I just put my newly built block back into my crx and I started it up and it runs and idles fine. When I went to time it with a timing light I couldnt find the marks on my crank pully. So I searched all the way around the pully and found the marks pointed twards the ground. So what is wrong here? The head and the block have to be timed right together because it runs fine, but Im unable to time it with the marks facing down. Please help me out!

 

You check ignition timing while the engine is running, and with the service connector jumped, with the car at normal operating temps with a timing light.

 

Maybe you have the timing light connected to the #4 plug wire, instead of #1?

 

thanks for the help guys, The service connector is jumped, the engine is running at normal operating temerature and Im connected to the number one cylinder which is the closest to the timing belt. When I hooked the timing light to the number four cylender the marks showed upright where they are suppose to but I was unable to advance the distributor enough to get it to 16 deg.

 

Actually I had that wrong anyway...

#1 & #4 both come to TDC together, one for compression stroke & other for exhaust stroke. So changing to #4 SHOULD have made no difference at all. #2 & #3 come to TDC when the marks are pointing down. So something REALLY doesn't make sense here. This stuff is so severe that the engine wouldn't even be running.

It's easy enough to take off the valve cover. That's what I'd do, & look at the camshaft lobes to verify where you are, along with the distributor rotor position.

Is it possible the key/keyway for the crank pulley is messed up?

What about a messed-up pickup coil for the timing light? Is it picking up the neighboring plug wires?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Actually I had that wrong anyway...

#1 & #4 both come to TDC together, one for compression stroke & other for exhaust stroke. So changing to #4 SHOULD have made no difference at all.</TD></TR></TABLE>

#4 does come up when #1 does, but it doesn't fire. And that's what the ignition light is picking up.

doubleA, you know the #1 cylinder is the one closest to the belts right?

 

well I just got done screwing around with it and I found out that the key for the crank pully was missing! So I went to the local hardware store and picked one up put it back together and now the marks have moved twards the front on the car some but they are still way to low to get anywhere near the sights. I do understand where #1 cylinder is and Im sure the lights pickup is reading only that wire. The car is still idling fine, I havent brought it up over 4500 rpms but under that it still drives fine. ???