Timing marks missing on flywheel - now what?!
05-27-2008, 05:26 PM
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Timing marks missing on flywheel - now what?!
Hi all,
1990 Accord EX FA221, automatic. ~230,000 miles
I was attempting to check the timing and I am unable to see any marks at all... the car runs pretty well, so I don't think it is so far out that the marks would not be visible on the flywheel.
The service manual says that this model has the timing marks on the flywheel (not on the timing belt pulley), and certainly there is a rectangular window in the right place, with the pointer, but nothing shows up under the pointer when I shine the light. I am connected to the battery and the #1 ignition cable, per the timing light instructions.
So - if the marks truly are worn off, how can I set ignition timing?
1990 Accord EX FA221, automatic. ~230,000 miles
I was attempting to check the timing and I am unable to see any marks at all... the car runs pretty well, so I don't think it is so far out that the marks would not be visible on the flywheel.
The service manual says that this model has the timing marks on the flywheel (not on the timing belt pulley), and certainly there is a rectangular window in the right place, with the pointer, but nothing shows up under the pointer when I shine the light. I am connected to the battery and the #1 ignition cable, per the timing light instructions.
So - if the marks truly are worn off, how can I set ignition timing?
05-27-2008, 05:43 PM
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Re: Timing marks missing on flywheel - now what?! (ayavner)
I've never seen the marks wear off, covered up with crud is more likely.
did you try spraying some WD-40 on the flywheel?
Or remove #1 spark plug, turn the crank with a socket until the piston is all the way up, then look with a STRONG flashlight at the flywheel, if needed rotate the crank until #1 piston comes up again, look again.
You are looking for a tab that sticks out from the flexplate.
#1 is furthest towards the drivers side
did you try spraying some WD-40 on the flywheel?
Or remove #1 spark plug, turn the crank with a socket until the piston is all the way up, then look with a STRONG flashlight at the flywheel, if needed rotate the crank until #1 piston comes up again, look again.
You are looking for a tab that sticks out from the flexplate.
#1 is furthest towards the drivers side
05-27-2008, 05:46 PM
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Re: Timing marks missing on flywheel - now what?! (hondadude)
Thanks Hondadude... wanna take a stab at my other dilemma? 
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2308651
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2308651
05-27-2008, 06:43 PM
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Re: Timing marks missing on flywheel - now what?! (ayavner)
Well looks like you were right, the marks were obscured. I just went out there (9:30 PM) and I could see it a little better.
Now this is weird (maybe?) - I had to rotate the dist. housing almost all the way forward (clockwise) to get the red line to even get close to the pointer, it was about 2 inches (as it appears looking down on it) rotated back into the housing. Does that seem a bit odd? Or is it likely that the timing was that far out. Power appears to be a bit better throughout the range now, and idle didn't change significantly....
thoughts?
Now this is weird (maybe?) - I had to rotate the dist. housing almost all the way forward (clockwise) to get the red line to even get close to the pointer, it was about 2 inches (as it appears looking down on it) rotated back into the housing. Does that seem a bit odd? Or is it likely that the timing was that far out. Power appears to be a bit better throughout the range now, and idle didn't change significantly....
thoughts?
05-28-2008, 02:23 PM
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Re: Timing marks missing on flywheel - now what?! (ayavner)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ayavner »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks Hondadude... wanna take a stab at my other dilemma?
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2308651</TD></TR></TABLE>
DONE DEAL
Now the timing situation, be sure there is a little slack in the throttle cable, if it was tightened to raise the idle the
tps will tell the ecu to shift the timing. How old is the T-belt, a lot of slack will change timing or make the mark seem to move around. If the head has been resurfaced it can cause the timing to seem wrong.
But the bottom line here is that you got the engine timed,
so what if the Dist. swung pretty far.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2308651</TD></TR></TABLE>
DONE DEAL
Now the timing situation, be sure there is a little slack in the throttle cable, if it was tightened to raise the idle the
tps will tell the ecu to shift the timing. How old is the T-belt, a lot of slack will change timing or make the mark seem to move around. If the head has been resurfaced it can cause the timing to seem wrong.
But the bottom line here is that you got the engine timed,
so what if the Dist. swung pretty far.
05-28-2008, 03:07 PM
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Re: Timing marks missing on flywheel - now what?! (hondadude)
Shoaib - I have the Chilton's manual, and followed it to the T.. jumpered the service connector and checked with the timing light. Not sure why it was that far back, but it seems OK now.
hondadude - throttle cable looks OK, and idle is about 750 which is what i think its supposed to be..
now to check the other thread!!
hondadude - throttle cable looks OK, and idle is about 750 which is what i think its supposed to be..
now to check the other thread!!
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