timing light... Options

[tonytutino]

hey i bought an inductive timing light so i can advance my timing on my 7afe and i was wondering if someone could help me figure out how to use the timing light, i mean i can plug it up right and get it to shoot out the light but i dont understand what it even does. dont flame me i'm a noob with this stuff lol. and has anyone with this engine had trouble getting the distributor bolt off near the radiator hose? i cant get enough torque in that small space to loosen the bastard. any help would be appreciated!

[Bitter]

yes, thats the hard bolt to get at. just keep trying and you'll get it loose!

the pickup goes around the #1 spark plug wire in the correct direction. then aim the light at the crank timing plastic bit, you'll see what i mean. when setting base timing make sure its in the diagnostic mode and the engine is at operating temp with all the accessories off. the rest of it goes like that guide for the 5th gen 5sfe, same procedure.


what its doing is shooting light every time that one sparkplug fires and its showing you the relation between where the engine internals are at in relation to that spark happening.

[tonytutino]

i understand what the light means now, but like when it shoots light on the timing notch thing, is it going to be at a certain area or something? otherwise how will i know the degrees of timing after i've adjusted it?

[Bitter]

yea, by the crank pulley. look down there.

[tonytutino]

sa-weet
i was pissed off at first cause i was like why did i spend 40 dollars on a light that just blinks...
now i can do this when i get home, im excited lol
thanks alot bro

[tonytutino]

well i only see the mark when its way above or below the timing marker.
i'm assuming all the way up is 25 degrees but i dont think thats too safe, i hate having to estimate where its at, maybe im just not looking right...

[Bitter]

is the engine hot, at idle speed, all accessories off, and in diagnostic mode? remember to jumper TE1 to E1 in the diagnostic connector. the engine will sound bogged down and idle low, and the timing mark will stop jumping around. also, it helps to clean the crank pulley up and even put a dot of white paint on the timing knotch.

[tonytutino]

yep to all... i guess i need to try an paint the notch or something. cause like when i turn the distributor all the way up i see the white mark way above the angle marker thing but when i turn it down after that it goes behind the angle thing and i cant see where it is at from there... sorry i'm having so many problems with this but i want it done lol

[Bitter]

its possible a pit of rust or something is what you're seeing and not the notch. clean the edge of the pulley well and then see if you can find the knotch when the engine is off. a little spec of white paint can make it ALOT easier to see.