I don't know what my problem is here. I did a tuneup on my brother's 93 del Sol Si last weekend, and we finished up by checking and adjusting ignition timing. With the engine warmed up, ECU in diagnostic mode, I connected the timing light and went at it. Now the problem was that I had a pretty hard time getting a clear sight line between the pointers on the timing cover and the marks on the crank pulley. Between the bracket on the driver side engine mount and the power steering line running up near the top of the timing belt cover, I just couldn't seem to get my eye at the right angle with the timing light shining in the right place to be able to line up the pointers and the marks on the pulley. I think I got it pretty close, but I'm not totally sure.

Anyone got any tips or tricks for getting the marks lined up?

 

why did you adjust the ignition timing?

 

because he just bought the car a few weeks ago, and we had just done a tune-up on it, and he had been reporting somewhat low fuel economy. I checked and the timing was indeed a few degrees retarded from factory specs. I'm just not sure if I got it exactly on target on the factory timing marks.

If I had to guess from what I could see, it was probably sitting around 11-12 deg. BTDC before I adjusted it, where specs call for 16 +/-2 BTDC.

 

I've never had a problem sighting the timing marks/notches on my Z6...maybe you should just bend the PS line out of the way a little bit so you have a better line of sight? A rubber mallet does a good job bending without kinking the fittings if that will help.

You could also just move the dizzy a little bit and see if his next tank of gas is better

 

yeah he told me he was getting like 25 mpg before, and then after the tune-up he said it was like 35... but I think his calculations were a little off

this is a stock Z6 motor, with a cracked exhaust manifold, and about 165K miles.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">because he just bought the car a few weeks ago, and we had just done a tune-up on it, and he had been reporting somewhat low fuel economy. I checked and the timing was indeed a few degrees retarded from factory specs. I'm just not sure if I got it exactly on target on the factory timing marks.

If I had to guess from what I could see, it was probably sitting around 11-12 deg. BTDC before I adjusted it, where specs call for 16 +/-2 BTDC.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm pretty sure you have to reset the computer after you do it... give that a try.

 

Dizzy?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TriniTech &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm pretty sure you have to reset the computer after you do it... give that a try.</TD></TR></TABLE>

reset the ECU? nah man, it was in diagnostic mode while adjusting it, like it's supposed to. Resetting the ECU is not required.

I wasn't asking about anything related to the actual procedure of checking and adjusting the timing. I was just asking if there were any tricks to getting a clear view of the pointers on the timing belt cover and the marks on the crank pulley. It seemed like a number of things were blocking my view. It would be one thing from one angle, another thing from another angle, and trying to get the timing light pointed down there too and still be able to see. IMHO the design of the pointer on the Z6 engine isn't nearly as easy to work with as it is on the B18C1's timing belt cover.

 

just make sure you jump the service connector when you set the timinig and you will be good

 

i used a strip of tin-foil.
but in a noob, so you probably have that one in your bag of tricks. just a thought.

 

people, the ECU was in diagnostic mode when I did this, come on I know what I'm doing here. That's not what my original post was asking about.

 

get some white-out and make a new mark on the crank pulley so you will be able to see it. Use a long little stick, tape the white out brush to it, and paint away.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

reset the ECU? nah man, it was in diagnostic mode while adjusting it, like it's supposed to. Resetting the ECU is not required.

I wasn't asking about anything related to the actual procedure of checking and adjusting the timing. I was just asking if there were any tricks to getting a clear view of the pointers on the timing belt cover and the marks on the crank pulley. It seemed like a number of things were blocking my view. It would be one thing from one angle, another thing from another angle, and trying to get the timing light pointed down there too and still be able to see. IMHO the design of the pointer on the Z6 engine isn't nearly as easy to work with as it is on the B18C1's timing belt cover.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh I got you... Good luck

 

why can't you just move the power steering line out of the way?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ddd4114 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why can't you just move the power steering line out of the way?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I dunno man, I tried moving it but it seemed like no matter what angle I tried to look at both the pointer and the marks on the pulley, it seemed like something was partially in the way.

I think part of the problem is that the marks on the Z6 crank pulley are on the ridge between the alternator belt and A/C belt. On my B18C1 crank pulley the marks are right on the inside edge of the pulley, closest to the timing belt cover, and close to the index mark on the cover.