95greenteg

I have a 98 civic DX and tried to do the ignition timing...I set the mark at TDC which is the one by itself...I thought I had jumped the connector for the CEL but I heard you will see the check engine light if I did jump the connector...Now, after I set the timing at TDC, I drove it around and it bogged...Came up real weak, almost like it was choking...What now? DO I have to reset the ECU? I am thinking I did not jump the connector properly?? If not, do I have to back in and jump the connector? Reset the ECU?

I've searched already but no answer as to what to do after setting it???

suspendedHatch

Why in the world would you set your ignition timing to TDC???! Please don't work on your car ever again.

You set the ignition timing to the middle of the three marks (usually red) before the TDC mark on the crank. On most of our engines this equates to 16 degrees BTDC.

The spark has to start early because it takes time for the mixture to burn. You want peak combustion pressure to occur at 15 degrees ATDC.

95greenteg

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by suspendedHatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
You set the ignition timing to the middle of the three marks (usually red) before the TDC mark on the crank. On most of our engines this equates to 16 degrees BTDC.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

OK...I want to make sense of this before I attempt it again...There are four marks on the crank...One by itself and three bunched up together...If I set it to the middle of the three marks bunched together, it would not be before the TDC mark...It would be the second one after the TDC...It would be the one in bold like this... I III.

Can someone out there confirm this without making smart *** remarks??

fitbmx86

just get it out of top dead center, any of the 3 marks will be better than TDC... you really should have learned how your engine works though before you fucked with it.... im not trying to make a smart *** remark i am just saying do some research first

EE_Chris

Are you using a normal timing light or one with an advance feature?

Using a normal light hooked to the #1 plug wire and aimed correctly at the sights should 'light up' one of the 3 red marks...NOT the white TDC mark.

95greenteg

Great help guys...So, it does not matter which of the three red lines it lines up then? I have a stock engine so I would assume that I need it at a particular line that Honda recommends...

EE_Chris

Honda gives a range such as 12*, +/- 2*, for the 6th gen D16's. The middle red mark is 12* with the line on either side of it being the + or - 2* mark. Which line does Honda recommend? They recommend it be between those two outter red timing lines.

Which setting is the 'best'? There isn't one worth your time in finding on a stock engine. Advance it to the max spec...retard it to the min spec: Whichever setting feels the best to you, just use it.

95greenteg

Thank you guys! I usually do the research but did not do enough on this one...I will set it when I get a chance some time this week...

91hybridDX

well said