...my first time, timing a Honda. I put a paper clip and a wire in the connector below the fan next to the passenger door....couldn't get the check engine light to stay on, with either.

Is it just obd-0?

Thanks, any advice appreciated




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Well, lets start with what car you are trying this on, and what all has been done to the car.

Year, model, trim level, engine, ecu

 

I appreciate any input on this....the car in my avatar and ID. b18a1, obd-0, PR-4, 163k miles. Pretty much bone stock. The only thing I've done on the engine besides normal maintenance upgrades, is, oside-bosch 280cc high impedance, 4 hole injectors & resistor delete. That's about it so far. Most of the work has been body and suspension.

I purchased an actron light with adjustable advance (set at 16 btdc) and now it's right on the white mark....with the distributor fully advanced(??). If the ecu isn't overridden though, it could be overly advanced, right?


Neither the paper clip or wire turned on the check engine light, but it does light up before engine start.

It starts and runs quite well, but I don't want to crank it up unless I know it's right, and next month it's going on a 1000 mile trip across I-10. 84 all the way.

This is a good engine. I sure don't want to lose it because I made a dumb mistake.


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Does your ecu have a hole on the top cover of it?

http://www.jshmotors.com/images/prod...-Parts-002.JPG

 

I've never pulled any carpet up, it's in pretty good shape.

The ecu is right under that plug?
...behind the plastic or under the rug?

It shows it in my original service manual, but the "drawing" is poor. I'll probably look for is Sunday.


I'm only the 2nd owner of this car and it came with a slightly beat up 1990 service manual, but no index other than sections. It's quite hard to find some things in its some 400 pages.


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Obd0 ECUs that have that hole on the cover have a single LED inside the ECU that flashes the code(s). The CEL does not flash the codes for these ECUs

 

I wondered about that, and seem to remember some mention of it in my manual...studying some of the other electrical issues (fans and AC).

I'll verify the hole.

I think all mine does is flash a code, blinking so many times. So that would mean my engine light won't come on when shorting the connector, and timing the engine?

I am only the 2nd owner of this car, but it came with a slightly beat up 1990 service manual. It has no index other than general sections (barely). It's quite difficult to find some things, in its some 400 pages.


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I did'nt take off this plate because even though the carpet looks very good, it's quite brittle. I tore the corner by the door molding just a little, doing this. I'll take the plate off if necessary, but I'd rather not ruin the carpet if I don't have to.

I got up close to the sight glass with a flashlight and magnifier. All I can see is green circuit board with the led soldiered to it. It doesn't look, thru the sight glass, that there is any other cover than the big plate. There could be, but I see no brass or plated cover inside, just green pc board, the the led and other solder points.

I'll try plugging the vin# into a couple acura parts websites and see if I can find out more.


**updated. I plugged my vin into delray acura's parts finder and found what they are showing as the "control unit". It has a hole in it, similar, but a bit different than the one in your link.

All I can see in the sight glass in mine is circuit board, some solder points and the red led.
Maybe I have to take the plate off and risk tearing the carpet, but I"m going to try one other things first. Study the adjustment better and see how much difference there is with and without the paper clip. I'm willing to take the time to do that.


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Thanks for the effort and info.



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