i was setting my ignition timing and i noticed that when i flash the timing light at my cam gears my tdc lines are way off. i was just wondering if the tdc marks should line up together while flashing the timing light at it, i would think so since it is flashing with the #1 cyl. thanks

 

I don't want to sound like a dick, but to do ignition timing on your vehicle you need to point your timing gun on the crankshaft pulley. You need to line up your crank pulley timing marks with a reference points on your cam gear/timing belt cover.

heres a pic to help ya out

http://www.autozone.com/images...3.jpg

now the picture shows you need to line the red timing mark up if you have a non-adjustable timing gun. Now if you have an adjustable timing gun you need to calibrate the timing gun to 16 degrees and then line up the white timing mark on the crank pulley. To advance or retard ignition timing loosen the three bolts on your distributor and move your cap counterclockwise to advance or clockwise to retard.

this is a crank pulley off of a crx but its practically the same thing
http://www.norcalcrx.org/fig_6.jpg

hope this helps and good luck.

p.s. be careful and not hold anything metallic between you and the engine block when you move your distributor cap. My friend had the experience of having around tens of thousands of volts in his body.


Modified by Kgaragetech at 10:56 PM 9/2/2008

 

i know how to check the ignition timing. <U>my question was that if the timing light was pointed at my cam gears should my TDC "cam timing" lines line up</U>? the question just came over me because it would make sense for the TDC marks on the cam gears to match since the timing light flashes with the #1 cyl firing. So basically this doesnt concern ignition timing at all, just a timing light pointing at the cam gears "random question i know" . sorry for the confusion i should have been more specific, but thanks for the post and the links anyway

 

If you have a non-adjustable timing gun, then the light is flashing when the plug wire fires, which occurs around 16 degrees before TDC (BTDC). The index marks on the cam gears line up at TDC.

So no, you should NOT see the index marks lining up on the cam gears if you point your timing light at it. Actually, you should see the mark on the exhaust cam gear a little ways below the mark on the intake cam gear.