97 metro 1.3 l spark timing-please read

[dbfarr]

Ok, so I put the timing belt in. I had to turn the camshaft cc 270 degrees to line up the camshaft timing mark. The car is all back together, it turns over, has spark, reeks of gas, but does not fire. I adjusted the timing with no effect.

I imagine the distributor is 180 degrees out of phase. I am used to working on v8's, which often display this behavior when changing distributors. Trouble is, this is four cylinders, not eight. So, short of pulling the timing cover off and realign the the camshaft 360 or I could turn the distributor.

The question is, how much? 180? or 360?

Someone please read this and give me some input. Let me know if I am totally off. Thanks

[dbfarr]

I was timing he crank to the dowel, not the punch mark. Aligning to the dowel gave me 0 compression.

[carpenter_jai]

A common problem when people do their timing belt is to use the wrong mark on the crank pulley. Check this picture. You should have used the mark labled 60 to do your timing, since it is a 4 cyl. This may be your problem.


Click on image to view full size

[DOCTORBILL]

Is there any special thing about timing the 3 cylinder, 1.0 Liter '93 engine?

I replaced the timing belt last Fall, the car ran OK, but I have never put
the timing light on it.

You put the timing light cable onto the first cylinder's plug wire - yes?
The first cylinder is the far left one facing the engine from the front of the car?

DoctorBill

[dbfarr]

#1 cylinder is closest to front of engine. Far left when facing car.

I didn't check my timing, once I aligned the crank to the correct place, the belt slipped right on. Whn I started the car, the idle was perfect.

[carpenter_jai]

When I did mine, I found that the spot on the cam when cylinder one is TDC, is right in the middle of a transition where if you have it in the right spot, the engine wants to turn equally in either direction, turning the cam gear clockwise or counterclockwise as if it were spring loaded.


You're right about the timing gun. Just clip it over the !st spark plug wire, hook up to the positive terminal and fire away. Easy to understand the rest from there. Make sure you have a large torx head driver for adjusting the firing at the dizzy. Centre of that adjustment area is the factory setting. If the timing is very progressed or retarded, you may have a sign of problems in the cylinders I think.

Play with the tentioner before trying to put the belt on. Understanding how it works makes it easier to get that belt on.

Jai