Help! Timing ajustment

[JOHNNYB]

HI I WAS WONDERING DOES ANYONE HAVE THE CORRECT PROCEDURE FOR ADJUSTING THE TIMING ON MY 89I HAVE A HAYNES AND A CHILTON SERVIVE MANUAL AND THERE BOTH A JOKE NOTHING IS SPECIFICad


THAN YOU

 

[TedC]

Haynes manual on page 1-29 outlines the steps for a 1991 and earlier models.
Disconnect EST (electric spark timing) connecter. Should be a tan or brown wire. You may need to dig for it between the brake booster and back of driver's side valve cover. Once disconnected, you start engine and check/adjust timing. They make a special tool to loosen the distributor hold down bolt. Shut off engine and reattach the EST wire. I like to make sure the timing scale over the harmonic balancer is clean and I can read the numbers. You should find the timing spec on the radiator cover near the top coolant hose.

 

[JOHNNYB]

Haynes manual on page 1-29 outlines the steps for a 1991 and earlier models.
Disconnect EST (electric spark timing) connecter. Should be a tan or brown wire. You may need to dig for it between the brake booster and back of driver's side valve cover. Once disconnected, you start engine and check/adjust timing. They make a special tool to loosen the distributor hold down bolt. Shut off engine and reattach the EST wire. I like to make sure the timing scale over the harmonic balancer is clean and I can read the numbers. You should find the timing spec on the radiator cover near the top coolant hose.

thanks for info ive never done this before so i guess i should have been more spacific about my actual question.what i really need to know is where the hold down bolt isand are there any don'ts

 

[TedC]

Check out page 2A-11 diagram 9.7 to see what the timing marks look like. Arrow points to balancer which when spinning should be set to timing spec. The hold down bolt is at the base of the distributor. Do not remove this bolt. You loosen just enough that it allows you spin the distribitor a few degrees either way. I would not loosen this bolt unless you first verified that the timing is off spec and needs to be reset. Many of the service manuals, including the GM service manual assume prior skill in performing many of these types of tasks.

 

[vetteoz]

Disconnect EST (electric spark timing) connecter. Should be a tan or brown wire. You may need to dig for it between the brake booster and back of driver's side valve cover..

 

[vetteoz]

The hold down bolt is at the base of the distributor.

 

[TedC]

vetteoz, I like this approach... I type the steps, you post the images. It is this type of detail that makes this forum the best.

 

[Shadoweffect]

Hi, Be careful with the Chilton manual as It does reference the spark timing connector, I fell for this and the vette ran like a bucket of bolts
ad

 

[vetteboy86]

You can also mark the balancer and/or timing scale with some white out or something. It may help. Make sure to check the timing again after you have tightened the hold down bolt. Double check to make sure.

Any particular reason you are adjusting your timing?

 

[vetteoz]

I fell for this and the vette ran like a bucket of bolts

Did you forget to reconnect after adjusting timing?
You have to remove computer control of the dist while setting the timing otherwise you will never get it right and remember to reconnect when finished

 

[JOHNNYB]

Nice!!!!!

I like the pictures they will help alot but i went to just check the timing today and maybe i wouldn't even have to mess with the distributer but i cant find a mark on the harmonic balancer with timing lite could the mark have rubbed off or the timing be that far off?

 

[JOHNNYB]

You can also mark the balancer and/or timing scale with some white out or something. It may help. Make sure to check the timing again after you have tightened the hold down bolt. Double check to make sure.

Any particular reason you are adjusting your timing?

i bought it about two years ago and just figured it was time to atleast check it.but like said i cant seem to find a timing mark hnoes

 

[vetteboy86]

I like the pictures they will help alot but i went to just check the timing today and maybe i wouldn't even have to mess with the distributor but i cant find a mark on the harmonic balancer with timing lite could the mark have rubbed off or the timing be that far off?

If you have not unplugged the EST wire the timing maybe to far advanced to locate the "Notch" in the balancer. You may need to inspect closely for the "Notch" with the engine off. You can bump the motor then look to see if the mark is exposed. Repeat process until you identify.

 

[ex-x-fire]

It's possible the balancer has spun on the hub. Remove dist. cap & rotate engine till the rotor is pointing at #1 on the cap, the mark on balancer should be in the timing tab. Another possibility is that you don't have the timing light hooked to #1 plug wire.

 

[JOHNNYB]

If you have not unplugged the EST wire the timing maybe to far advanced to locate the "Notch" in the balancer. You may need to inspect closely for the "Notch" with the engine off. You can bump the motor then look to see if the mark is exposed. Repeat process until you identify.

yeah im sure that i unplugged the est but i also notice that the firing order on mine is different then factory. #1 cylinder is at the front passenger side of car? :confusedODD. so the mark on the balancer is a notch and should still be there?

 

[geekinavette]

yeah im sure that i unplugged the est but i also notice that the firing order on mine is different then factory. #1 cylinder is at the front passenger side of car? :confusedODD. so the mark on the balancer is a notch and should still be there?

#1 is always drivers side front, pass side front is always #2. Firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, and can only be changed by grinding a custom camshaft with a different firing order (LSx for example has a different firing order).

The "mark" on the balancer is indeed a notch, but as ex-x-fire mentioned it is possible for that mark to shift if/when the rubber ring between the two halves of the balancer deteriorates.

 

[JOHNNYB]

#1 is always drivers side front, pass side front is always #2. Firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, and can only be changed by grinding a custom camshaft with a different firing order (LSx for example has a different firing order).

The "mark" on the balancer is indeed a notch, but as ex-x-fire mentioned it is possible for that mark to shift if/when the rubber ring between the two halves of the balancer deteriorates.

thanx for info now does that affect the way i would check timing? meaning should i use the plug wire that goes to the factory #1 cylinder or the current #1 cylinder because if i use current #1 cylinder wire the notch like i mentioned is not even in sight;helphoping balancer didnt spin because i cant imagine that is a easy fix?

 

[ex-x-fire]

To check if the balancer has spun, you have to line up the balancer to 0 on the timing tab & pull the cap to see if the rotor is pointing at 1 or 6 location. Or rotate engine til rotor is pointing at #1, then look at the balancer to seeif the mark is close.
If you have to change the balancer you'll need a couple of special tools, a steering wheel/balancer puller(w/ triangle pattern), & a harmonic balancer installer(which makes it very easy). Somebody said they rented the installer from autozone, the puller you can get anywhere.

 

[JOHNNYB]

To check if the balancer has spun, you have to line up the balancer to 0 on the timing tab & pull the cap to see if the rotor is pointing at 1 or 6 location. Or rotate engine til rotor is pointing at #1, then look at the balancer to seeif the mark is close.
If you have to change the balancer you'll need a couple of special tools, a steering wheel/balancer puller(w/ triangle pattern), & a harmonic balancer installer(which makes it very easy). Somebody said they rented the installer from autozone, the puller you can get anywhere.

thankx that helps alot but do you think the firing order is a problem?

 

[vetteboy86]

I would definitely figure out why the firing order is different on your car. Is it possible you are mistaken? Factory has a plastic piece that goes around the cap that is marked with the cylinders. How does the car run?