timing an rb20

[slider78]

I'd like to check the timing on my rb20, how do you do it? I read here that you hook up the timing light to a big white wire coming out the coil pack 1. is that all, you dont have to find any service connector or something.

[nizmo zilvia]

Theres more to it. How about you download the FSM on here and search for timing there. There will be a step by step on how to do it.

Btw, look what 30 sec of searching got me:

zerothread?id=284535

[slider78]

what can I find the service manual under, I already read what you listed on your comment but it doesn't really tell you how to do it. they are not sure of it.

[Cpt_Impossible]

K, there are several ways that you can do it.

1) Hook the inductive clamp around the black loop of wire by the intake manifold side of the igniter chip. I have heard that this method can be unreliable, but for me read the same as method #2.

2) Take off the Igniter, crossover pipe, spark plug cover, and #1 coil pack cover (front of the engine). Then jack a spark plug wire off of a normal car and plug one end into the RB #1 spark plug and the other into the #1 coil pack to complete the circuit. Now put the crossover pipe back on and ground the coil pack wire and plug the coil pack back in with the cover off. Now you can time the car like any other because you have a #1 lead to clamp the light on.

Now that you have your signal, you get the car to idle around 650rpm and loosen the three bolts on the CAS. There are notches on the crank pulley:

I I I I I I I 0,5,10,15,20,25,30

0 being the orange notch on the left, the rest should be white. You are comparing these white notches to the white arrow on the lower timing belt cover slightly toward the exhaust side coming down at an angle. It should be the only imperfection on the cover around that area so you don't have much to worry about. With the light flashing, you adjust timing to the 15 degree mark. Once you have it, tighten the CAS back on and recheck to make sure it didn't move while you were tightening it. Reset the ECU by unplugging the neg battery terminal and holding the brake pedal down for 15 seconds. Reconnect the battery and there you go.

That is timing the RB20 in a nutshell.

[slider78]

man, now thats an answer, thanks very much.

[mott6904]

I thought you had to disconnect the tps signal connector?

[Cpt_Impossible]

The FSM says to, but I found the same thing as the guys on the Aussie boards did, that as long as the car is idling around 650, it didn't make any difference plugged in or unplugged.

Doesn't hurt though, just didn't do me any good.

[slider78]

all I can say is, I went and did it your way and it worked, my engine was right at 15 degrees, but I just wanted to be sure. thanks again.