just wondering if anybody could give me a quick walk through of how i could sync the timing on a honda ecu with the timing on a distributor and any tricks or tips i might need while doing this when tuning an engine.

 

What engine management are you using ?

 

crome as of now, do they sync timing differently?

 

let's say timing at idle is set at 20 degrees on my ignition map on the low cam....so I hook my timing light up and set it to 20 deg, then make sure the distributor is adjusted in such a way the cam gears line up with the timing light flashing on them. Or if you don't have cam gears, then you just use the TDC mark on the crank pulley. What is your timing set at on idle on your map?

 

mtber was asking because some tuning programs have a timing sync setting to set the timing. Crome does not.

follow the factory service manual's method to set the timing;
run the engine till the cooling fan turns on and back off.
turn off engine
jumper the service jumper
start car
attach timing light to #1 plug wire and power
set timing to desired timing mark (stock is 16* for most honda engines)
shut off car
remove jumper from service jumper
reset ECU (this is optional but recommended)

 

ok so if i get this right, i want to set the distributor timing to reflect what the desired timing read's on the Map at that certain rpm during idle correct? for instance, if im reading 16.5* @ 800rpm in my map, i want to follow the above to get my timing light to read the same correct? thanks for the help guys.

 

That is the idea. Make sure the car is not idling high or anything like that. You want to make sure your idle timing values are the same and it is not being skewed by another row/column (hight idle or low vacuum).

So if you can log it that is a definite plus.

 

awesome, so just one more question, or scenario i should say lol. the service connector is the wire jumped or grounded to read check engine lights correct? now after jumping the service connector and setting the base timing for say a stock motor, and the idle seems high, is this something i should adjust via my maps or should i try not touching the maps and check for vacuum leaks or something wrong with the motor i.e. the timing belt being off or something mechanical for that matter?

 

Yes, same connector for codes.

Get the car running in condition it can be tuned in. A high idling or car that has a vaccum leak needs to be fixed before tuning.