MX-3.com

As far as i know - (which is not very much)
The ECU does control the timing and is known as Electronic Spark Advance. During cranking it sets the timing to 6-8 degrees, idling 9-11 degrees and so on (page F2-133 on the manual).

(Incidentatlly - theres is also a fuel cut dechoke system which cuts fuel if the engine temp is 32 or below and the engine is cranking - page F2-134).

The ECU uses readings from the VAF (at all times i think) to set the fuel pressure (turn on the fuel pump etc).

The crank and cam angle sensors are the most crucial for timing.

If knock sensor readings are not proper - the ecu might think the engine is pinging and retard timing.

Earths... check them all and replace if necessary with thicker wiring... Worked for me when mine didn't fire up. The difference was one earth to the back of the manifold between starting and not. (at least I think it was anyway!)

This post is very interesting, well documented but unfortunetly missing the conclusion. It would be great if the result could be post for further reference

I came across this post because i had exactly the same situation happening. turned out to be rotor set at wrong position.

well...

the good thing it's running, bad thing is that we haven't really found a closing solution about what the problem was...

at the wiring loom at the ECU there where some bad wires, these where replaced or resolderded.

also bought another new disty and that did the job...

rotor wrong could be a solution, but when we put the distributor on another mx it fired up at the first crank...

Thanks for the update

Maybe the engine got shaked in transport and some oil passed in the combustion chamber.

When it started, was there any blue smoke from the exhaust that took long time to disappear ?

I experienced this with a turbo JDM Toyota 4E-FTE engine this summer.