good evening everyone i need some help,please! i am trying to set initial timing on my 1986 pontiac fiero to start my car. i also forgot to mark my distributor location when i took it off. can anyone give me the steps to set my initial timing so i can get my car started thanks for all your help.
assistance setting intial timing
- Thread starter TOLEDO
- Start date
Step 1. Remove # 1 Spark Plug
Step 2. Hold thumb or finger over spark plug hole
Step 3. Have someone rotate engine by hand. When you feel pressure trying to push your thumb/finger, This means you are on the compression stroke of the #1 cylinder.
Step 4. Set the timing mark on the harmonic balancer to align up with "0" on the timing scale. Now you know the #1 cylinder is at Top Dead Center.
Step 5. Install distributor so that the rotor is pointing to around the #1 spark plug wire.
Step 6. Install distributor cap so that the #1 spark plug wire and rotor line up.
Step 7. Jumper the ALDL connector and start engine. Using a timing light set timing to 10* BTDC. Depending how far off you are, You may have to turn the distributor a little to get the engine to run initially. Slowly turn it if it doesn't start. Once running adjust so that it runs smoothly then adjust for correct timing.
Step 2. Hold thumb or finger over spark plug hole
Step 3. Have someone rotate engine by hand. When you feel pressure trying to push your thumb/finger, This means you are on the compression stroke of the #1 cylinder.
Step 4. Set the timing mark on the harmonic balancer to align up with "0" on the timing scale. Now you know the #1 cylinder is at Top Dead Center.
Step 5. Install distributor so that the rotor is pointing to around the #1 spark plug wire.
Step 6. Install distributor cap so that the #1 spark plug wire and rotor line up.
Step 7. Jumper the ALDL connector and start engine. Using a timing light set timing to 10* BTDC. Depending how far off you are, You may have to turn the distributor a little to get the engine to run initially. Slowly turn it if it doesn't start. Once running adjust so that it runs smoothly then adjust for correct timing.
responding to initial timing
thanks for the response. i did the exact same steps you mentioned. i put my thumb over the 1 spark plug felt the puff. then i kept rotating until i get the harmonic balancer to line up to 0 on the engine timing indicator. now the harmonic balancer has 3 marks on them do i line up the fatter marker with the 0? the increments on the timing indicator goes in increments of 2 starting with 12 down to 0 it is very hard to see the numbers but is 0 the last gash mark on the timing indicator or is 0 at the end of the timing indicator? the only thing is i could not line the rotor to point to number 1 but i made a mark on where the rotor was facing so i can i can that as my number 1 is this, okay too? when i started the car, it only stayed on for a few seconds then shuts off is there anything else i should be aware of? thanks again for responding back to me
thanks for the response. i did the exact same steps you mentioned. i put my thumb over the 1 spark plug felt the puff. then i kept rotating until i get the harmonic balancer to line up to 0 on the engine timing indicator. now the harmonic balancer has 3 marks on them do i line up the fatter marker with the 0? the increments on the timing indicator goes in increments of 2 starting with 12 down to 0 it is very hard to see the numbers but is 0 the last gash mark on the timing indicator or is 0 at the end of the timing indicator? the only thing is i could not line the rotor to point to number 1 but i made a mark on where the rotor was facing so i can i can that as my number 1 is this, okay too? when i started the car, it only stayed on for a few seconds then shuts off is there anything else i should be aware of? thanks again for responding back to me
Yes 0 Is the large mark. Since it runs for a few seconds and turns off, You may be on the retarded ignition side. Try moving the distributor in a clockwise direction about 1/8".
Then try and start again. If it runs (or runs longer) keep moving in small increments in the same direction until it runs. If it gets worse, turn slightly counter-clockwise.
Then try and start again. If it runs (or runs longer) keep moving in small increments in the same direction until it runs. If it gets worse, turn slightly counter-clockwise.
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responding to initial timing
i think you are right so what you are saying is if it runs for a few seconds do you want me to take the distributor out and move it clockwise 1/8 inch or loosen the clamp and rotate the distributor while its still in the chamboer 1/8 inch clockwise. sorry i just want to be clear. thanks again for all your help. i will be awaiting your response thanks.
i think you are right so what you are saying is if it runs for a few seconds do you want me to take the distributor out and move it clockwise 1/8 inch or loosen the clamp and rotate the distributor while its still in the chamboer 1/8 inch clockwise. sorry i just want to be clear. thanks again for all your help. i will be awaiting your response thanks.
responding to initial timing
i took the distributor out and moved it clockwise it got worse so i took it out again and moved it counterclockwise 1/8 inch and it got better but didnt stay running. do i keep turning it counter clock wise until it runs? thanks again for helping me out
i took the distributor out and moved it clockwise it got worse so i took it out again and moved it counterclockwise 1/8 inch and it got better but didnt stay running. do i keep turning it counter clock wise until it runs? thanks again for helping me out
You don't need to take it out. Just loosen and and turn.
Taking it out will move it way too much.
Loosen distributor clamp and have someone start the car.
Move the distributor SLOWLY in either direction until the engine starts to run smoothly. Then set timing with the timing light.