Just *TRIED* to set my timing...need some insight

[teddy]

So I've got everything going decent on my car finally. Decided I should set the timing because the car feels like it's backfiring and running a little rougher than it should and my CAS was all the way advanced.

So I borrowed a timing gun from my friend and gave it a whirl. Unplugged the TPS, warmed up the car, and put the light on it. Timing was waaay advanced. So I adjusted the cas and even retarding it as far as it could go I couldn't get it to line up. Also, the farther I retard it, the rougher and lower it idles, and starts to sound like it's missing.

So is my timing belt off a tooth? I've never touched the belt since it had a brand new Nissan timing belt when I received the engine and seemed like it lined up fine.

Also, the marks seemed to jump around when I had the gun on it. They'd jump forward, then backward, then forward when I wasn't even adjusting the CAS. Is this normal?

[capowered240]

How are you doing it? Using a spark plug wire or that loop on the #4 coil pack?

[teddy]

The loop. I know the FSM says not to use it, but I've read about quite a few people who had no trouble with it.

[capowered240]

That's what that loop is there for. Make sure you have that clip open that goes inside the loop instead of closed. you will get a more accurate reading if you have it open than closed if you know what I mean.

[f s t caz]

i just went looking thru the fsm and couldn't find reasoning for disconnecting the tps. perhaps you should reconnect that and try again?

[teddy]

i just went looking thru the fsm and couldn't find reasoning for disconnecting the tps. perhaps you should reconnect that and try again?

Did that. No difference.

[capowered240]

Knock sensor hooked up?

[teddy]

Knock sensor hooked up?

Yep. No codes on the ecu either. Possibly the CAS is bad? I have taken it out a few times before.

[capowered240]

That's probably the next thing I would do is test the cas.

[teddy]

I take that back about the knock sensor. It's hooked up, but I used a crimp connector where the knock wire was cut and a t tap on the ecu wire. I didn't think that would cause a problem?

[capowered240]

If your not getting the 34 knock sensor code than I really wouldn't worry about it.

[rexhunta]

i would try the normal take out plug number 1 use a lead from another car as a jumper. I could never get that loop to work properly as much as we tried.

Pete

[teddy]

Ya, I may try that. But I'm still concerned with the position of the CAS. It's supposed to be about dead smack in the middle? Whereas mine runs mildly rough in the middle, compared to much smoother completely advanced.

Edit...car also runs smoother when I plug up the cold start hose that connects to the coldpipe