Ignition Timing

[Guest N/A R33]

This may seem like a pretty stupid question to some of you guys but here goes anyway.

How do you connect the timing light to the sparkplug on number 1 cylinder seeing that it's under the coilpack?

The way I think I would do it is take the coilpack out and plug in a normal coil and lead that way giving yourself a connecting point for the timing light.

Steve N:)

[hitnrun]

Yep you got it in one. Try to use a short as lead as possible.

Just remember that you engine should be warm before you check, as it changes slightly with heat.

[Guest N/A R33]

Yeh I thought that may be the way to do it.

Which way are the pins arranged when looking from the front .

You know which is active / negative on the coilpack plug.

[Guest ylwgtr]

NO!!!!!Under the module there is a wire loop that you can connect a normal clip on type timing light to.....it looks like a normal speaker type wire

hope this helps!

[macka]

Originally posted by ylwgtr

NO!!!!!Under the module there is a wire loop that you can connect a normal clip on type timing light to.....it looks like a normal speaker type wire

hope this helps!

I have heard that loop is for factory diag i tryed putting a timing light on it and my timing was way out. i think by a few degrees as opposed to timing the actual cylinder..

Maybe someone can varify for sure because it would be good to clear this up, that loop is hell easy to attach timing light to :uh-huh:

[Micko]

Yep - it is the wire loop at the back of the engine near the silver ignition-module-box-thingy - says so in the Service Manual for my car anyway.

A mate tried the same on his R33 & got the same results.

A very reliable source indicated that you will get maybe a couple of degrees difference in your readings from here when compared to measuring straight from the wire going to the coil itself - but who wants to stuff around taking covers off, etc.

Hope this helps...

[Doctor]

I have done all the work to my car but never ever done the timing on it.

So, you put the plug that was meant to go to cylinder #1 on the black loop wire on the ignition module.

Where does the other wire/s go?

dont get me wrong I am very mechanically minded but no one has ever shown me.

Doc

[macka]

Originally posted by Micko

A very reliable source indicated that you will get maybe a couple of degrees difference in your readings from here when compared to measuring straight from the wire going to the coil itself - but who wants to stuff around taking covers off, etc.

Hope this helps...

But a couple of degrees out is not good enough

If this loop is the output from Igniter module straight to firing 1 cylinder then it should be 100% as long as your timing light picks up low level voltages or if it is a CT Current transformer type which picks up the firing pulses as a current...

But when i tried to time it from there all i got was about 8degrees TDC with max clockwise cam sensor turn

[Micko]

Originally posted by macka

But when i tried to time it from there all i got was about 8degrees TDC with max clockwise cam sensor turn

Isn't it clockwise to retard & anti-clockwise to advance?

[macka]

I dont think so......

But whatever u soon figure it out when it retards one way and advances the next

how ya been anyway micko?

[Doctor]

Clockwise to retard,

Anti-clockwise to advance

[macka]

your right I just checked myself

[Guest ylwgtr]

ok....it will show up out because the car is not in service/dianostic mode........run it in service mode and you will get an accurate reading

[Guest N/A R33]

This thread has answered a few questions I've had on the subject thanks.

Steve N

[macka]

Originally posted by ylwgtr

ok....it will show up out because the car is not in service/dianostic mode........run it in service mode and you will get an accurate reading

you could be on to something there?

so use the loop and run in service mode, is there anywhere we can get instructions on how to use service mode?