How do i set distributor on time?

[speedzonwheels]

Hello,
I got a 89' s15 Jimmy 4.3L V6 TBI. I been trying to get the base timing set as I accidently pulled the distributor out without marking it. Now everything Ive seen on here says you should rotate motor and on TDC is on cylinder #1 when in the compression stage. So i did that and pointed the distributor point at cylinder one and it started like total crap and i turned the distributor a little and it still ran like total crap. Ive done this a few times and can't get it down right. My distributor does not have that nice marks for where to point it on the distributer like ive seen in photos. Am i supposed to point it at cylinder #1 once its TDC or am I supposed to put it at a different cylinder like #6? Im so lost and need help! Please Please help me out people as Ive never done this before. I can't get this thing to run at all. It cranked over and died, It did run for a few seconds and couldn't retard or advance cap without it die'n.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by speedzonwheels

Now everything Ive seen on here says you should rotate motor and on TDC is on cylinder #1 when in the compression stage.

Okay, great start.
Now, look at the distributor cap. Find the spark plug wire that goes to cylinder #1.

Do you see the big lump of plastic on the cap that the #1 plug wire attaches to? You must install the distributor so that, when the distributor fully installed, the pointy end of the rotor lines up directly with that big lump of plastic.

This means that when cylinder #1 is at TDC on the compression stroke, the rotor is making contact with the #1 spark plug wire.

When installed properly, the engine should run okay, but you will need to use a timing light to set the distributor timing properly.

[yung jev]

i have a problem almost similar to urs.... i have a 92 toyota levin and i accidentally removed my distributor and did not mark the points. now my fuel injectors are not working at all, the fuel pressure builds in the lines and blow up at the joints. i think the problem is that my distributor's timing was unset and as a result, it is not firing on target. can anyone help? i really wanna get this problem resolved it's wasting my fuel and it's tiring me out, please help, thank you in advance.

[maxwedge]

Repost this in the proper Toyota forum.