I have recently installed the Msd optispark distributor (83811) after starting the vehicle and accelerating the rpms drop out at around 2k (in park and in drive)this is with the timing screw set to stock 0 (1 1/2 turns from the closed position) What could be causing this? My car was not doing this before I installed the distributor!! If I turn the timing screw out 3 1/2 turns it stops but it will not start consistently and sets multiple codes. This is very frustrating. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

What do you mean by "the rpms drop out at around 2k"? Do you mean it's idling at 2,000 rpm? Or the engine shuts down when the rpm drops to 2,000?

 

No it idles at around 800 when i accelerate to 2k rpm the engine stumbles and the rpms drop briefly. Its quick it will pick back up before I can move my foot. It will do it once each time I start the car up!

 

Well.....it could be a faulty opti issue......can't really tell from your discription.

However.....MSD optis don't have a strong record for quality (putting it nicely) and quite a few have been bad right out the box.

If it does turn out to be an opti issue......try to replace with an OEM opti......or try rebuilding your stock opti.

KW

 

What codes are you getting?

 

I think it was P0236 not 100% but it is a timing code that said something about to few pulses. I will get it to set again and write it down. I read somewhere that these optis will act up if the timing chain has a lot of wear on it. My car has 160k on it do you think that could be the problem?

 

No.

KW

 

There is no P0236 applicable to your engine. Get it scanned again.

Opti problems show up as:

-P0372 - Distributor Ignition (DI) high resolution circuit

-P1371 - Distributor Ignition (DI) low resolution circuit

Both those are caused by problems with the pulse signals from the optical cam position sensor in the Opti. When P1371 sets, it shuts down the fuel system (engine turns off, briefly or permanently), and does not turn on the SES light).

If your distributor is not too old, MSD may rebuild it for you. Or, bite the bullet and look for a GM part.

 

Its setting code P0372 and its back firing!

 

Ok so I pulled the MSD distributor today and put my old one back on. Fired it up and everything was smooth. turned it off let it sit for thirty mins or so and took it for a test drive. Got down the block and the car died and all i could smell was gas. after five mins it started and i drove it home in the driveway i put it in drive and it stumbled bad rpms dropping and oil pressure. drove it into the garage and it set a misfire code p0300. i know my plugs are good i just checked them. could the msd distributor have fried the coil or something worse? any help is appreciated

 

As Fred said, the P0372 is a code for the opti. That's where I'd start with fixing it. It's also probably causing the P0300 which means multiple misfires.