled out the other, lower cost items.

You could have it scanned, and look for DTC 16 or DTC 36, which would indicate problems with the optical sensor in the Opti. Thing is, an intermittent (stored) DTC 16 is not unusual even in a healthy Opti. There are no codes set for problems in the high voltage section.... burned cap or rotor terminals, moisture buildup, carbon tracking, cracked cap, etc.