Timing Marks Do Not Show Up With Light - I have adjusted the timing many times.

[Peabody]

Hi - I have checked the timing on my S13 for the last 18 years, I am the original owner of the car and it is not a problem. I wanted to check it today and could not get the marks to light up with the timing gun. I noticed some oil build up or heavy dirt on the nipple or whatever it is called that you point the light at so I wiped it down and now it has a metal shine to it & I also wiped down the 5 marks and got the dirt/oil off them. Still no luck when I hit the light, no marks. I even waited till it was dark thinking I might have had a weak light & still no marks. I put some white paint over the marks and that did not help. By mistake a little paint got on one of the belts and that lights up every time it passes the light, so I know the light is working. I have it on #1 so I am not out of phase. I am lost, the light works fine with my 67 GTO so I do not know what to do. Should I apply some paint to that nipple & what color and also what color to the marks. I tried white and even my neighbors fingernail orange paint on the marks and that did not work. But I did not dab it on each mark, I just put it on my finger and applied it from the 1st mark to the last. Maybe that is my problem. I feel like an idiot writing this because I have checked the timing over 30 times in the last 18 years without a problem. Maybe the mark needs to be black?Any Suggestions?THANKS

[racebuilt]

you know what you need to do.. my 95 240sx is kinda like that... i have a timing light and my marks lined up, but they were still off... my car was running funny.. so every time i have it on 20 degrees BTDC it was actually 40 degrees BTDC.. best bet is using a scanner hook up to the computer and see what the computer sees... my markes are 20 degrees off.. i guess the original owner messed that up or something.. the scanner i used was really detailed.. it was a snap on one, the really expensive ones.. it showed me what degree it was at and rpm and all this other ****...

[Peabody]

Hi - I have no problem with the timing, I just want to check where it is. I am the original owner & nothing has been done to the motor except header, air intake, exhaust & had my computer re-mapped. They did not have drop in chips back 1990. The marks do not light up with the gun. I cannot see any marks at all, but I know I set around 24 a few months ago and that is to much timing and want to set it back to stock or a few degrees higher which is 15 on my SOHC. The car is running fine so I know nothing is wrong.

My problem is the marks do not light up with the gun. Maybe the gun is not putting out a strong light and I need a new timing gun. I thought I could put something on the marks like paint to bring them out. I might try chalk to see or borrow another light.

Thanks anyway Racebuilt

[480sx]

You sure your on Cyl number one with your pickup?

[Vegascorbin]

You have re-painted the marks and still can not see them. The car seems to run correctly.

I would take a few minites and hand crank the engine to #1 TDC and look at the marks under good light. If the marks line up then get a new timing light.

Is your light a dumb light or a newer one that you can set when the flash goes? If it is a fancey light make sure it is set properly. Don't assume it is the same as last time you used it, re-set to proper setting each time.

Sounds light your light decided it did not want to play any more to me.

[Peabody]

I think it is the light. It is from the late 70's and the light must not be that strong. I am on #1 & the only way I can see the marks is if I put the light a inch or two away from the pulley. I tried this from under the car where I can touch the timing light on the marks and then I can see them. I know I cannot adjust it that way but I was tired of putting dabs of different colors hopping one would light up. NEW LIGHT TIME!T H A N K S