swizz977

92 civic si d16z6
hello all i just did my timing belt put everything in top dead center

went to do my ignition timing
manual says 16 degrees in the red mark

i noticed the red mark was too much to the left at 16 degrees with my distributor as it is so i adjusted it

the only way i can get it in the red mark is with my distributor all the way towards the front and then its only at 6 degrees on the red

if i try to put it any higher the red mark goes all the way to the left

now im assuming this means i skipped a tooth? if so the cam or crank?

Former User

If you are able to adjust the timing to 16-degrees BTDC, then you're fine.

JRCivic1

Does your timing light have an ignition advance dial **** or +/- buttons ??? If so, you should be using the WHITE mark on the crank pulley to properly set your ignition timing and not the red mark. The red mark is only for a static timing light with no advance ****. Also, it is critically important that you have the pick-up clipped around the #1 spark plug wire. This is the one closest to the cam gear end of the engine.

To sum it up: IF you are operating the timing light correctly and using the correct marks on your crank pulley and the pick-up is around the correct spark plug wire... then you have failed in properly installing the timing belt and your mechanical timing is wrong. You will need to re check your crank and cam gear TDC marks.

swizz977

it has the dial to adjust the degrees on the timing light
when i turn it up to 16 degrees the red mark is to the left
i thought im using the red mark not the white mark

there are 2 tdc marks and to the left there are 3 other marks

the service manual says 16 degrees inbetween the 3 marks which is the red mark no?

mk378

You must of course put the ECU test jumper in to force the ECU to use base timing. When you run the engine with the jumper in, the CEL should come on steady to indicate it is in test mode.

Standard timing light or adjustable one set to zero -- use the red (pre-advanced) mark in the group of 3.

Adjustable light set to 16 -- use the white (TDC) single mark.

Also you may want to probe in the cylinder to confirm that the white mark is really TDC, in case someone put the pulley on without the key in place.

swizz977

when i had the timing light at 16 degrees the red mark was way off to the left of the pointer

wait so my timing light is adjustable

so your saying with the light at 0 it should be in the red mark?
and with the light adjusted to 16 it should be at the tdc (white) mark?

mk378

As it should be. You should be hitting the white mark when you use the dial on the light.

I would suggest leaving the light set to zero and exactly following the instructions in the FSM, which assume a standard light with no dial.

swizz977

ok so timing light at zero is the red btdc mark
timing light at 16 is white tdc mark

Former User

Question or statement?

If you are unable to set the ignition timing correctly, then go back and check the mechanical timing as per service manual instructions:

swizz977

it was a question
timing light at 0 is on red 16 btdc?
timing light on 16 is at white tdc?

Former User

Isn't that exactly what mk378 stated in his last post? Listen to him.

swizz977

hey question
i can faintly hear a whine from the timing belt its not loud at all but i can hear it.. would u say its too tight?
or i gues it could be another belt too
forgot to me tion i only hear it when accelerating