
Now is a good time to attach your timing light to the battery and number one spark plug and shine the timing light at the crankshaft pulley.Ĭompare your readings to the manufacturer's specifications in the factory repair manual. This is indicated with the temperature gauge needle reading in the middle of the gauge. Start the engine and allow it to rise to an operating temperature of 195 degrees. Part 2 of 3: Determining if adjustment is needed If ignition timing needs to be adjusted, loosen this nut enough to allow the distributor to rotate so timing can be advanced or retarded. Step 3: Loosen the adjusting nut on your distributor.
TIMING LIGHT AUTOZONE MANUALS
Free repair manuals Autozone provides free online repair manuals for certain makes and models Autozone.Distributor wrench of the appropriate size.
TIMING LIGHT AUTOZONE MANUAL
The number of degrees will vary between manufacturers so it is best to check the service manual for your specific vehicle to determine exactly what degree to set your ignition timing. Having the correct ignition timing will allow the engine to efficiently produce maximum power. These conditions are sometimes shown by the engine backfiring or pinging while accelerating. If the spark comes after the piston starts traveling back down the cylinder, known as retarded timing, the pressure created when compressing the air/fuel mixture will dissipate and create a weak explosion, not allowing the engine to produce maximum power.Ī good indicator that ignition timing may need to be adjusted is when the engine runs too lean (too much air, not enough fuel in the fuel mixture) or too rich (too much fuel and not enough air in the fuel mixture). If the spark comes before the piston reaches the top of the combustion chamber, also known as advanced timing, the controlled explosion will work against the engine rotating and produce less power. The ignition timing or spark is measured in the degrees the crankshaft is rotating, bringing the piston to the top of the combustion chamber, or TDC. The ignition system's job is to ignite that air/fuel mixture to make a controlled explosion to allow the engine to rotate and produce power that can be used to move your vehicle. When the piston travels to the top of the combustion chamber, the valves close and allow the engine to compress the mixture of air and fuel inside the combustion chamber. In other words, ignition timing is the adjustment of the spark produced by the spark plugs in the ignition system. The computer will adjust for a lot in most cases.Ignition timing refers to the ignition system that allows the spark plug to fire, or ignite, a few degrees before the piston reaches top dead center (TDC) on its compression stroke. But if you get erratic timing and significant play together you have an issue.Ĭhains can stretch a lot and never cause any real issues, unless the chain picks up a harmonic. Sometimes it is just ignition, the computer is constantly trying to adjust the timing. Sometimes a stretched chain will get a harmonic that causes the timing to jump around rhythmically. See how many degrees of play you have, less than five and you are likely OK, more than seven and you likely need a chain.Īn alternative method is to put a timing light on the timing marks. Turn the balancer counterclockwise slowly until the long end of straw moves. Take the distributor cap off, bend a drinking straw about two inches from the end, duct tape the short end to the distributor rim so the long end is vertical and just touching the rotor. With the balancer mark on zero, last movement of the balancer clockwise as you are facing the motor to take up the slack. Why not test for play? Easy enough, find TDC 1.
