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Timing The Distributor

Posted: March 29th, 2009, 11:59 pm
by ramsen25
hey everyone i wanna time my distributor, i got the timing gun does neone know the specs for the ZE ? thanks

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: March 30th, 2009, 1:04 am
by wytbishop
10ยบ BTDC

I can't remember where I read it...but I'm sure I did.

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: March 30th, 2009, 8:18 am
by Mad Cow
Yea it's 10, make sure the engine's at operating temp. and that you're in diagnostic mode too.

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: March 30th, 2009, 1:10 pm
by ramsen25
k kool thanks

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: March 30th, 2009, 3:12 pm
by Daninski
Good luck, you can move that disty all you want and the ECU will just correct it to 10 degs. I've noticed all the cars I've checked just have the disty positioned in the middle so that's where I positioned mine. Any yes I did have TEN and Grd jumped.

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: March 30th, 2009, 3:15 pm
by Mad Cow
I've heard that too, but if I have my TEN and GND jumped I can notice a change in the idle speed and quality if I move the disty around, so I don't know what to think.

I think that moving the disty in diagnostic mode changes the physical ignition timing, because the ECU can only compensate so much, it still depends on where the rotor is positioned at that exact moment.

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: April 3rd, 2009, 1:59 am
by OROutdoors
Daninski wrote:Good luck, you can move that disty all you want and the ECU will just correct it to 10 degs. I've noticed all the cars I've checked just have the disty positioned in the middle so that's where I positioned mine. Any yes I did have TEN and Grd jumped.
???? how does the ECU adjust the timing of the ignition? Last I looked, (my) '92 GS has a coil, distributor, and rotor, but I don't see an electronic ignition.

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: April 3rd, 2009, 5:11 am
by RX8SE3P
OROutdoors wrote:
Daninski wrote:Good luck, you can move that disty all you want and the ECU will just correct it to 10 degs. I've noticed all the cars I've checked just have the disty positioned in the middle so that's where I positioned mine. Any yes I did have TEN and Grd jumped.
???? how does the ECU adjust the timing of the ignition? Last I looked, (my) '92 GS has a coil, distributor, and rotor, but I don't see an electronic ignition.
Well it must, because if TEN and GND are not jumped, you can rotate that disty all you want and nothing happens.

Jumping them enables you to change the timing. It's always good to have it in the right spot and timed well.

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: April 3rd, 2009, 8:11 pm
by ninjajim4
i know dan and i have discussed this before but keep in mind he has OBDII. i've found my timing was way off before and adjusted it with timing light on a kl31

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: April 3rd, 2009, 8:44 pm
by Juans_93_MX3
Stupid question but I never have changed the timing on my car except for the belt or the TPS.

Anyway, I have a timing light and everything.

Just dont know how to do it step by step.

Anyone have a link to a quick guide?

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: April 3rd, 2009, 10:02 pm
by RX8SE3P
Put a paper click between TEN and GND on the diag box.

Hook up your timing light. Loosen the disty just a little so you can turn it. Turn the car on, warm up to operating temp. Look at where the timing is at. Rotate the disty until you hit 10 degrees BTDC. It's marked on the timing cover. You may need to move the coolant pipes out the way to see it.

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: April 3rd, 2009, 10:29 pm
by wytbishop
...tighten the disty. Then turn the car off. Then pull the paperclip.

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: April 4th, 2009, 2:19 am
by Whisper
And just in case you don't know, there's a little mark on the lip of the crank pulley. I think it's yellow. That's what you want to use as your reference, when you aim the timing gun at the timing marks on the cover.

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: April 4th, 2009, 10:01 am
by ninjajim4
Whisper wrote:And just in case you don't know, there's a little mark on the lip of the crank pulley. I think it's yellow. That's what you want to use as your reference, when you aim the timing gun at the timing marks on the cover.
Whisper wrote:And just in case you don't know, there's a little mark on the lip of the crank pulley. I think it's yellow. That's what you want to use as your reference, when you aim the timing gun at the timing marks on the cover.
+ sometimes the paint is gone. you can just use white out to re apply on the little groove

Re: Timing The Distributor

Posted: April 28th, 2009, 8:08 pm
by Swaid
what is this ten and grd everyone is talking about?