My 94 Dokato acts like the timing is retarded during cranking. The battery is good and I went through the starter and everything looks fine. It cranks after the engine turns over a few times and runs great, just slow starting at times. Can the electronic ignition cause retarded timing during starting?

"It cranks after the engine turns over a few times"? How does that work?

"It cranks after the engine turns over a few times"? How does that work?

Not sure what you are asking--are you serious?

If it only cranks after the engine turns over a few times, then what's making it turn over to begin with?

Do you mean it clicks a few times and then starts to turn over slowly or what?

If it only cranks after the engine turns over a few times, then what's making it turn over to begin with?

Do you mean it clicks a few times and then starts to turn over slowly or what?


No, it doesn't click at all. The starter engages the engine and it starts trying to crank but instead of the starter turning real fast, it acts like the engine trying to "kick back" on the starter. It acts like the timing is "retarded" and gets worse when hot. In older cars I've had experience with, if the distributor was set when the system was firing early, the engine would kick back on the starter which would turn real slow--sometimes even putting such a load on the starter that it wouldn't turn over at all.

Maybe that's what's happening. If the timing is off even a little bit it won't run right, if at all. Does it sound like it runs on all cylinders when it does start?

What engine is that anyway?

Maybe that's what's happening. If the timing is off even a little bit it won't run right, if at all. Does it sound like it runs on all cylinders when it does start?

What engine is that anyway?
It's the V-6 and it runs great once it starts, plenty of power and idles smooth. Guess my next step is to try to check the timing, can I do that with a regular timing light or do I need to go to someplace where an electronic alalysis can be done? Appreciate some suggestions on this. Thanks

it sounds like a bad starter try a starter load test