Wizard you deserve to get paid for what you know and your completeness in diagnosis. I never find you grumpy.keep up the great content you and Mrs Wizard!
I owned a '93 Corvette and had to replace the water pump a couple times in 80,000 miles. I finally got tired of looking up at everyone looking down on me and sold it for $10,500.00.
I like how you always air your frustrations as a business professional. Also how you have to cover yourself by noting on the estimate and invoice how the customer refused to fix a problem. Everyone in business learns little tricks like this the hard way. Much like a when a shade tree tries to do LT1 stuff in the driveway. It’s a hard lesson but a good one.
I bought a used Audi a couple of years ago that brought with it the Audi shop service records. One of the comments was the prior owner had refused a repair and drove the car out of the shop. I questioned the seller who admitted to me that he had the work done elsewhere at 40% less than the Audi dealership.
Nice video. I have a 92 Vette that I bought almost 30 years ago. It had about 20K on it. I noticed it had a small oil leak and a small coolant leak, you guessed it, from the weep hole. So, after some research, I realized that my opti was going to fail. I torn it down and removed the opti. When I took it apart it was ready to leave me on the side of the road. While I was in there (you've heard that before) I went with a different route to fix this problem for sure. I went with an electric water pump which did away with two of the main causes of the opti failure, oil leaking seals and the weep hole drip. The water pump drive seal (oil) is plugged along with the weep hole and the drive shaft seal in the timing cover was replaced. I now have around 85K on her and it is dry as can be. The constant flow of coolant even allows for better cooling during hot stop and go traffic. If the electric pump fails it only takes about 30 minutes to replace.
I worked in the auto parts field for many years, both in retail and in dealerships, and I've known a few "car wizards" along the way. One of the things that makes them worth the money they get paid is a uniform refusal to do "half-way" work. You either do as they recommend, or take your car somewhere else. Some people would say that they are grumpy, or hard to deal with, and maybe they're right. But when it comes right down to it, I would rather have one of them do the work on my personal vehicle-- and know that the job is done right-- than to pay less and deal with the consequences. Part of what you are paying for is accumulated knowledge, and it's worth what you pay for it!
It's quite simple with whatever service you provide like this. Don't aim to be the cheapest, aim to be the best you can be. Build the reputation and then charge fairly for being the best. You cannot buy a good reputation with money. Nobody will complain. People complain if you cut corners, do a mediocre job to save a little money and then still have problems later. If you always do a top job and end up charging good money, good customers will still be satisfied because you did a top job and most people realise it was worth it. If they don't they aren't good customers and you don't need them.
Exactly why my '03 Town Car is going into one of the more expensive shops in town on Thursday to check what I think is a leaky AC hose, grease the (aftermarket) ball joints and control arms, and change the gear oil in the differential. I'm going on a trip next week and want to make sure everything is OK. While he's at it the mechanic is supposed to have an overall look at the car with a 5k mile trip in the immediate future in mind. He's pricey, but he's on par/slightly less expensive than dealership prices, locally owned/independent, very well regarded/great reputation, does the job right. I'm well into that Town Car - prolly more than I should be - but at least I know the car is right. Mainly because of the good work of an honest mechanic.
I have a mechanic friend who is just like that. It has cost him a few jobs, mostly from not being willing to just throw parts at a car when management wanted to, or did not want him to spend the time to figure out the problem. Usually ends up walking way from these shops, but there are a lot of people who follow him to wherever he goes.
I like this video. I actually attempted to change my wife’s optispark in her 1992 Vette. To my surprise. I did everything you did in your video and more. New seals, water pump, new harmonic balancer plus … I didn’t like the play in the timing chain so I replaced the gears and chain with new timing cover seal too. This was my first for all and I was very careful installing the drive seals . I bought the alignment tool for the seal. I am excited and impressed since I am not a mechanic. I did this at home in my garage. RUclips showed me what to do. 4 years and still running very strong. I replaced the power steering pump last week.
Theres not a shop like this in all of Atlanta. Few similar but they rob you and rude service. Heres my cars struggling to find shops will work on them ruclips.net/video/TrKBA8DHci4/видео.html
@@grahamsmith2022 yeah and noticed bumped a lot as the squeky wheels gets the grease and so many ppl want their cars back asap making a fuss cause its their only car, hobby guys get put aside and a 4 hour job takes 2 weeks while poor car roast out in the sun. When i get played like that i just go get the car say forger it
I have a local mechanic who operates like the Wizard does. His hourly rate is more than other shops but I trust him 100% and that means more than saving a couple of bucks by not going to another shop.
Optimus Prime and the other Autobots came and stole the Opti-Spark before the Decepticons could get it. That's why the Vette won't start. I figured it all out.
I love Mr Wizard and Wizard's wife, just listening to them makes my day. Mr Wizard is just the opposite of everything in modern society. No cons, no gimmicks, no tricks, no shortcuts, no cheating, no getting ahead, JUST pure doing it right!!!!!!!! God help the rest of America to get back to this kind of mentality and life. Thank you Mr Wizard.
I did mine in the driveway!! I also upgraded to the 1994 waterpump, bypassing the coolant lines going to the throttle body. Also, replaced the powersteering pulley and all idlers, so it could use a single sided belt. I think that is a 1992 only issue. But the coolant routing isn't! I suggest that one seals the opti in orange RTV to keep coolant out. A small drain hose can be added to the pump to route the coolant away. Finally, I am 99% sure that the intake seals are done. I always dimple the tops of the China wall and the mating surface of the intake to give the RTV a bite. I recommend the Right Stuff RTV. As I said... 17 years of hard learned lessons...
I had a '96 LT4 that I did the Optispark on. Glad to hear you replace all the seals AND the water pump, otherwise you're risking trouble. The brace under the front is for the air dam that is missing on this car. You might mention to the customer that he needs the air dam as it helps divert the air through the bottom of the car. This car is a bottom breather and will hydro lock if you drive through a flooded road. I drove my LT4 as a daily driver for 5 years. I lived in the Corpus Christi area at the time and I have good memories of beating BMW's that thought they were fast. This was the second fastest production car in 1996. It's one car I wish I would have never sold. It was also 1 of 101 yellow cars.
Being that loose, he should have though, because the bearing isnt gonna fail and shred the speed sensor, by just sitting, it was moving when it did that.
@@shawngrenaud I know right, but i will also say, ive seen some cars with absolutely horrible and dangerous issues and the owners had no idea anything was even the matter, I remember once seeing a car come into a shop i was working at with a good chunk of the rims bead missing and the tire was barely hanging on, we told the owner of the car and then got berated and yelled at for trying to jack up our prices, he even accused the shop owner of damaging the rim just so we could replace the rim and profit from it. we ended up not fixing any of the vehicles issues turning him away, he came back two weeks later with a sob story about how he nearly crashed when the tire went boom and nearly sent sent him into an embankment. did end up replacing the rim and even got to tell him off that we didnt actually see much profit since all we could charge shop time for was putting a new tire on a rim, balancing and installing to the vehicle.
@@compzac I know I am late, (4 month) but maybe those things break gradually (hair-split crack first ) and it may take a while for it to get to the point as it was on this C4. In steel construction (at least in my home-country) one has to build something that will take 3 to 4 times the intended amount of force. Say you have a chain on which you would put a weight of 5 pounds, 3 to 4 safety means that chain should hold at least 15 to 20 pounds, before it breaks, even if the load is still just 5 pounds . Now if one uses this approach than that part on the C4 would have been build 4 to 5 times as strong as at needed, and then it did not break all at once, as if would if it was build for just the normal force. Another thing is, often metal can get "tired" and this leads also to breakage...
So much cool retro goodness with the C4 Corvette. I had C7 Grand Sport that I sold for because I got sent to Guam for a 3 year tour of duty. Now that I am back in the states I am in the market for a C4 Corvette. May not be the fastest car out there but its all about the driving experience. Excellent video here.
I am a hardcore DIYer. I’ll buy a specialty tool and do the job myself, the right way, since often times I save a ton on labor and I get to add cool new tools to my collection :D I avoid using the parts cannon because if I don’t have the diagnostic capability or knowledge for a particular problem diagnosis, I’ll have the dealer diagnosis it for me then take it home and fix it. But, I liked and subscribed for your comment about a dedicated DIYer understanding when it’s best to pay a pro to the work and your work ethic of doing it correctly and completely the first time regardless if you are a DIYer or Pro. If you need to do the water pump and three timing seals when you do the Optispark ignition to do it right, do it and do not give the customer (or yourself) the option to not. Otherwise, when it fails, not if, your business takes a reputation hit and the customer is let down (or you get stuck tearing it all apart again on your own dime!). Also, kudos to pointing out critical things to the customer and noting if they turn it down. If they go down the street and their wheel falls off, you have it in writing they were warned.
and THAT highlights precisely why I cringe with his delivery. He tries to be, I dunno, cool? hip? rad? and falls flat on his face. Like how many times did he tell us the water pump isn't belt driven? And wait until he talks about removing something and deleting it. I'm going to remove it and throw it out. Throw it out right into the garbage. I'm going to remove it completely. Ok wizard, we get it, you're not going to re-use it. He'd be far far better if he'd just tell us the facts.......
I think this is one of the first videos of yours that I have seen. Dude, you're good ! I like your style, completeness, not fixing random things, but finding the problem/diagnosing first. And how you'll refuse to do a job if you can't do it right, even if it seemingly gets "extra" things done that would have to get done anyway down the road otherwise, as in this case, the same problem would arise yet again. You're what I consider a "Doctor/Ph.D." Mechanic and auto engineer that can fix pretty much any issue, and fix it right the first time. Thank you. :-)
" Get you New Balance shoes and jorts on for this C4 Corvette and why it won't start." Dude I am dying laughing. Thank you for this show big shout out from the Northeast!
Hell of a video. I love how thorough you are with explaining the why and how of the job at hand. I wish I knew a guy like you where I live so I could take my CTS there whenever I needed something. You can't put a price on the element of trust and reliability you seem to provide people with. It's truly priceless, and it's nice to know people like you are out there. Just gotta find one in m city.
My grandpa has a beautiful 93 40th anniversary 6mt/black convertible hardtop, only 43,000 miles on it. The gentleman he bought it from kept it meticulously maintained in a carpeted, climate controlled garage in Dallas. He drove it home to Wichita and got over 30mpg. It's actually a very comfortable car for cruising, the seats feel great, now getting out of it is another matter lol.
Car wizard as a car mechanic apprentice (In training) I very much enjoy the way you explain your diagnostic routine. I've had a rough road in my training due to poor management and mechanic's that dislike been mentors. I'm able to learn alot from your video's Thank you.
Some company owners are often very poor man managers. Do not despair as we’ve all suffered from at least one of those in our careers. Just believe in your own ability and the perfect job will eventually reveal itself to you young man..😊
The clutch pedal is missing is the only problem! The 1996 LT4 with the 6 speed is a real Corvette, GM perfected the C4 in 1996 and replaced the next year, this is Modis operandi for GM!
"There's four wires; A, B, C, D and E" I struggled here. I counted his fingers with him and got the same. I know it's wrong. I wrote five letters, but every time I rewind the video and count fingers with Wizard, I also get four. He truly is a Wizard, Harry.
i enjoy watching your vids, i been a mechanic for 40 years and had my dealings with the opti-spark as well. i had a 96 ws6 TA , with the lt1. the timing cover seal is very tricky . the seal will fold in on itself when inserting the splined shaft, i did the seal 3 times and it still leaked . then i realized the seal was folding in on itself . i came up with a solution. i took a small piece of plastic coke bottle and cut a square out of it and wrapped it around the splined shaft on the drive then i slipped in the shaft inside the plastic ,basically made a sleeve then removed the plastic and walla the seal lip stayed folded outward not bent inward . i new i solved the oil leak at that moment when i new what was happening to the seal lip being pushed inward when installing the shaft drive . i put it all back together and guess what it still leaked f*** !!!! . i couldn't believe it ! so i ripped it apart again . while taking my time this time i examined the splined drive shaft and noticed at the very end it looked kind of strange like it had a black ring around it that was also splined . so i took my pick and starting scratching at it and it completely broke apart ! it was an o-ring almost impossible to tell it was on there looking at it before i picked at it . . so what it does it stops the oil from traveling through the splines and also stabilizes the shaft from any movement or wobbling . i popped a new o-ring on there and i noticed when i installed the shaft this time it was tight . and that solved the oil leak for good . just though i would share that with you wizard . you cant even tell that theres an o-ring on that shaft because it becomes hard and even becomes splined so it looks like part of the shaft . if it wasent a different color i would have never known it was an o-ring . theres only a hand full of mechanics out there that know how to do these water pumps and to replace that o-ring as well as the seal in the cover. thanks for reading .
Loved my LT1! It was in the sleeper of a Roadmaster. The only trouble I had was that at 186,000 miles, the fuel injectors would leak when turned off. So it would flood and take a while to start after a 1-4 hour off period. Overnight, the injectors would have leaked down and the gasoline evaporated so the engine would start very quickly. But what a joy the LT1 was. Even with the Roadmaster’s 2.56 rear end, it would smoke the tires anytime you wanted to. But also get 27-30 mpg on the interstate as it turned a leisurely 1700 rpms.
Lol I just got an 93 C4 vette and it had a oil leak and little gas leak but it’s fixed now. That was just the two major things of many more things that needs to be fixed. It runs and drives perfect though
And amusingly the modern Transformers movies were all GM vehicles, so maybe it is a Transformers thing! Who needs the all-spark cube when you have the Opti-spark in your Corvette?
I had the opti go out on a drive. The mechanic told me exactly what you said, "Get the water pump or else we are going to be here again when the pump fails." At the time, I didn't understand why. Thankfully, he was patient with me, showed me the configuration, and walked me though how it can all happen again. Very thankful to have a mechanic like him and I am sure there are many others that feel the same about the Wizard. These are great cars and I love mine dearly, but they are very quirky and require some patience. Keep up the amazing content Wizard! -Luis
Gotta love GM engineering where coolant is able to leak and ruin an IMPORTANT and integral part... 1,000's of hours spent on the handling... but.... 3-mins on the damn Opti-spark. DOH!
The 93 Opti-spark was not vented, just weep holes, that was a terrible design. The 94 had vent tubes that drew fresh air through it to pull out moisture.
@@RayleighCriterion If oil is leaking from basically 3 places above it though the vent tubes won't help. You saw that grungy oil buildup from below when Wizard had it up. Bad spot for a distributor. $2600 for tearing into the engine to get the seals / water pump out plus the rear wheel bearing. To me that's not bad. If it was mine & using the tools I have its a project I'd like to try. I like to wrench on my cars plus learn about them in the process. To have a hydraulic lift in the garage is a huge advantage. A jack with 4 jack stands is what I have in my garage.
It gets better on current Ford 3.5 L V6's if the water pump seal goes out it leaks into the crankcase , it is driven off the timing chain and requires removal of the front cover and also the chain to get to it . In most cases it is a $1800.00 job
You should be known as the Car Guru!! You are so thorough, and you actually care about your customers cars. I wish my mechanic did that. Bought new alloy wheels for my Jaguar, and they are scratched already, just from rotating the tires, which it didn't need, nor did I ask them to do it. I wish I lived in Kansas!! I would be a lifelong customer, for sure!
That is one beautiful C4. Funny timing, my 1992 Corvette recently wouldn't start and it turned out to be the ICM and ignition coil. I never found the opti to be that bad of a job, I replaced mine twice guess I just got lucky. Beautiful car tho, one day I'll get mine repainted and looking that good.
I don't understand conversations customers have with garages, having found a garage several years ago, when our two cars go in for service / MOT, the garage say to us same as usual, which means fix everything that's wrong, because I know they're not going to run up the bill, they're not going to put parts on the cars don't need, it's not a main dealer because they will run up the bill, find a good garage you trust, I've been with the garage for 25 Years father & daughters business.
Not all garages are like that. Had one tell me my steering rack was bad. Said it was leaking so bad they didn't think I could make it home and was too dangerous to drive. They didn't even want to let me take my car unless I let them fix it. I told them they were full of shit since the car was 18 years old and I have never had to put a drop of PS fluid in it so he took me back to show me the fluid all over the engine bay. Surprise, surprise, not PS fluid. It was compressor oil from the AC line THEY had broken.
When Sears stores were still running strong in the 1990s, I took a 1986 IROC-Z to their Sears Auto Repair for new tires. When I went to pick it up, the shop manager told me my battery was dead and that I needed to buy a new battery. I told them to give me a jump start and I'd buy the battery elsewhere. After I got the car home, I was expecting the car to not restart, but it did. I didn't have a problem with that battery for another 2 years. I then learned, via a class action lawsuit notice, that Sears Automotive Technicians had sales quotas and often sold customers things and services that weren't needed. BTW, I hated that IROC-Z. It was so troublesome.
@@DucatiPaso750 I think that's an issue with a lot of those quick-fit tyre and exhaust places. They run on very thin margins to stay competitive, but they're always looking to sell you something else. I've had them try to sell me tyres when I know that, based on my mileage and the position of the tyre, it will last me another year.
I worked for GM and worked in the wheel bearing plant. On my line we made the Corvette wheel bearings. The way that they are made it is surprising to see one bad. The tolerances are very tight. Bearings are made to last longer than the car.
Mr. & Mrs. Wizard are absolutely fabulous!!! (Particularly Mrs.) We have absolutely no competent vehicle mechanics in the U.K. By way of a typical example:- I had a Kia Sedona with an electrical fault which seven regular garages plus three Kia main dealerships could not solve notwithstanding ripping me off for well over £ 4,000 (U.K. pounds sterling). Mechanic after mechanic advised me that these days electronic cars are scrapped at circa 60,000m. - simply because they are too technical to be fixed! I put my immaculate vehicle on eBay clearly disclosing the fault. The buyer and his wife came to my home, stayed the entire weekend, and had several long test drives. After buying it for a third of the price of a sound vehicle, chappie 'phoned me 48 hours later advising that he had fixed the car and it now drove perfectly. That was seriously impressive bearing in mind that he had no mechanical training / education. He had simply replaced the rusty earth bolt, and it had not cost him a penny. I could tell half a dozen similar stories, and such is why nowadays I only buy and run classic vehicles.
20:33 This is my favorite part. I would be like "Hell Yeah, replace all those while you already have it apart! Of course. That's why you are The Car Wizard!"
Later OptiSparks had a vented case where the base was plumbed to engine vacuum and the cover to the air filter housing. Doesn't help with oil leaks, but keeps water vapor from fogging up the optical sensor. The trick for the early ones, like this '93, is to use a '95 cover (cap), plumb it to the air filter, then drill and tap a fitting to the distributor case and run that to engine vacuum. Then seal up all the joints with permatex. You can't swap the whole OptiSpark unit, but the caps are compatible.
Love the video …. I had a 92 stick shift. The most fun in a car I ever had… super light and super fast… first three gears you will go sideways. I was really tough on this car, driving it even in the winter. I also remember replacing the distributor and the water pump in my driveway… not a fun job! After all the abuse, I still sold it for good money…
Good video. I have a 1995 I purchased new. It has the newer vented opti and around 200,000 miles the water pumped leaked on the opti and the car skipped badly. Im a cheap DIYer and replaced the water pump myself. I almost replaced the opti as I already took all the other stuff off for the water pump. I gambled and it paid off, the venti opti was fine afterwards and performed well until the 4L60E went out for the second time at 261,000 miles. I've never had a front oil leak, but have changed the intake manifold gasket twice for severe rear leak. Around 190,000 miles, I heard rear brake noise, thinking the wear indicators were signalling near wore out. Turns out the wheel bearing assembly was shot so bad, the tire leaned in. At 153,000, the 4L60E went out. I rebuilt that (took me a year) and I must have done an okay job as it lasted 109,000 miles before failing again. That was 10 years ago. Car has been down since. A year ago I found a 4L60E from a 1994 in a junkyard. Paid $150 and finally did the swap. Driven it about 10 miles and it seems fine. I did have to replace the rusted fuel pump, and remove all the syruppy gas from the tank and fuel lines after a decade of sitting. The car will be a Sunday driver. It doesn't look near as good as that one, but not bad for a car with over a quarter of a million miles.
I would LOVE to see you dive into a full repair video now and then. Especially on something like this C4. For sure it takes a lot more video editing and work but I would watch the whole thing and I'll bet everyone else would too :)
Stunning Corvette! Glad to someone is willing to put money into it in order to preserve some C4 history on the road. A car like this deserves to be driven AND appreciated!
Everything you have said is true Mr. Wizard but honest, thorough, and willing mechanics are hard to find...regardless of how much you pay them. People would not accuse mechanics of running up the bill if this were not a common occurrence. Great video and info!
Hello Mr Wizard...I have 92 corvette, the history is I just bought it from the second owner who had it 5 yrs but has not driven it in 2 due to medical reasons...in really good shape. I test drove it twice and no problems that I noticed. But here are some issues I have and need an opinion before I start ... 1) the number 2 fan comes on when you turn on the ignition...I read that it should only come on when it gets to about 220 or when AC is on... 2) When I start it the main fan (drivers side) comes on in 5 seconds..I also read that it should not come on till about 180....Also they both stay on with or without the AC on..very confusing. 3) I just took it out for a 30 minute drive and came back home because the temp climbed to 235 and stayed...with 2 fans continuously running it is still 235...took it home and shut it down...just found a video and will cleaned the radiator area ... that seemed to work because I drove it for 30 minutes and never got over 200...its the fan thing now. I have read that many people that have these C4's wire them different to control the number 2 fan but mine looks like all original wiring Any thoughts. Thanks
Is that an old Passport radar detector??? haha Wow this brings back memories! I had the same year, even had a Passport! I know it's woefully outdated nowadays, but I loved it back then. I often wish I could go back and drive it again.
Awesome work! I wish you were here on Maui! It is hard to find a good mechanic here that is willing to work on vettes. I bought a 90 vette coup earlier this year knowing what to look for, and what can and will go wrong with these little beauties. I explained to the father of the 18 year old owner selling the car what was wrong with the car, what can go wrong, what will go wrong with it, then explained the costs and the real worth of the car and the total I will be investing into the vette. The father was shocked that I was going to put $20,000- $25,000 into a 30+ year old car. I told him that I'd rather put it into a vette and drive it, rather than buying a new Nissan and having it turn into a rust bucket in 10 years. LOL! He talked with his son and we came to an agreeable price, then I purchased the vette. I have had it to 2 reputable shops here and both places have done very little to it for alot of money, then politely asked not to bring it back, because they hated working on vettes. Between the 2 shops and working on it myself, I have it running like the beautiful beast that it is. Next will be weatherstripping, a little body work, paint, custom wheels and new skins for the pavement. After that, maybe bore the motor, cam, et'cetera. They are an iconic car and they are really great to drive.😀
Tap a hose barb (3/16 I believe) into the water pump weep hole and run a hose from it, to the ground. If your water-pump starts to goof up, it will drip to the ground and not your opti.
I have Buick roadmaster wagon I've changed the optispark water pump and gaskets about 2years ago and that thing now just keeps going at 301,000 miles. In a few weeks I'm drive it to Vancouver Washington. Love my boat on wheels
I certainly wasn't expecting a wheel bearing so bad on a car kept so well. Goes to show when your fixated on a problem how other things can sneak up on you. I'm sure your customer is grateful for your expertise in spotting issues.
I'm grateful for guys like him. I took my 89' in to have all if the fluids changed and to clean the throttle body. I was right about the throttle body. It was filthy. The fluids tested fine, however, in the process of inspecting my car they found the very same problem with the wheel bearing (which explained why it was pushing like a dump truck) and a bad master cylinder. I spent more than I intended but I know my car is safe and if I ever need to sell it I can confidently tell a buyer he can trust it.
After getting beat all up, I removed the whole air dam on my 1995 20 or so years ago. I expected it may run hot, it did not, dash temperature gauge remained the same. Drove without it for years. The car has been down last 10 years due to transmission failure. It was a daily driver, 261,000 miles. I've about got it road worthy again as a Sunday driver and plan to put the airdam back on as it won't be a daily driver.
Excellent videos offered from your Omega shop. Great to see a troubleshooter speaking through the Yes/ No world of clear flow chart troubleshooting. Great service to all car enthusiasts. Thank you
Hey Car Wizard, About time you showed us the AFTER on some of fixes. We see the oily & dirty underside of the C4, but would love to see the cleaned up & non-rattling rear wheel. Would not be a long video, but would love to see the result. Also looking forward to seeing which boat you and Mrs. Wizard end up keeping. All best from Perth, Western Australia.
David, smart move replacing the water pump. If you don't, more than likely it will begin leaking in a month or two destroying the brand new optispark and of course the customer will blame you. GM places a part that is totally killed by water underneath he 'Water Pump', makes sense to me, NO. What were they smoking that day?
As a C4 owner I gotta say it... Wheels are on backwards on the passenger side!! Other than that awesome ride and awesome video. Hope I see it around Wichita, I'll wave from my 94 :)
Way back in the day those LT1's were notorious for leaking at the back of the intake where it met the block. Finally GM put out a TSB to remove the intake, dimple the back block rail and set up the RTV for a specific time so it actually seals. That did the trick.
Tip if you already don’t know. Be careful cleaning the undercarriage of the fiberglass leaf springs cars. Degreaser can cause the coating around leaf springs to break down and it will cause it to break if cleaner is left on springs. It’s best not to get cleaner on the springs.
My dad had one of these a 96 jet black Vette, with the removable T top, Bose sound, with all the options, and it even had V tread ultra high rated sport tires, when I was little. That car even with it being long gone still ranks among one of the most beautiful cars my dad ever owned. If I could get my claws on one I would. It’s a beautiful car. The gauges and light panels are my favorite part and even still looks futuristic to this very day. Amazingly beautiful and modern even now, in the age of totally digital gauges and screens. Kudos to the owner.
I’ve gotten to know C4s pretty well. I was screaming Optispark! The wheels are in good shape. Unfortunately, the car is wearing 4 driver’s side wheels and zero passenger’s side wheels. They should be pretty easy to find on eBay.
@@williamphillips3237 Agreed. Overall a good concept for the time but man did GM screw up on its location. Lets put it buried under the water pump and surround it with leaky seals. What could go wrong?
Yup. Grandfather's '94 Vette optispark went very soon after purchase, he had the dealer fix it. My '94 Camaro Opti went out the next year, did that one myself. And as you said it was not a fun one
Excellent video and commentary as usual. I have had similar response from customers when carrying out additional electrical installation work for them, "don't look for work" even when you are highlighting a potentially dangerous situation. Keep up the good work and stay safe.
Well jobs like that are so time consuming and expensive it's best to do it when everything is apart, otherwise there is a chance you need to pull it all apart again in 10k miles. I have a Mitsubishi and because timing belt and water pump live under the timing belt cover it's best practice is to replace them at the same time, so then, (touch wood), you don't need to touch them again for 60k miles or so.
Common knowledge with C4 Corvettes is to replace the WP if you have to have the Opti-Spark replaced unless you just had the WP replaced a month ago then you would be OK since the WP is basically new???
@@Cheepchipsable i hate this type of engineering of putting the waterpump on the timing belt or chain. With an interference engine as most are, should the waterpump seize, the valves and pistons go too. Stupid design!!!
I am a plumber in the E&O department of a large, well-known University's medical center. Completely understand your logic of replacing all the consumable parts- it is false economy to just replace pieces that fail when you have that intensive of an R&R process just to get to the part. I've done it that way all my life, makes some people shake their heads, but I have less problems & needless expenses in that arena of my life.
I really wished there was more mechanic shops like Car Wizards in California. Just a genuine guy and knows his stuff. No wonder Hoovie and so many go to him.
Not sure why aftermarket shields haven’t been made to protect the optispark. If a couple different things could drip on it and ruin it, why not have a waterproof heat shield (aluminum?) to protect it?
Elliott Alvis's channel is really unique and awesome, because his sense of humor and his style of presenting his unique car issues are like no other RUclipsr! The Car Wizard is extremely popular because he is like no other RUclips channel out there, that's what makes the Wizard so successful!
2600 bucks is nothing for a car this nice. Glad he took it to you and is getting everything done to get this beautiful car back to 100 percent cause it definitely deserves to be preserved.
Welcome to the Smartest Channel in all RUclips. Great looking transportation, but would not take it out when there is a cloud in the sky or snow on the ground.
NEW Balances and Jorts!!! That's what I keep insisting to my wife I need because I traded my Dynaglide for a Roadking. Great video as always, thank you for continuing to be the Bob Ross auto mechanics 👌
@Jeff Spicolli no It just would die at random times. Once I replace ignition key and switch it hasn’t died since 5 years ago. I ran around circles on it . Vat will give you some weird problems
Nice Video. That C4 was hurting but still nice enough & worth the repair costs as the C4's are holding value now and rising for decent ones. I own a nice `88 auto cpe w/ 30k on the clock that still needs a few new things like brakes, oil pressure sending unit, suspension bushings and shocks but still very driveable as is. I saw a few comments here claiming these cars are money pits which is not so true, you just need to realize what to expect when buying one. The optispark C4's seem to have more issues IMHO. One of the biggest best items to replace on the C4's is the fuel filter as it will improve starts and idling. I've owned other cars that were a lot worse like a `96 BMW z3 that I dumped a few grand into, a brand new `06 Ford Fusion that was in the shop every year seemingly for all kinds of bs - any car will cost money to properly maintain and the C4 for the most part isn't that expensive compared to other cars.
I also have a C4 corvette (a 1992), and i think i might be able to compete with this one as far as cleanliness goes. I would like to note that i THINK the wheels are on backwards (rotating the wrong direction) for the passenger side rear wheel at least, but it could be just the perspective.
Both passenger side wheels are wrong- they're driver's side wheels. My guess is the car owner bought 4 wheels and doesn't even know enough about his car to know he actually has 4 driver's side wheels. 🤦🏽♂️
They are not that bad. Biggest part of the whole job is making sure the coolant pump shaft seal is right the first time.i use a socket to help with the install. I think there is a special tool for this too..nice work wizard
Wizard you deserve to get paid for what you know and your completeness in diagnosis. I never find you grumpy.keep up the great content you and Mrs Wizard!
It's not the job he gets paid for even. It's all the years and experience going into that one job that may take 3 hours.
I wish we could get to know them by name instead of the Mr. and Ms. Wizard nonsense...
His name is david. He is not in the witness protection program. Yet
HAha he is only grumpy when Hoovie shows up. But he cheers up quick when he figures out how much he is going to make off him.
Vette owner took it to "parts changers" instead of a 'mechanic'...
6:10 First problem is fan belt is upside down !!!
"You will get a new water pump whether you like it or not" lol
Needs to be a plaque in the shop lol
Might as well if your already in there
I might ask for only replacing 2 of the 3 seals just for the look
I owned a '93 Corvette and had to replace the water pump a couple times in 80,000 miles. I finally got tired of looking up at everyone looking down on me and sold it for $10,500.00.
@@jamesburns2232 best thing you ever did. I think vetts And mustangs are the worst money pits in earth
I like how you always air your frustrations as a business professional. Also how you have to cover yourself by noting on the estimate and invoice how the customer refused to fix a problem. Everyone in business learns little tricks like this the hard way. Much like a when a shade tree tries to do LT1 stuff in the driveway. It’s a hard lesson but a good one.
I bought a used Audi a couple of years ago that brought with it the Audi shop service records. One of the comments was the prior owner had refused a repair and drove the car out of the shop. I questioned the seller who admitted to me that he had the work done elsewhere at 40% less than the Audi dealership.
Nice video. I have a 92 Vette that I bought almost 30 years ago. It had about 20K on it. I noticed it had a small oil leak and a small coolant leak, you guessed it, from the weep hole. So, after some research, I realized that my opti was going to fail. I torn it down and removed the opti. When I took it apart it was ready to leave me on the side of the road. While I was in there (you've heard that before) I went with a different route to fix this problem for sure. I went with an electric water pump which did away with two of the main causes of the opti failure, oil leaking seals and the weep hole drip. The water pump drive seal (oil) is plugged along with the weep hole and the drive shaft seal in the timing cover was replaced. I now have around 85K on her and it is dry as can be. The constant flow of coolant even allows for better cooling during hot stop and go traffic. If the electric pump fails it only takes about 30 minutes to replace.
How much did that cost
I worked in the auto parts field for many years, both in retail and in dealerships, and I've known a few "car wizards" along the way. One of the things that makes them worth the money they get paid is a uniform refusal to do "half-way" work. You either do as they recommend, or take your car somewhere else. Some people would say that they are grumpy, or hard to deal with, and maybe they're right. But when it comes right down to it, I would rather have one of them do the work on my personal vehicle-- and know that the job is done right-- than to pay less and deal with the consequences. Part of what you are paying for is accumulated knowledge, and it's worth what you pay for it!
It's quite simple with whatever service you provide like this. Don't aim to be the cheapest, aim to be the best you can be. Build the reputation and then charge fairly for being the best. You cannot buy a good reputation with money. Nobody will complain. People complain if you cut corners, do a mediocre job to save a little money and then still have problems later. If you always do a top job and end up charging good money, good customers will still be satisfied because you did a top job and most people realise it was worth it. If they don't they aren't good customers and you don't need them.
@@pgr3290 Absolutely!
Exactly why my '03 Town Car is going into one of the more expensive shops in town on Thursday to check what I think is a leaky AC hose, grease the (aftermarket) ball joints and control arms, and change the gear oil in the differential. I'm going on a trip next week and want to make sure everything is OK. While he's at it the mechanic is supposed to have an overall look at the car with a 5k mile trip in the immediate future in mind.
He's pricey, but he's on par/slightly less expensive than dealership prices, locally owned/independent, very well regarded/great reputation, does the job right. I'm well into that Town Car - prolly more than I should be - but at least I know the car is right. Mainly because of the good work of an honest mechanic.
Owner took it to "parts changers" instead of a 'mechanic'...
I have a mechanic friend who is just like that. It has cost him a few jobs, mostly from not being willing to just throw parts at a car when management wanted to, or did not want him to spend the time to figure out the problem. Usually ends up walking way from these shops, but there are a lot of people who follow him to wherever he goes.
I like this video. I actually attempted to change my wife’s optispark in her 1992 Vette. To my surprise. I did everything you did in your video and more. New seals, water pump, new harmonic balancer plus … I didn’t like the play in the timing chain so I replaced the gears and chain with new timing cover seal too. This was my first for all and I was very careful installing the drive seals . I bought the alignment tool for the seal. I am excited and impressed since I am not a mechanic. I did this at home in my garage. RUclips showed me what to do. 4 years and still running very strong. I replaced the power steering pump last week.
I’m doing my ‘96 LT4 right now. Got it apart today
I love this guy,as a former mechanic I'd let him work on any auto of mine,he's the real deal.✌👍
Theres not a shop like this in all of Atlanta. Few similar but they rob you and rude service. Heres my cars struggling to find shops will work on them ruclips.net/video/TrKBA8DHci4/видео.html
@@inthrutheoutdoor3464 he's so laid back, calm and methodical, he's taking the time to do the job right, the ingredients that make a good mechanic.
@@grahamsmith2022 yeah and noticed bumped a lot as the squeky wheels gets the grease and so many ppl want their cars back asap making a fuss cause its their only car, hobby guys get put aside and a 4 hour job takes 2 weeks while poor car roast out in the sun. When i get played like that i just go get the car say forger it
Ha ha. It would be funny to see a Wizard meltdown video. Worst car, bad day, parts cannons set for storming the beach. Fake customer car, of course.
I'd swear he had to pay for all the wrong parts replaced and labour back in the army. Maybe.
I have a local mechanic who operates like the Wizard does. His hourly rate is more than other shops but I trust him 100% and that means more than saving a couple of bucks by not going to another shop.
You may pay more for a professional, but a novice will cost you more!
Whereabouts? (state? city?) THANKS!
@@richcarrCCC NH.
Wizards rates seem cheap
I have a local mechanic who operates like the Walrus and is way cheaper than other shops, because he moves way quicker and needs less time.
Optimus Prime and the other Autobots came and stole the Opti-Spark before the Decepticons could get it. That's why the Vette won't start. I figured it all out.
🤣😂
🤣👍
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!!!!
Oh man... 🤣🤣
❤
I love Mr Wizard and Wizard's wife, just listening to them makes my day. Mr Wizard is just the opposite of everything in modern society. No cons, no gimmicks, no tricks, no shortcuts, no cheating, no getting ahead, JUST pure doing it right!!!!!!!! God help the rest of America to get back to this kind of mentality and life. Thank you Mr Wizard.
I did mine in the driveway!! I also upgraded to the 1994 waterpump, bypassing the coolant lines going to the throttle body. Also, replaced the powersteering pulley and all idlers, so it could use a single sided belt. I think that is a 1992 only issue. But the coolant routing isn't! I suggest that one seals the opti in orange RTV to keep coolant out. A small drain hose can be added to the pump to route the coolant away. Finally, I am 99% sure that the intake seals are done. I always dimple the tops of the China wall and the mating surface of the intake to give the RTV a bite. I recommend the Right Stuff RTV. As I said... 17 years of hard learned lessons...
Wow!! $2600 to fix is a great price. Wish he was closer to me!! Such an honest guy!
“You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel…4 Hungry kids and a crop in the field”🎶
I had a '96 LT4 that I did the Optispark on. Glad to hear you replace all the seals AND the water pump, otherwise you're risking trouble. The brace under the front is for the air dam that is missing on this car. You might mention to the customer that he needs the air dam as it helps divert the air through the bottom of the car. This car is a bottom breather and will hydro lock if you drive through a flooded road. I drove my LT4 as a daily driver for 5 years. I lived in the Corpus Christi area at the time and I have good memories of beating BMW's that thought they were fast. This was the second fastest production car in 1996. It's one car I wish I would have never sold. It was also 1 of 101 yellow cars.
He probably didn't notice the loose wheel since the car basically isn't running at the moment.
Being that loose, he should have though, because the bearing isnt gonna fail and shred the speed sensor, by just sitting, it was moving when it did that.
@@compzac Exactly!
@@shawngrenaud I know right, but i will also say, ive seen some cars with absolutely horrible and dangerous issues and the owners had no idea anything was even the matter, I remember once seeing a car come into a shop i was working at with a good chunk of the rims bead missing and the tire was barely hanging on, we told the owner of the car and then got berated and yelled at for trying to jack up our prices, he even accused the shop owner of damaging the rim just so we could replace the rim and profit from it. we ended up not fixing any of the vehicles issues turning him away, he came back two weeks later with a sob story about how he nearly crashed when the tire went boom and nearly sent sent him into an embankment. did end up replacing the rim and even got to tell him off that we didnt actually see much profit since all we could charge shop time for was putting a new tire on a rim, balancing and installing to the vehicle.
@@compzac I know I am late, (4 month) but maybe those things break gradually (hair-split crack first ) and it may take a while for it to get to the point as it was on this C4. In steel construction (at least in my home-country) one has to build something that will take 3 to 4 times the intended amount of force.
Say you have a chain on which you would put a weight of 5 pounds, 3 to 4 safety means that chain should hold at least 15 to 20 pounds, before it breaks, even if the load is still just 5 pounds . Now if one uses this approach than that part on the C4 would have been build 4 to 5 times as strong as at needed, and then it did not break all at once, as if would if it was build for just the normal force.
Another thing is, often metal can get "tired" and this leads also to breakage...
So much cool retro goodness with the C4 Corvette. I had C7 Grand Sport that I sold for because I got sent to Guam for a 3 year tour of duty. Now that I am back in the states I am in the market for a C4 Corvette. May not be the fastest car out there but its all about the driving experience. Excellent video here.
The is the perfect Father’s Day weekend video!
I am a hardcore DIYer. I’ll buy a specialty tool and do the job myself, the right way, since often times I save a ton on labor and I get to add cool new tools to my collection :D I avoid using the parts cannon because if I don’t have the diagnostic capability or knowledge for a particular problem diagnosis, I’ll have the dealer diagnosis it for me then take it home and fix it.
But, I liked and subscribed for your comment about a dedicated DIYer understanding when it’s best to pay a pro to the work and your work ethic of doing it correctly and completely the first time regardless if you are a DIYer or Pro. If you need to do the water pump and three timing seals when you do the Optispark ignition to do it right, do it and do not give the customer (or yourself) the option to not. Otherwise, when it fails, not if, your business takes a reputation hit and the customer is let down (or you get stuck tearing it all apart again on your own dime!).
Also, kudos to pointing out critical things to the customer and noting if they turn it down. If they go down the street and their wheel falls off, you have it in writing they were warned.
There are 4 Wires... A B C D and E 🤣 Spot on with new parts or the job doesn't get done 👍🏻
Yeah, that confused me somewhat :-)
5 wires
Vying for the title of "The dumbest automotive channel in all of RUclips"
and THAT highlights precisely why I cringe with his delivery. He tries to be, I dunno, cool? hip? rad? and falls flat on his face. Like how many times did he tell us the water pump isn't belt driven? And wait until he talks about removing something and deleting it. I'm going to remove it and throw it out. Throw it out right into the garbage. I'm going to remove it completely. Ok wizard, we get it, you're not going to re-use it.
He'd be far far better if he'd just tell us the facts.......
@@skrachvynl
Only the people who are think this channel are dumb...
I think this is one of the first videos of yours that I have seen. Dude, you're good ! I like your style, completeness, not fixing random things, but finding the problem/diagnosing first. And how you'll refuse to do a job if you can't do it right, even if it seemingly gets "extra" things done that would have to get done anyway down the road otherwise, as in this case, the same problem would arise yet again. You're what I consider a "Doctor/Ph.D." Mechanic and auto engineer that can fix pretty much any issue, and fix it right the first time. Thank you. :-)
" Get you New Balance shoes and jorts on for this C4 Corvette and why it won't start." Dude I am dying laughing. Thank you for this show big shout out from the Northeast!
Nice seeing an honest and professional mechanic telling it like it is. Love this channel.
Hell of a video. I love how thorough you are with explaining the why and how of the job at hand. I wish I knew a guy like you where I live so I could take my CTS there whenever I needed something. You can't put a price on the element of trust and reliability you seem to provide people with. It's truly priceless, and it's nice to know people like you are out there. Just gotta find one in m city.
My grandpa has a beautiful 93 40th anniversary 6mt/black convertible hardtop, only 43,000 miles on it. The gentleman he bought it from kept it meticulously maintained in a carpeted, climate controlled garage in Dallas. He drove it home to Wichita and got over 30mpg. It's actually a very comfortable car for cruising, the seats feel great, now getting out of it is another matter lol.
Car wizard as a car mechanic apprentice (In training) I very much enjoy the way you explain your diagnostic routine. I've had a rough road in my training due to poor management and mechanic's that dislike been mentors. I'm able to learn alot from your video's Thank you.
Some company owners are often very poor man managers. Do not despair as we’ve all suffered from at least one of those in our careers. Just believe in your own ability and the perfect job will eventually reveal itself to you young man..😊
@@philtucker1224 That's what my dad say's Roll with the punches.
Learn that he should have noticed by 6:10 that the fan belt is upside down!
The clutch pedal is missing is the only problem! The 1996 LT4 with the 6 speed is a real Corvette, GM perfected the C4 in 1996 and replaced the next year, this is Modis operandi for GM!
"There's four wires; A, B, C, D and E"
I struggled here. I counted his fingers with him and got the same. I know it's wrong. I wrote five letters, but every time I rewind the video and count fingers with Wizard, I also get four. He truly is a Wizard, Harry.
OMG I was just about to put the same thing up!
There are 3 kinds of people in the world. Those who can count and those who can't.
Long live the Wizard!
Its OK, he's a wizard, not a mathematician.
"There are FOUR lights!"
i enjoy watching your vids, i been a mechanic for 40 years and had my dealings with the opti-spark as well. i had a 96 ws6 TA , with the lt1. the timing cover seal is very tricky . the seal will fold in on itself when inserting the splined shaft, i did the seal 3 times and it still leaked . then i realized the seal was folding in on itself . i came up with a solution. i took a small piece of plastic coke bottle and cut a square out of it and wrapped it around the splined shaft on the drive then i slipped in the shaft inside the plastic ,basically made a sleeve then removed the plastic and walla the seal lip stayed folded outward not bent inward . i new i solved the oil leak at that moment when i new what was happening to the seal lip being pushed inward when installing the shaft drive . i put it all back together and guess what it still leaked f*** !!!! . i couldn't believe it ! so i ripped it apart again . while taking my time this time i examined the splined drive shaft and noticed at the very end it looked kind of strange like it had a black ring around it that was also splined . so i took my pick and starting scratching at it and it completely broke apart ! it was an o-ring almost impossible to tell it was on there looking at it before i picked at it . . so what it does it stops the oil from traveling through the splines and also stabilizes the shaft from any movement or wobbling . i popped a new o-ring on there and i noticed when i installed the shaft this time it was tight . and that solved the oil leak for good . just though i would share that with you wizard . you cant even tell that theres an o-ring on that shaft because it becomes hard and even becomes splined so it looks like part of the shaft . if it wasent a different color i would have never known it was an o-ring . theres only a hand full of mechanics out there that know how to do these water pumps and to replace that o-ring as well as the seal in the cover. thanks for reading .
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard, I love how Mrs Wizard says "welcome to the interior" You guys put out great videos every time!! 👍👍🙂
For a second it seemed like I was on a ride at Disneyworld.
Loved my LT1! It was in the sleeper of a Roadmaster. The only trouble I had was that at 186,000 miles, the fuel injectors would leak when turned off. So it would flood and take a while to start after a 1-4 hour off period. Overnight, the injectors would have leaked down and the gasoline evaporated so the engine would start very quickly. But what a joy the LT1 was. Even with the Roadmaster’s 2.56 rear end, it would smoke the tires anytime you wanted to. But also get 27-30 mpg on the interstate as it turned a leisurely 1700 rpms.
Lol I just got an 93 C4 vette and it had a oil leak and little gas leak but it’s fixed now. That was just the two major things of many more things that needs to be fixed. It runs and drives perfect though
It has 78,500 miles on it now. I drove it 1000 miles the week I got it. I love it
There's four wires, ABCDE..classic.. LMAO
Wheat state math.
lol i just passed that part and was like.. tf🤔😅
Priceless!
@@stevenreynolds2327 another classic. Hahaha
😸
On the bright side, with all those oil leaks, his chassis will never rust
Well the car is made of aluminum and fiberglass, so I doubt it would rust either way!
I love the fact you fix everything related to the issue and stand behind what you fix - Top class Wizard!!
Mechanics like you are worth your weight in gold! Kudos!
The Opti-Spark sounds like something from Transformers.
It's actually the component just after the Flux Capacitor....
@@Scotty_in_Ohio yea I had to replace mine on my 92 corvette. Felt sick afterwards from the radiation
I was thinking of Opti-Grab, which shows my age!
@@mortimergladbreath I'm still cross eyed so don't feel too bad about it.
And amusingly the modern Transformers movies were all GM vehicles, so maybe it is a Transformers thing! Who needs the all-spark cube when you have the Opti-spark in your Corvette?
I LOVE that model SUPRA in the back ground bloody neat
Yeah Wizard, tell your customers what Enzo Ferrari said: "The customer isn't always right".
I had the opti go out on a drive. The mechanic told me exactly what you said, "Get the water pump or else we are going to be here again when the pump fails." At the time, I didn't understand why. Thankfully, he was patient with me, showed me the configuration, and walked me though how it can all happen again. Very thankful to have a mechanic like him and I am sure there are many others that feel the same about the Wizard.
These are great cars and I love mine dearly, but they are very quirky and require some patience.
Keep up the amazing content Wizard!
-Luis
Gotta love GM engineering where coolant is able to leak and ruin an IMPORTANT and integral part... 1,000's of hours spent on the handling... but.... 3-mins on the damn Opti-spark. DOH!
Yeah agree. Vehicles for the past 40+ years are designed for cheap assembly and last not past the 2nd if that owner.
The 93 Opti-spark was not vented, just weep holes, that was a terrible design. The 94 had vent tubes that drew fresh air through it to pull out moisture.
@@RayleighCriterion If oil is leaking from basically 3 places above it though the vent tubes won't help. You saw that grungy oil buildup from below when Wizard had it up. Bad spot for a distributor. $2600 for tearing into the engine to get the seals / water pump out plus the rear wheel bearing. To me that's not bad. If it was mine & using the tools I have its a project I'd like to try. I like to wrench on my cars plus learn about them in the process. To have a hydraulic lift in the garage is a huge advantage. A jack with 4 jack stands is what I have in my garage.
It gets better on current Ford 3.5 L V6's if the water pump seal goes out it leaks into the crankcase , it is driven off the timing chain and requires removal of the front cover and also the chain to get to it . In most cases it is a $1800.00 job
@@proofbox I heard about that! I think they sometimes do this just so I can keep mechanics employed! Such a dumb design!
You should be known as the Car Guru!! You are so thorough, and you actually care about your customers cars. I wish my mechanic did that. Bought new alloy wheels for my Jaguar, and they are scratched already, just from rotating the tires, which it didn't need, nor did I ask them to do it. I wish I lived in Kansas!! I would be a lifelong customer, for sure!
That is one beautiful C4. Funny timing, my 1992 Corvette recently wouldn't start and it turned out to be the ICM and ignition coil. I never found the opti to be that bad of a job, I replaced mine twice guess I just got lucky. Beautiful car tho, one day I'll get mine repainted and looking that good.
"You are going to get a new water pump. Whether you like it or not. " Love it. You are the best.
I don't understand conversations customers have with garages, having found a garage several years ago, when our two cars go in for service / MOT, the garage say to us same as usual, which means fix everything that's wrong, because I know they're not going to run up the bill, they're not going to put parts on the cars don't need, it's not a main dealer because they will run up the bill, find a good garage you trust, I've been with the garage for 25 Years father & daughters business.
Not all garages are like that. Had one tell me my steering rack was bad. Said it was leaking so bad they didn't think I could make it home and was too dangerous to drive. They didn't even want to let me take my car unless I let them fix it. I told them they were full of shit since the car was 18 years old and I have never had to put a drop of PS fluid in it so he took me back to show me the fluid all over the engine bay. Surprise, surprise, not PS fluid. It was compressor oil from the AC line THEY had broken.
@@wingracer1614 good catch they wouldve taken you for all your money and then blamed the compressor on you aswell
When Sears stores were still running strong in the 1990s, I took a 1986 IROC-Z to their Sears Auto Repair for new tires. When I went to pick it up, the shop manager told me my battery was dead and that I needed to buy a new battery. I told them to give me a jump start and I'd buy the battery elsewhere. After I got the car home, I was expecting the car to not restart, but it did. I didn't have a problem with that battery for another 2 years. I then learned, via a class action lawsuit notice, that Sears Automotive Technicians had sales quotas and often sold customers things and services that weren't needed. BTW, I hated that IROC-Z. It was so troublesome.
@@DucatiPaso750 I think that's an issue with a lot of those quick-fit tyre and exhaust places. They run on very thin margins to stay competitive, but they're always looking to sell you something else. I've had them try to sell me tyres when I know that, based on my mileage and the position of the tyre, it will last me another year.
I worked for GM and worked in the wheel bearing plant. On my line we made the Corvette wheel bearings. The way that they are made it is surprising to see one bad. The tolerances are very tight. Bearings are made to last longer than the car.
This Corvette was designed very uniquely and beautifully. All the newer models can't match this perfect elegance.
100% agree. stated very nicely. I love almost all Corvettes, but the C4 is always my favorite.
Mr. & Mrs. Wizard are absolutely fabulous!!! (Particularly Mrs.)
We have absolutely no competent vehicle mechanics in the U.K. By way of a typical example:-
I had a Kia Sedona with an electrical fault which seven regular garages plus three Kia main dealerships could not solve notwithstanding ripping me off for well over £ 4,000 (U.K. pounds sterling). Mechanic after mechanic advised me that these days electronic cars are scrapped at circa 60,000m. - simply because they are too technical to be fixed!
I put my immaculate vehicle on eBay clearly disclosing the fault. The buyer and his wife came to my home, stayed the entire weekend, and had several long test drives.
After buying it for a third of the price of a sound vehicle, chappie 'phoned me 48 hours later advising that he had fixed the car and it now drove perfectly. That was seriously impressive bearing in mind that he had no mechanical training / education.
He had simply replaced the rusty earth bolt, and it had not cost him a penny.
I could tell half a dozen similar stories, and such is why nowadays I only buy and run classic vehicles.
20:33 This is my favorite part. I would be like "Hell Yeah, replace all those while you already have it apart! Of course. That's why you are The Car Wizard!"
Later OptiSparks had a vented case where the base was plumbed to engine vacuum and the cover to the air filter housing. Doesn't help with oil leaks, but keeps water vapor from fogging up the optical sensor. The trick for the early ones, like this '93, is to use a '95 cover (cap), plumb it to the air filter, then drill and tap a fitting to the distributor case and run that to engine vacuum. Then seal up all the joints with permatex.
You can't swap the whole OptiSpark unit, but the caps are compatible.
I just decided to use a brand new one from MSD. Problem solved!
Yes u can swap out the opti
I am really digging Mrs. Wizard’s interior tours!
Love the video …. I had a 92 stick shift. The most fun in a car I ever had… super light and super fast… first three gears you will go sideways. I was really tough on this car, driving it even in the winter. I also remember replacing the distributor and the water pump in my driveway… not a fun job! After all the abuse, I still sold it for good money…
C4 is my fave vette too I love how to hood opens up
Good video. I have a 1995 I purchased new. It has the newer vented opti and around 200,000 miles the water pumped leaked on the opti and the car skipped badly. Im a cheap DIYer and replaced the water pump myself. I almost replaced the opti as I already took all the other stuff off for the water pump. I gambled and it paid off, the venti opti was fine afterwards and performed well until the 4L60E went out for the second time at 261,000 miles. I've never had a front oil leak, but have changed the intake manifold gasket twice for severe rear leak. Around 190,000 miles, I heard rear brake noise, thinking the wear indicators were signalling near wore out. Turns out the wheel bearing assembly was shot so bad, the tire leaned in. At 153,000, the 4L60E went out. I rebuilt that (took me a year) and I must have done an okay job as it lasted 109,000 miles before failing again. That was 10 years ago. Car has been down since. A year ago I found a 4L60E from a 1994 in a junkyard. Paid $150 and finally did the swap. Driven it about 10 miles and it seems fine. I did have to replace the rusted fuel pump, and remove all the syruppy gas from the tank and fuel lines after a decade of sitting. The car will be a Sunday driver. It doesn't look near as good as that one, but not bad for a car with over a quarter of a million miles.
I would LOVE to see you dive into a full repair video now and then. Especially on something like this C4. For sure it takes a lot more video editing and work but I would watch the whole thing and I'll bet everyone else would too :)
He'll never do it. He's too smug.
Stunning Corvette! Glad to someone is willing to put money into it in order to preserve some C4 history on the road. A car like this deserves to be driven AND appreciated!
I love when Mrs Wizard goes over the interior she is a natural :D You guys are awesome keep up the great content!
Everything you have said is true Mr. Wizard but honest, thorough, and willing mechanics are hard to find...regardless of how much you pay them. People would not accuse mechanics of running up the bill if this were not a common occurrence. Great video and info!
0:05 "...and why it won't start.
...
Let's get started"
The writing on this show is impeccable!
Writer missed the upside down fan belt at 6:10...
Hello Mr Wizard...I have 92 corvette, the history is I just bought it from the second owner who had it 5 yrs but has not driven it in 2 due to medical reasons...in really good shape. I test drove it twice and no problems that I noticed. But here are some issues I have and need an opinion before I start ... 1) the number 2 fan comes on when you turn on the ignition...I read that it should only come on when it gets to about 220 or when AC is on... 2) When I start it the main fan (drivers side) comes on in 5 seconds..I also read that it should not come on till about 180....Also they both stay on with or without the AC on..very confusing. 3) I just took it out for a 30 minute drive and came back home because the temp climbed to 235 and stayed...with 2 fans continuously running it is still 235...took it home and shut it down...just found a video and will cleaned the radiator area ... that seemed to work because I drove it for 30 minutes and never got over 200...its the fan thing now. I have read that many people that have these C4's wire them different to control the number 2 fan but mine looks like all original wiring Any thoughts. Thanks
Is that an old Passport radar detector??? haha Wow this brings back memories! I had the same year, even had a Passport! I know it's woefully outdated nowadays, but I loved it back then. I often wish I could go back and drive it again.
He’s good
I still have mine. Always wished you could get a Ka upgrade.
Yes , Passport i saw that too
Awesome work!
I wish you were here on Maui! It is hard to find a good mechanic here that is willing to work on vettes.
I bought a 90 vette coup earlier this year knowing what to look for, and what can and will go wrong with these little beauties.
I explained to the father of the 18 year old owner selling the car what was wrong with the car, what can go wrong, what will go wrong with it, then explained the costs and the real worth of the car and the total I will be investing into the vette.
The father was shocked that I was going to put $20,000- $25,000 into a 30+ year old car. I told him that I'd rather put it into a vette and drive it, rather than buying a new Nissan and having it turn into a rust bucket in 10 years. LOL!
He talked with his son and we came to an agreeable price, then I purchased the vette.
I have had it to 2 reputable shops here and both places have done very little to it for alot of money, then politely asked not to bring it back, because they hated working on vettes.
Between the 2 shops and working on it myself, I have it running like the beautiful beast that it is.
Next will be weatherstripping, a little body work, paint, custom wheels and new skins for the pavement.
After that, maybe bore the motor, cam, et'cetera.
They are an iconic car and they are really great to drive.😀
Love the fix it all at once or none approach.
Tap a hose barb (3/16 I believe) into the water pump weep hole and run a hose from it, to the ground. If your water-pump starts to goof up, it will drip to the ground and not your opti.
Opti-spark was the electrical equal of the infamous "cease fire" fuel injection system.
I have an 84 Crossfire! Definitely temperamental but still a blast to drive!
I have owned two Optispark engines, the L99 and the LT1 and they work pretty good until you leak coolant on them.
@@RayleighCriterion My car is renown for dropping water on to the alternator! I will get around to devising a guard one day!
I have Buick roadmaster wagon I've changed the optispark water pump and gaskets about 2years ago and that thing now just keeps going at 301,000 miles. In a few weeks I'm drive it to Vancouver Washington. Love my boat on wheels
I have an 84 that I was given but I have removed the ceasefire system
Like your honesty, don't ever change that, you should have a happy Corvette customer!
"This is the car wizard calling. I have good news and bad news."
Thanks for the video and great explanation of the diagnosis, great camera work.
I certainly wasn't expecting a wheel bearing so bad on a car kept so well. Goes to show when your fixated on a problem how other things can sneak up on you. I'm sure your customer is grateful for your expertise in spotting issues.
I'm grateful for guys like him. I took my 89' in to have all if the fluids changed and to clean the throttle body. I was right about the throttle body. It was filthy. The fluids tested fine, however, in the process of inspecting my car they found the very same problem with the wheel bearing (which explained why it was pushing like a dump truck) and a bad master cylinder. I spent more than I intended but I know my car is safe and if I ever need to sell it I can confidently tell a buyer he can trust it.
Center part of the air dam is missing. Inexpensive part, but makes a difference to cooling. You should recommend that too.
After getting beat all up, I removed the whole air dam on my 1995 20 or so years ago. I expected it may run hot, it did not, dash temperature gauge remained the same. Drove without it for years. The car has been down last 10 years due to transmission failure. It was a daily driver, 261,000 miles. I've about got it road worthy again as a Sunday driver and plan to put the airdam back on as it won't be a daily driver.
Excellent videos offered from your Omega shop.
Great to see a troubleshooter speaking through the Yes/ No world of clear flow chart troubleshooting.
Great service to all car enthusiasts.
Thank you
Hey Car Wizard, About time you showed us the AFTER on some of fixes. We see the oily & dirty underside of the C4, but would love to see the cleaned up & non-rattling rear wheel. Would not be a long video, but would love to see the result. Also looking forward to seeing which boat you and Mrs. Wizard end up keeping. All best from Perth, Western Australia.
David, smart move replacing the water pump. If you don't, more than likely it will begin leaking in a month or two destroying the brand new optispark and of course the customer will blame you. GM places a part that is totally killed by water underneath he 'Water Pump', makes sense to me, NO. What were they smoking that day?
As a C4 owner I gotta say it... Wheels are on backwards on the passenger side!! Other than that awesome ride and awesome video. Hope I see it around Wichita, I'll wave from my 94 :)
Yep, i'll bet they've replaced the wheels, because they're correct on one side.
And he's having airflow problems towards the radiator because his center lip is missing.
Ive got this exact same car with 65 000 km s on it...so far no opti issues but ive got money put away for it JUST IN CASE...Thanks for this vid...
Way back in the day those LT1's were notorious for leaking at the back of the intake where it met the block. Finally GM put out a TSB to remove the intake, dimple the back block rail and set up the RTV for a specific time so it actually seals. That did the trick.
Love how Wizard is so thorough and checks safety items 👍
Tip if you already don’t know. Be careful cleaning the undercarriage of the fiberglass leaf springs cars. Degreaser can cause the coating around leaf springs to break down and it will cause it to break if cleaner is left on springs. It’s best not to get cleaner on the springs.
My dad had one of these a 96 jet black Vette, with the removable T top, Bose sound, with all the options, and it even had V tread ultra high rated sport tires, when I was little. That car even with it being long gone still ranks among one of the most beautiful cars my dad ever owned. If I could get my claws on one I would. It’s a beautiful car. The gauges and light panels are my favorite part and even still looks futuristic to this very day. Amazingly beautiful and modern even now, in the age of totally digital gauges and screens.
Kudos to the owner.
Hey Wizard. Make sure to do a follow up and show the results and how it was done.
He never does
NO MINT C4 FOLLOW UP FOR YOU...!!! (Soup Nazi voice)
I would pay a guy like this what ever he deems is fair because you know that it will be fixed right the first time. True professional.
I’ve gotten to know C4s pretty well. I was screaming Optispark!
The wheels are in good shape. Unfortunately, the car is wearing 4 driver’s side wheels and zero passenger’s side wheels. They should be pretty easy to find on eBay.
Wow you're right, you've got keen eye!
Having dealt with Opti issues in years past, I have a burning hatred for the GM engineer that thought that setup was a good idea.
@@williamphillips3237 Agreed. Overall a good concept for the time but man did GM screw up on its location. Lets put it buried under the water pump and surround it with leaky seals. What could go wrong?
@@ItsAlwaysRusty I think those old-time engineers, that put the V8 distributors above and away from the oil & coolant leaks, maybe knew something!
Those wheels are machined and lacquered , not paint, off of a 94 I think he went that route to get wider fronts like a Z07
Yup. Grandfather's '94 Vette optispark went very soon after purchase, he had the dealer fix it. My '94 Camaro Opti went out the next year, did that one myself. And as you said it was not a fun one
Thanks Wizard. We need more like you wrenching on our beloved C4's
Excellent video and commentary as usual. I have had similar response from customers when carrying out additional electrical installation work for them, "don't look for work" even when you are highlighting a potentially dangerous situation. Keep up the good work and stay safe.
"You will get another water pump whether you like it or not" - more commonly known as " I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse".
Well jobs like that are so time consuming and expensive it's best to do it when everything is apart, otherwise there is a chance you need to pull it all apart again in 10k miles.
I have a Mitsubishi and because timing belt and water pump live under the timing belt cover it's best practice is to replace them at the same time, so then, (touch wood), you don't need to touch them again for 60k miles or so.
Common knowledge with C4 Corvettes is to replace the WP if you have to have the Opti-Spark replaced unless you just had the WP replaced a month ago then you would be OK since the WP is basically new???
@@Cheepchipsable i hate this type of engineering of putting the waterpump on the timing belt or chain. With an interference engine as most are, should the waterpump seize, the valves and pistons go too. Stupid design!!!
I am a plumber in the E&O department of a large, well-known University's medical center. Completely understand your logic of replacing all the consumable parts- it is false economy to just replace pieces that fail when you have that intensive of an R&R process just to get to the part. I've done it that way all my life, makes some people shake their heads, but I have less problems & needless expenses in that arena of my life.
I really wished there was more mechanic shops like Car Wizards in California. Just a genuine guy and knows his stuff. No wonder Hoovie and so many go to him.
You wont find much anything genuine in California. Its a cesspool now
Not sure why aftermarket shields haven’t been made to protect the optispark. If a couple different things could drip on it and ruin it, why not have a waterproof heat shield (aluminum?) to protect it?
"There are 4 wires a, b, c, d, and e..." Trust me, I know my maths, I'm a Wizzard.
i laughed so hard. didnt see your comment before i made the same one lol.
Elliott Alvis's channel is really unique and awesome, because his sense of humor and his style of presenting his unique car issues are like no other RUclipsr! The Car Wizard is extremely popular because he is like no other RUclips channel out there, that's what makes the Wizard so successful!
"There's four wires, A,B,C,D and E..." Right you are, Wizard
yeah I caught that too,lol
2600 bucks is nothing for a car this nice. Glad he took it to you and is getting everything done to get this beautiful car back to 100 percent cause it definitely deserves to be preserved.
Welcome to the Smartest Channel in all RUclips. Great looking transportation, but would not take it out when there is a cloud in the sky or snow on the ground.
20:34 This is why I love you!
Wished we had a mechanic like you near us. I could buy more older cars that I love!
That story aboit his boss making him do it 5 times... that's why he's such a good mechanic today, right there...
Give me a break, the man's got an ego the size of his arse.
NEW Balances and Jorts!!! That's what I keep insisting to my wife I need because I traded my Dynaglide for a Roadking. Great video as always, thank you for continuing to be the Bob Ross auto mechanics 👌
I had a similar problem but it turned out ignition switch/anti theft circuit first turned on the signal to the fuel pump.
@Jeff Spicolli no It just would die at random times. Once I replace ignition key and switch it hasn’t died since 5 years ago. I ran around circles on it . Vat will give you some weird problems
Nice Video. That C4 was hurting but still nice enough & worth the repair costs as the C4's are holding value now and rising for decent ones. I own a nice `88 auto cpe w/ 30k on the clock that still needs a few new things like brakes, oil pressure sending unit, suspension bushings and shocks but still very driveable as is. I saw a few comments here claiming these cars are money pits which is not so true, you just need to realize what to expect when buying one. The optispark C4's seem to have more issues IMHO. One of the biggest best items to replace on the C4's is the fuel filter as it will improve starts and idling. I've owned other cars that were a lot worse like a `96 BMW z3 that I dumped a few grand into, a brand new `06 Ford Fusion that was in the shop every year seemingly for all kinds of bs - any car will cost money to properly maintain and the C4 for the most part isn't that expensive compared to other cars.
I also have a C4 corvette (a 1992), and i think i might be able to compete with this one as far as cleanliness goes. I would like to note that i THINK the wheels are on backwards (rotating the wrong direction) for the passenger side rear wheel at least, but it could be just the perspective.
Yes all the wheels appear to go the same way. First thing I noticed. He has two pair of one side. Smh
Both passenger side wheels are wrong- they're driver's side wheels. My guess is the car owner bought 4 wheels and doesn't even know enough about his car to know he actually has 4 driver's side wheels. 🤦🏽♂️
yep they are both driver side wheels!!! lol
They are not that bad. Biggest part of the whole job is making sure the coolant pump shaft seal is right the first time.i use a socket to help with the install. I think there is a special tool for this too..nice work wizard