Ignition TIming

[l2ice rocketz]

Feel Like its about time to do it. I have the shop manual for my civic, but there arent sufficient pics and i cant quite locate the notches for timing and stuff. Anyone have some pics, and perhaps a quick how to on ignition timing for the 4g4d?

[acuraattack92]

For your 4th gen you can advance the timing at the distributor. Loosen the three 12mm bolts and I think you just tilt the distributor towards the firewall; look at your shop manual it should give better help. It will probably tell you to use a timing light but you can just adjust then drive then adjust again if your car doesn't seem any better.

[91civicDXdude]

use a timing light. its very easy. incorrectly set ignition timing can cause pinging and detonation and a huge loss in power.

this is how i do it..

set #1 cylinder to TDC.. you do this by turning the crank over with a ratchet until the little pointer on the timing cover is lined up with the little white mark on the crank pulley thats all by itself. (there are three other little marks beside each other, those are the timing marks).

once you do this, attach a timing light to the #1 cylinder spark plug wire, there are various means of doing this, there should be instructions with your timing light depending on what kind it is. Go inside your car and look under the dash on the passenger side. you will see a little brown or yellow plug not hooked to anything. Take a piece of wire or a paperclip and jumper the two pins together.. make sure you do this, as it makes the ECU not advance the timing. If you dont do this, when you set the timing, it will instantly be off.

Start the car and point the timing light at the crank pulley. you will see a strobe effect and you should be seeing the three marks together. depending on what engine you have, check the service manual to see which mark you line the timing up to. Loosen the distributor and advance or retard until the correct timing mark lines up with the timing marks (little burr type things) on the timing cover. when you get it all set, tighten the distributor back down, careful not to turn the distributor itself. turn the car off, unjumper the wire, then start it back up to make sure everything runs okay.

*EDIT* now that i think about it, im not 100% sure you even have to set the engine at TDC.. you might want to check the manual to be sure..

[l2ice rocketz]

Could anyone possibly post a pic of where the timing marks are? I cant seem to find them on my engine. Maybe Im just blind?

[H4Bangin]

look on ur crank pulley