Timing is advanced but I am retarded (long)

[rudee023]

Firt off I have searched through every timing thread on this and other forums and I seem to be back to square one. Originally the CAS was set at 15BTDC (according to timing light on loop or (-) wire on coiplpack, both read the same. However, the CAS was at the end of it's adjustment range clockwise (wrong according to many), not to mention the motor felt as if it were holding back.

I removed the valve cover to restab the CAS, set the crank to TDC lined up the marks and inserted it with the adjustment holes in the middle. Started the car and it idled like crap but ran o.k. WTF? I thought once you set it the valve cover way that was it, no more adjustment needed.

Checked the timing again the same way as before and it read 0 degrees TDC. After adjusting it to 15, the idle is perfect and the car pulls like a mo'fo but guess where the CAS is at again. Yep, near the end of it's adjustment. BTW my friend's clip with only 50,000km(that's right, km) still had the Nissan OEM tape unbroken holdling the CAS and his is the same as mine. My last attempt will be to use the spark plug wire method to see if I get a different reading. It would be nice to get the final word on what is going on.

[robbbby]

Not sure what to tell you but put the car in timing mode and see where your timing is with a light.

[rudee023]

That's what I did. I have no problem putting it in timing mode. It read 15 degrees before but the CAS was all the way clockwise. After I restabbed the CAS it read 0 degrees and ran like crap so I set it to 15 degrees again but it is all the way clockwise again. Maybe I'll get a different reading with he spark plug wire.

[SpeedRacer1]

Most timing lights aren't designed to read direct coil ignition. Usually I just adjust the CAS until the car sounds and runs good, example: runs fast, gets good gas mileage, no misfires, backfires, etc. Though expect some backfires while decelerating with the car in gear.

[Luke]

Maybe I'll get a different reading with he spark plug wire.

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT !!!! (already told you in http://www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=93907)

I spent many weeks trying to get an accurate reading from the coil pack wires. You CANT with a standard timing light. I would have the CAS all the way clockwise and it still didn't run right at 15º btdc. I finally got my timing set correctly when I ran a wire from the coil pack to the spark plug.

That tells you exactly when the #1 coil is firing and therefore lets you set the timing exactly how it should be. I haven't had to touch the timing since!

[rudee023]

ok, I did the spark plug wire thing today and guess what. It read the same as the rear loop and the coilpack. It's at 15 degrees with the CAS all the way clockwise. Screw it I'm leaving it there.

Luke: When you did the plug wire method where did 15 degrees end up? In the middle of the CAS adjustment range?

[RMiller]

Did the bolts leave a mark from where they were for the last 10 years? Put it there.