Last night I wanted to check the base timing of my wife's Integra, purchased it from somebody as a built boosted GSR so the motor has already been opened etc.. I went ahead and setup my timing light, jumped the SES connector and proceeded to check the marks on the crank, funny thing was, I coulnd't even get a reading. I ended up advancing the distributor fully and finally I could pick up a max of 6* BTDC, not good since the map calls for 16* at idle. To verify it wasn't a fluke, I upped the base timing in the map to 26* and re-checked the timing with the light, sure enough I had 16* BTDC at full distributor advance. So basically, I'm running the car 10* retarded from the map and I can't figure out why. I tore the valve cover off and verified TDC and the cam marks, everything lines up fine.

Suggestions?

 

Just pulled the car out of the shop, looked it over with some of the guys. Crank set to TDC (verified by crank mark & long extension resting on piston #1), verified both camshafts lined up and verified distributor rotor is lined with cylinder #1, everything mechanically appears spot on. Verified ignition map set to 16.50* from 0-1250rpm through 17.9in/Hg, map appears to be spot on. Fire the car up and check with two different timing light.. with the distributor advanced fully, maximum timing read is 6-7*

W-T-F...

 

Check it without the SES jumped and post what you get here.

This is peculiar lol.