so i went to get my stock CX with a stock D15 motor in it smogged but I failed the smog because my ignition timing was off. I figure no biggie, I'll just adjust it. I get home and see that it is indeed off...WAY OFF!! I think it was at 4 deg. I try to adjust it, and with the distributor fully advanced, it sits at 8 deg. now. I checked to make sure that I didn't skip a tooth on the cam gear and everything still lines up at TDC. I don't know why my ignition timing is so off. I was looking through threads here and I was reading that maybe the distributor skipped a tooth...is that possible?? If so, how do I line it back up? I was having a hard time following the other threads so I thought I'd make a new one. Thanks for any help in advance...

 

The distributor can't jump a tooth it has a oneway cam that only lets it be installed oneway on the camshaft so it can't jump or be installed 180 out

 

yeah, that's what I thought too. Anyone have any other speculations as to why my ignition timing would be so way off then?

 

thats really weird, i guess check the cam gear because my friend had the same problem and the cam gear is a little bigger, idk though its worth a try..

 

It's an OEM cam gear though.

 

You didn't mention jumping the service connector so I assume you didn't. To adjust your base timming the service connector has to be jumped. Also make sure your idle is at the specified rpm as timming changes with rpm.

 

Yes, I did jump the service connection, and the idle is within spec.

 

cam gear is probably off a tooth

check your mechanical timing... when you do make sure you spin the motor in the right direction (counter clockwise, like a motorcycle)

 

Everything still lines up at TDC.

 

D16Y5, '97. VTEC-E.

I'll be checking my ign timing and idle speed any day now - maybe tomorrow. Engine pings, so I need to do that.

What does jumping the service connector do? I know I'll be doing that but why?
Does the connector have an effect on the idle speed?

 

jumping the service connector tells the computer to not try and adjust the timing on its own. if you try to change your timing w/o it jumped the computer will try and correct the timing based on sensor data input. and to my knowledge it shouldnt affect idle speed; that is set using another procedure.

 

Yikes. Last guy to work on this car's timing had it set for maximum advance.
Not having a timing light available, I moved it gradually towards less advance. Now it's nearly to the mid point of the adjustable range and ping seems to have nearly disappeared. I'm sure I have a friend with a timing light I can borrow ....