i have a 91 si and the car just doesnt run right the dizzy has to be advanced all the way for it to even run worth a crap. it has an adjustable aem cam gear on it and the timing belt was floppy on both sides.well the other day i noticed the cam was advanced almost three degree's, well i loosened the bolts up and turned the cog back and held it there to tighten a bolt or two to keep it there and that tightened the belt up some on the back side closest to firewall,well i put the engine at tdc on number one and looked at the marks on crank and cam gear, they both point dead up not, the cam mark is not level with head just straight up the best i can tell, well i called a buddy of mine and he thinks but isnt sure but that the si the cam mark is supposed to point at 7 o'clock? but can that be right? all i know is the car runs ok.... and in second gear it feels sluggish? until 4,000 rpms then it feels almost like vtec( its a non vtec motor) but it gets a little more life and pulls a little harder but it just doesnt feel like i think it should how do i check the timing, i've heard something about a jumper under the dash and how should the gears look at tdc on #1? any info would be greatly appreciated

 

timing belt diagrams for DX, HF and Si - DX and HF are at upper left - Si is in center of page - TDC mark is the white mark off to the right of the three ignition timing marks, as shown in picture at upper right

 

i have aem adjustable cam gear so should the 0 degrees mark be pointing and the mark on cover of should the one on bottom of gear opposite side of 0 degree mark point there? what about this jumper plug/wire i keep hearing about?

 

1. with socket and ratchet on crank pulley bolt, rotate the crankshaft counter clockwise to Top Dead Center (TDC) using the single white mark off to the right of the three ignition timing marks, like this:



2. remove the plug in the timing belt cover to access the timing belt tensioner bolt
3. using ratchet and socket thru hole in cover, loosen tensioner bolt (do not remove bolt)
4. take hold of timing belt on the back side (toward the firewall) and pull up on belt to create slack in belt
5. while holding belt up, tighten the tensioner bolt
6. make sure that adjustable cam gear is set at zero
7. lift belt off the cam gear and rotate camshaft and gear so that it looks like this (the mark at the 7 o'clock position on the gear should be lined up with the pointer on the inside back timing cover):



8. place timing belt on cam gear making sure that you have no slack on the front side (toward the radiator) and check to make sure that crankshaft hasn't moved and that camshaft gear looks like the picture
9. hold belt onto the cam gear and loosen tensioner bolt
10. rotate the crankshaft counter clockwise a few degrees to tighten front side of belt between crankshaft and camshaft
11. tighten tensioner bolt and replace plug
12. don't forget to remove socket and ratchet from crankshaft

 

this is for setting the ignition timing - located behind dash on passenger side

 

thanks! thats exactly what i needed man, glad to get some good info

 

now theoretical question, since the marks on a aem adjustable cam gear are on the cog and on the other part of the gear, could i just set the motor to tdc at the crank, loosen the cam gear adjusting nuts and use a socket and turn the cam slightly to get it to where it needs to be without messing with the tensioner? i am doing a b16a swap soon and just need this motor to run smoothly till then and i have no need to advance or retard the timing just want it where it should be so since i will know( and thats all that really matters to me) can i do it that way? or does the belt need to be removed from the cam gear?

 

so i decided to make the mark from the cog to the center, and loosened the bolts and lined the cam up with the timing mark without moving the belt and HOLY CRAP!!! i didnt think it would run like that!!! this is a completley different car now! thanks