weird error while checking/setting timing

[silviasgp06]

First off I have originally set timing by using the exposed wire in the back of the Coil Pack Harness.

A month or so ago another RB friend suggested(and have read before) that I pull the number one coil pack and connect a spark plug wire between the spark plug and coil pack for more accurate timing signal.

Which makes perfect sense to me.

BUT!

After I did this, and check the timing (without ever moving the CAS) it now said the motor was 15* retarded,

I was baffled and kind of excited at the same time, knowing that if the motor was really 15* off then the motor will be a whole lot quicker once set right.

went for a test drive and car felt a little quicker at part throttle but I didn't continue the test drive because my power FC was reading an insane amount of knock. Meaning or making me think that the motor was now wrongly advanced 15* due to the way i check timing/

I immediately drove back to the garage and set timing the old way.

Can someone explain this? Why would a wire cause a 15* difference in the reading?

[ANVIL]

are u using a timing light or the pfc to read your timing?

[silviasgp06]

timing light to check timing

[ANVIL]

so did u advance it from -15 to 15?

maybe u had it on the wrong cyl

[silviasgp06]

first time ever i set timing by:

1. clip timing light pickup to the exsposed wire on the harness.2. aim gun at timing marks and set according to FSM

the time where this error occurred, I set timing by:

1. pull the #1 coil pack off2. put a spare spark plug wire on the #1 plug, with the other end connected to the coil pack and attached a ground wire to the coil pack.3. clip the timing light pick up to the now installed spark plug wire4. aim gun at timing marks and set according to FSM

before setting timing on the second occasion it read 15* retarded with the spark plug wire installed, and the timing light clipped to the cable/wired installed between the coil pack and plug. I how ever did not compare the reading between the installed wire and the exposed factory wire.

[silviasgp06]

bump

[bmadd2402]

maybe you had the timing light clipped to the spark plug wire backwards?

[rtmathes]

15 degree retard? so would that be 1 and a half notches before the tdc notch? or somewhere shortly after the tdc notch?