LT1 5.7 Opti Spark distributor system; 1994 fleetwood engine problems
 

hi i just bought a 94 fleetwood it was running good until i got it home then the engine started sputtering and idleing really rough i took all the plugs out and checked the gap on them and it still runs rough. sounds like its not running on all cylinders and before i start spending money on useless things i was hoping maybe someone could shine some light on me.



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did it rain today in your neck of the woods? is the car also missing going down the road?.... how many miles on this fleetwood? is there any lights on, on the dash? is there any codes?.... was there any one plug that looked fould, wet, or different from the others? try and give a little more info..............
rickyd

The achilles heal of the LT1 5.7 is the Opti Spark distributor system embedded behind the timing set and water pump at the front of the engine. Prone to heat and moisture especially if water pump fails. Nick named Opti-puke. Without more info that's where I'd zero in on, every LT1 fails there at some point.

yeah the first plug on the driver side i think its number 2 isn't getting any spark to it so i hope its just the wire. if not how do i go about changing the distributor cap and rotor cause from the looks of it, it dont look like fun i plan on doing most of the things myself to cut down on cost. and i thought my honda was a pain to work on. and there are no engine lights on or anything

The following link has a pretty good how to do it, complete with good colour photos. It uses a Chevrolet Caprice but it is the same set up as the Fleetwood so don't worry about that.

http://www.carcraft.com/howto/ccrp_0..._up/index.html

If its just that one plug thats not getting fire could it still be something wrong with the distributor cap and rotor i am just tring to go about this the cheapest way I am a marine and my money tree isnt growing fast enough.

Start small, so change the plug and wires first. I'd go with a new fuel and air filter too, not that expensive or difficult to change. You've got the info if you need to go for the Opti Spark

thanks for all the info.

well i bought new plug wires and I know it has spark cause it shocked the hell out of me i hook everything up and it still runs like its missing so i take the spark plug out, this time its not wet but it has alot of carbon on it. the car has 135,000 miles on it, none of the lights are on if i take to autozone will it still show codes even if the check engine light isnt on. the car dont smoke at all but there is alot of water coming out the tail pipe with a strong gas smell.

I think I would suggest changing the plugs. You can read the codes yourself from the on board computer and save any charge the Autozone makes. Have a look at this link. The author has a Fleetwood just like you and he knows a lot about them. His web site is fully loaded with information you need, even the description of any codes you will find.

http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/cadidiag.html#95fltwd

well changed all the plugs and wires still no cigar i guess its the opti-spark i am going to take in the shop and have them check it out cuz i dont have the time or place to do that myself thanks for all the help.

well i took it to a shop and it is the distributor and they want $1200.00 to fix it

Sometimes I even amaze my self. Well now to your problem. I gave you a good link on how to do it. $1,200 is a heck of a lot of cash for unbolting parts.

yeah they said they were gonna replace the water pump to because i guess he said that there is a seal in it that was leaking. but when they talk about the electric air pump im not to sure what they are talking about.

The leaking water pump is what ruined the opti spark. My 93 Fleetwood has a tried and true original small block. I know the LT1 has more HP but torque of the two are the same, they both can pull 7,000 pounds with the right towing package so I really don't know why they went to the failure prone LT1 in 94-96. I was in a shop one day when the mechanic was changing the water pump on an LT1 and all he did was curse. My Suburban was in for a water pump, basically the same engine as my Fleetwood and it was in and out in an hour and a half. Pump $135, labour $120.

LT1 5.7 Opti Spark distributor system; 1994 fleetwood engine problems
 

great info ...

man why cant i ever find places like that, it seems that everyone it out to screw you dont these people know we are in a recession.

well i started working on it and run into a problem. on the third bolt well the one with nut where the bracket is how do u get the stud out or am i taking the wrong one out. do i have to take the whole bracket off.

never mind i figured it out now my next question is how to losen the belt

well i figured the belt thing out got it all back together the car runs about 75 percent better it still hesitates a little so i think i may have switch a wire or something thanks for all the help.