94 Caprice Ignition Problems?

[Tom64H]

I have a 94 Caprice and it's having some ignition problems. For a week or 2 it would run fine then sputter "lose power" then keep right on going. After that it would crank but would cut off after about 5 minutes. Now it just won't start. I have a new battery in it. I'm in the process of getting a Voltmeter to test the electrical system.
Does anyone have any suggestions on the fix?

[NOVAZ27]

Which engine do you have in your Caprice? Diffrent engines had diffrent ignition systems. Check/change your fuel filter first. It is located by the left rear wheel. If it is dirty it will cause hesitation. If it is plugged the fuel will not get to the engine. Another item that will cause loss of power/heitation is a bad EGR valve. This is mentioned in some other posts in the Caprice section. Check them out.

HOPE THIS HELPS

[96capricemgr]

For a 94 different engines do NOT have different ignition systems. Both available engines a 4.3l and a 5.7l are V8s using the same ignition.

Tough to tell you what the problem is.

When is the last time it had a tuneup including a distributor cap and rotor??

The ignition module can fail like this too or it could be simple as a loose wire.

Any chance you know someone local you could swap ignition module/coils with for just a few minutes, would be a lot cheaper than buying one to see if it helps.

At one point I thought I had a bad module but nobody could test it, turned out it was not a module problem but a wiring one.

[ctwright]

There are ways to test these parts without swapping them out. First let us know what is going on. Have you determined yet as to whether it's not getting fuel or spark when trying to crank it?

[NOVAZ27]

HELLO. In my reply I was going with my experiences with my mother's "94" CAPRICE LS.
I was lead to believe that only the 4.3V8, Which is exclusive to the LS, and the 5.7 LT1 use the dreaded OPTISPARK IGNITION.
All other engines used another system. If I am incorrect I stand to be corrected.

WE ALL WANT CORRECT INFORMATION.

[Blue Bowtie]

The 1994 B and D bodies used either the L99 or LT1 engine. Both used the OptiSpark. Those were the only regular production engines available in those models.

The OPti can be sensitive to moisture, but like any other distributor, it also wears. Periodic replacement of the cap and rotor is necessary. Typically, this is right around 100,000 miles.

All the B and D body cars had Opti distributors which were vented by a vacuum line. F and Y body cars did not have this until some time in 1995. The forced venting helps reduce condensation and moisture from light splash and road spray, but doesn't make the distributors last forever. The optical array is fairly reliable, and can be successfully cleaned when installing a new rotor and cap.

With a new cap and rotor, new wires are a good idea. Routing them in the factory harnesses takes some time and care, but is well worth the effort.

[96capricemgr]

Originally Posted by NOVAZ27

HELLO. In my reply I was going with my experiences with my mother's "94" CAPRICE LS.
I was lead to believe that only the 4.3V8, Which is exclusive to the LS, and the 5.7 LT1 use the dreaded OPTISPARK IGNITION.
All other engines used another system. If I am incorrect I stand to be corrected.

WE ALL WANT CORRECT INFORMATION.

The 4.3L L99 was the base Caprice sedan engine, externally you need to look for casting numbers to tell it apart from a LT1.
Causes a LOT of confusion especially since it used the same VIN "W" code the 4.3l V6 used in other vehicles and earlier Caprices.

At one point I brought my car to the dealership that sold it new, the service guy swore the engine had been swapped for an LT1, took me 10 minutes to convince him to look in a service manual then another 10 for him to find the information. All I wanted them to do was the AIR TSB.

LS series engines did not make production debut till 97 in the Vette, 98 in the f-body.

[Tom64H]

I found the problem. I knew it was an electrical problem so I just started following the battery cables and I came to an Auxiliary Power Stud that comes on 9C1 Caprices. It had melted in two. It was a recalled item in 94 on a huge amount of Caprices that came out of the Arlington Plant. It causes power lose and sometime complete engine failure. I have a link to the recall/repair PDF if anyone needs it.

Thanks for the help.

http://www.rmsautoparts.com/images/94c59.pdf

[kshook.2]

my 95 caprice the coil pack was shoting spark out of the coil pack and zaping stuff and the car would shut off all the time

[NOVAZ27]

That remote POWER STUD is really where one is supose to connect the positive lead from a jumper cable. If it becomes slightly loose it will cause the ALTERNATOR to act like it is going out. Wish I would have known it was a recall item. Would have saved some headaches. When it is your Mother's car you come a running when it quits. From the top it lookes to be ok. The melting is on the underside where you cannot see it very well. Replaced 3 batteries & 1 alternator before we found the problem. Fixed now. Just by working on the car the connection would tighten up then a few months down the road the problem would start again. Flaky charge meter readings, dead battery etc. Glad you found the problem. Thanks for the PDF link.