How do you time a distributor?

on a 94 Protege' 2.0L 4cyl

you have to set the # 1 cylinder at top dead center of its compresion stroke, which can be done turn engine over very slowly while holding your finger over the #1 spark plug hole and wait for the pressure from the clindr to push air past your finger, so you know it is tdc of the compression stroke, then go look at the timing marks on your main pulley and turn the marks so they line up on tdc. You then pull your distributer out and line up the rotor so that it is sitting at the #1 cylinder spot on the distributer cap and mark it there. after you have it marked you can then put it back onto the engine and tighten it down, then check the caps position on it to make sure it somewhat lines up at the #1 spot. put the cap back onto the distributer and then the car should start. once it starts you can then losen the bolt that holds it tight and using a timing light (can get one fairly cheap) that is pluged into the #1 spark plug, shine it at the timing marks on the harmonic balancer polley(main polley) and set it to the manufacturers recomended advance or just do it by ear, the recomended timing is probably around like 5 or 10 degrees atdc(after top dead center). good luck!

if you havn't done it yet, this procedure works PERFECT. good luck to you, it's easy if you have the right tools.
-Tom
here's that link
http://forums.probetalk.com/showthread.php?t=1701026318