Is there any use for a timing light anymore?

[Victor]

I am cleaning out my garage and came across two timing lights I haven't used in many years. I was just wondering with modern cars using ECUs and no distributor is there even any use for a timing light anymore? Should I try to sell them or would no one even want or have use for them? Actually come to think of it possibly my old 1988 GMC van would need a timing light if I ever replaced the points if it even uses points, but I guess my 1994 J30T would have no use for one.

[Skibane]

As recently as the mid-1990's, quite a few engines still used distributors, some of which could be adjusted with a timing light.

If you sell yours, you probably won't get much of anything for them. I picked up a nice model for 3 bucks at a thrift store a few years back - works great with my '88 Japanese pickup.

[Q451990]

You still need one to adjust the base timing. The distributor has been replaced with the crank angle sensor (CAS) which still needs to be adjusted to set the base idle.

My '04 truck still has a distrbutor... so I don't think your timing light is obsolete at all.

Heath

[MinisterofDOOM]

Nissan used a mechanical distributor in the VG33E up until 2005, when that motor was finally replaced by the VQ.

It's weird when you think about it: OBDII distributor. They have an integrated camshaft position sensor to meet OBDII standards.

I have a timing light that claims to work with modern individual coil ignition systems...never used it, though.