Opti Question
 

03/08/2006 I replaced both my water pump and opti. I drove the car around for a month and then havn't drove it any in the past 3 weeks. Its been in the shop getting some work done (headers, etc). I had a local shop replace the water pump and opti and have a high performance shop doing the headers and stuff right now.

Anyways, to get to the point I got this e-mail today from the guy working on my car right now:

"I am getting the engine back together. I looked at the opti spark, and I had though you mentioned that this was replaced or serviced. I took the cap off to inspect the insides, and it is NASTY. I suggest that you replace the complete unit, I can supply a brand new GM opti for $289. Or I can just install a cap and rotor kit for $135. The cap that is on this opti does not have the second vent line for some reason. In other words it’s the wrong cap.

Call me when you get a chance, I hate to put it back together like this because I know you will eventually have problems with it. Most likely sooner than later."

He told me there was like corrosion "growing" all over. Luckily the part is under warranty for 12,000 miles so hopefully it will be covered.

My question is: How could this have happened? How could the first shop have messed it up this bad? Did the put the wrong cap on, is that what caused this? I JUST had them put in a brand new opti and now i'm getting told I need ANOTHER one. The current opti only has a few hundred miles on it (only drove with it for 2 weeks or so).

Thanks for the help,
Hoping for a quick responce since im going to have to make some phone calls in the morning :(
~Kizzle

If you had the wrong one put on it will crud up like that. I did the same thing. It is a pain in the A#@ but I swapped it out. I would put the new MSD billet one in. It is about the same price but the response from it is way better. You also may want to update your coil with a MSD. If your opti is still under warranty I would return it for cash and get the MSD. The vented one will clean out the crud but like I said I made the same mistake.

So was the shop that replaced the opti at fault?

If your opti was bad and all the shop did replace was just the opti and not the cap and rotor then they did their job. But since you have to take the cap and rotor off to get at the opti anyway they should have told you that and changed it out for you. And no, the cap and rotor shouldn't corrode that fast brand-new. The vent maybe missing from a lack of putting it together correctly.

If you are going to get just a cap and rotor, get the MSD. Cheaper than OEM and also better.

Sounds like the first shop did thier job, but with the wrong parts. The way you are explainging it, it souns like they used the early style non-vented opti cap and rotor. And it seems they only replaced just the cap and rotor, not the optical unit inside the opti. That would explain why it is so corroded. The complete billet MSD unit is looking mighty possible in your future. And just my opinion, DO NOT use a MSD coil. I have went through two with no luck. I finally replaced it with a standard coil and have been happy for about two years now.

So I got an update...

It LOOKS they charged me for the full entire opti kit but then only replaced the cap and then used the wrong cap...

Anyways, im getting all of my money refunded and getting a new one installed. I would go with the MSD one like recommended but the guy doing my headers, ory, wiring, cam, etc has a GM one in stock now and i'd really just like to get my car back as fast as possible.

Looks like it is time to look for a new mechanic though. I wish I could have the guy working on my car do everything, but he's really more of a performance shop than a fix little random repairs shop.

Thanks for the fast help guys.

Whats the difference between the MSD one and the GM one? Is it really that much different(ie better)?

We've been fixing the car up and ordering misc parts over and over for a few weeks now and hes almost done. I just hate to call and ask him to order another part, one of which he has one (GM) in stock. (Assuming he hasn't already installed the GM one)