Hi.
I've had to change my distibutor.
Now, with the new one, I'm trying to set the ignition timing with the engine running at the normal temperature.
I've used a jumper at the plug near to the ECU.
Using the timing light I can't reach the red mark aligned with the pointer.
It seems that I can't rotate the distributor far enough, it reachs the end of the hole.
I've had the battery disconected and I've noticed (in the past) that when it is unpluged, the idle speed became a little instable.
Can this be the cause? I mean, can I be setting timing at wrong rpms?
Does anyone know how to help me please?

Kind Regards!

 

The engine must be fully warmed up and idling to spec in order to set the ignition timing.

 

It is, it has started the radiator fan.

 

Run at operating temp -> perform idle adjustment per FSM -> ensure idle is consistent and within spec unjumpered -> perform ignition timing adjustment per FSM -> drive a happy car.

(if you perform the above steps correctly and you still cannot get ignition timing correct, you likely have a problem with your mechanical timing (i.e. timing belt off a tooth or two, one tooth off it runs, but timing cannot be done and youll hear knock when you drive it, two teeth off and its bloody obvious), not much fun to chase down after all the above work)

 

if you've changed to the incorrect distributor this could happen. Did you notice it was rotated differently? the 4th gen and 5th gen distributors, for example, are different. you can tell this just by looking at them. (compare the rotation of the cap to the ears)

i recently put a D15B2 dizzy on a D16Y7 block, it took me some time to figure out how to get it to work, but it turned out to be simple. (in THAT case, the dizzy was exactly 90 degrees off, but it didn't have any negative effect because I used the B2 DPFI, not the Y7 MPFI... So the B2 dizzy would not work on a Y7 engine with stock MPFI)...

i'm not sure which dizzy's will match up with a Z6, but i would stick with a Z6 dizzy.

A picture of your new distributor might be helpful.

 

Both are TD-42U.
I have to align 3 marks, am I right? Two at the belt cover and the rotating one. I only want to be sure that there are two at the belt cover.
Thanks

 

ah, I don't quite understand the question. if all you've done is replace the distributor, all you should need to do is set the timing marks as you are attempting to do. (lining up the red mark on the pulley with the timing light)

check to make sure you've installed the ignition wires on the correct posts.

i'm not sure which marks you are referring to, but perhaps this will help.

if you were installing the timing belt, you line up these marks:




and to set the timing with a timing light:




Is it possible your timing was off before you swapped distributors? If not, then you've done something wrong somewhere with the dizzy swap, and that's you're only problem. If the timing was wrong before your swap than your belt may be off a tooth.

 

Thnaks for your help!
I've already done it!
When I refered to 3 marks, I was talking about the pointers and the mark.
Anyway, that's done!
Thanks!

 

Problem solved?

 

Yes!
Smooth as it was!