1989 240sx: Timing light usage

[BlackHat]

I'm still fairly new to automechanics and I'm currently experiencing (what everyone has diagnosed as) bad timing. I've researched timing lights and how to use them but something doesn't sound right (which I've found normally means I'm not understanding something right).

I got the hooking up pos and neg cables on the timing light. I understand hooking the sensor on the #1 spark plug wire, but I don't understand pointing the light at the pulley and trying to see the advance... At 750rpms I'm supposed to see a light hit a mark? Either I've got this way wrong or it's way easier than it sounds. I thought about taking it to a mechanic to check but I'd really like to be able to do this myself.

[benemorius]

It's easier than it sounds. Start by standing in front of your engine and looking down to the left of the radiator fan at the crank pulley. You should be able to locate a small pointer sticking out of the front cover just atop and slightly to the left of center of the crank pulley. If you're lucky, you'll even spot the marks on the pulley. The idea is to shoot the light at this spot. You know how a strobe light sort of freeze-frames motion? That's how this works. It will freeze-frame the marks on the pulley each time they come around and the pointer will point at them, thus indicating the timing degree.

[BlackHat]

How far does the light from the timing light go? I can't see getting the timing gun that close due to the fan...

[benemorius]

You ought to be able to get it just barely between your intake and power steering pump. This should be good enough. You'll have to play with the angle to get both the light and your eyes on the right spot. Doing it in the shade or even dark should help LOTS if you've never done it before.

[BlackHat]

hehe, read my mind... I was planning on doing it tonight in poor light