SW20FL

Hello fellow Honda tech users. I am helping my friend pass smog in his 1994 Accord LX. It has the non vtech F22 motor.

The smog shop said it was 36 btdc. Apparently the distributor cap melted from getting too hot, and shifted downwards about 3/4 of an inch (yes I'm serious) so I would assume that to be why the timing was so grossly off. The car has no codes, and the check engine light does work. I shorted the connection on the passengers side for the ECU and begin to set the timing.

To my understanding there is one mark, and three marks close to each other. The three marks are 14, 15, and 16 btdc. I replaced the wires, cap, plugs and rotor, and set the timing mark in the middle at 15 btdc. The car really runs great, and shows no codes, but the distributor sits almost all the way forward (clockwise). Not all the way, but almost. It was in the same position it was before.

I would assume that the distributor is supposed to sit close to the middle, but I don't want to start guessing. Is this normal?

SW20FL

I would take it that it's normal for the distributor to sit almost all the way to one side, correct?

dansaleen_04

not necessarily. it all depends on how the timing is on the car? what is your idle at? was the timing belt ever messed with? how about the idle screw? some people mess with it for some reason.

SW20FL

The timing belt and water pump was changed by the previous owner. I am hoping they lined the tdc marks up correctly, but if the mechanical timing was off, wouldn't the car run like garbage I assume?

The idle is at ~700

SW20FL

Okay so the cam timing is good. The crank pulley is at the 0 degree notch when the cam is facing the up position.

The timing marks are still off though. Not matter how far I turn the distributor, the marks don't come close to where they are supposed to be. This is a bit of a doozy. What else can cause this?

poorman212

Ok, got to ask. You are checking the timing with a light and the service connector jumped...correct. Also, IIRC there are several marks on the crank pulley...don't have my manual on this computer so I can't be sure.

Sr420Det

U should have 4 marks, one by itself which is 0 degrees and 3 in a group which are 14,16,18 btdc. You should b shooting for the 16 but ur idle has to b at 750rpm on a completely warmed motor (after one cycle of the rad fan) and yes jump the connector. If u have to retard or advance the distributer to the point where u cant go any more and its still not at 16 then your cam timing is off and u need to reset the belt. You can find this out by turning number one cylinder to tdc on the power stroke. the mark on the crank should line up with the notch and the mark on the cam should line up to its notch. if u use something long (like a coat hanger) in #1 cyl to put on the piston (the crank mark IS going to b within the vicinity of its mark) than u can get true tdc and set ur cam to it. Also a shaved head and or wrong belt can throw off the cam timing, a adj cam gear can help with this