Timing?

[ironheart1]

hey guys~

I'd been having a problem with the car running rough and the plugs/wires were the likely suspects. A friend of mine adjusted the timing and replaced plugs/wires/cap/rotor in an effort to solve the problem, and it has straightened out a bit. However, I still feel a rough idle and a loss of power at higher RPM.

This being the case, I know stock timing is 10* BTC. However, I know aftermarket distributors offer a built-in advance. Does my stock distributor also have a built-in advance? I believe that the issue is still timing. What should timing be set at? The problems persist even at 10* BTC.

Thanks. My friend is going blue in the face from trying to get the timing set well and I personally don't want to get by a stupid mechanical gremlin.

 

[donkey_punch]

maybe your distributor is on it's way out? not saying it doesn't work. maybe not to ful capacity.

 

[TheUser]

You're right, stock timing should be set at 10* BTDC. Stock distributers do not have an advance (not sure about aftermarket, although I doubt it). The computer automatically advances the timing when you have the SPOUT connector plugged in, if you don't have the SPOUT connector plugged in, it won't adjust the timing. That being said, did your friend put it back in? Surely he did, but it would be worth a check to make sure. I'm sure others will have better, more consisive and detailed advice...

 

[ironheart1]

Hmm... Where is the spout connector located in relation to the distributor? He may have done it, I'm sure he wouldn't have left anything disconnected that he himself disconnected.

 

[hllon4whls]

The big question is did he remove the spout to set the timing? THe spout is that plug that hooks to the side of the dist. If it unplugs and is not a spark wire, that is the spout.

 

[ironheart1]

That's what I thought.

Yes, we did unplug it, but plugged it right back in. Is there any procedure I should follow to allow the ECU to recalibrate the timing? Should I reset it?