90 Q - Its all a matter of timing...

[lockwood7]

I did the cam guide job and the car is running good. It seems a bit sluggish, and I thought it may be the timing. How does a DIY'er check this?

[Q45tech]

Which timing? That the CAS ZERO slot is set 15 degrees before top dead center relative to the crank pulley -----------with a timing light.

Or that the exhaust and intake cams are syncronized to each other [both banks] and that as a system they are synced to the crankshaft.

[lockwood7]

I believe that the intake and exhaust cams are syncronized to each other and that as a system they are synced to the crankshaft. This was done during assembly with the engine at TDC on the #1 cyl and all of the marked chain links matching up with marks on the cam and crank gears.

Now I would like to set the system to the appropriate setting with a timing light.

[Q45tech]

You either acquire the special Nissan timing light adapter or use a sparkplug wire as an extension to signal the timing light as shown in your FSM.

15 BTDC at 650 rpm hot coolant.

[elwesso]

Does the timing retard itself after so many miles, because of chain stretch.

Dennis, ahve you had to readjust your timing.....??

[rsiwicki]

my timing was off about 6 months ago when I took the car to the dealer telling them that it did not feel as strong as it should at higher rpms.......

After 20K since my full 120K dealer performed service....the timing was at 10. I asked how it could get off like that...they said that they did not know....as usual, typical response that I had gotten from the dealer mechanics.

I had them check it to make sure that it was in good shape the last time to the dealer and all was perfect they said....this after 10K miles since the last adjustment.

[elwesso]

Hmm, maybe I need to adjust mine.....

Next time im at the shop Ill do it.....

Whats the easiest way to check timing, assuming a standard timing light......

[Q45tech]

Follow the DETAILED proceedure in FSM........esiest and fastest with special plug in adapter [ an extra mini coil and spark gap created a place to clamp the digital adjusting timing light].

Don't leave home without one!

[lockwood7]

Don't have a FSM yet..... I tried to DL one from elwesso, but my Acrobat Reader is F'd up. I've got it all hooked up, somebody tell me how many degrees are between each mark. I'm guessing 5?

[elwesso]

That is correct.....

[lockwood7]

Thanks, it's right on the money then.

[elwesso]

How did you check your timing.. Never done it before and I need to do it sometime on the Q.

[lockwood7]

I pulled the intake tube and mass air sensor and then took off the cover on the drivers side valve cover to access the coils. I took off the first coil for the #1 cyl, hooked a ground wire to the base of the coil, plugged the lead wires back in, and ran a Miata plug wire between the coil and the spark plug.

On the Miata plug wire, I clamped my inductuve timing light. With everything in this state, I put the intake tube and mass air sensor back on, started the car and shot the timing light at the crank.

The car was hot when I did this and at a nice idle (650-750 rpm).

While I was doing this, it was also a good time to clean the inside of the throttle body. Man, it gets nasty in there!