Best practice in setting timing on new distributor

[Ken]

So as some of the usual members know, I recently replaced my distributor on my 90 Integra, I do not have a timing light and I need to get to a shop to buy one, I took the car for a ride and it felt like It’s running sluggish in power, and struggles up hill, even triggered a check engine light.
I don’t know really how to set up the distributor for a rough estimate, someone said to go full advanced mode, and tap it back a little with a wrench, but I don’t want to risk blowing the motor or causing knock.
If anyone could point me in the right direction without the need for timing light I’d greatly appreciate it.

Regards.

Topic

[Richard Kirshy]

Not the easiest thing to fudge timing on a modern vehicle.
But an old school method was to use a vacuum gauge at idle and adjust to the highest reading of vacuum.
Not sure how well that will work in your case.

[Rob]

there should be marks telling you where top dead center is….. take out spark plug and use a long mental rod or very long screw driver and hand crank the engine just make sure you disconnect the battory for safty…. I would check youtube on how to make sure your top dead center there probly 50 videos on that… even eric has some of them on some of his repair videos… FYI what ever rod you use make sure it doesnt brake inside of the piston and should scratch the outer wall of it

[Ken]

[quote=”nightflyr” post=171928]Not the easiest thing to fudge timing on a modern vehicle.
But an old school method was to use a vacuum gauge at idle and adjust to the highest reading of vacuum.
Not sure how well that will work in your case.[/quote]

I don’t own one sadly.

I’m thinking if the car seems a bit sluggish, would it be better to advance the timing from there? My biggest concern is causing knock, I will get the car timed I just need to get by for a week, I also don’t have time/money for trial and error with night classes and homework.

[Richard Kirshy]

That may get you by for a week, just need to be alert to how the engine is running.

[Ken]

So as an update, I set the distributor to where it doesn’t trigger a CEL, but in the couple mile test drives I notice that the car shudders strangely like i’ve never felt before, I also tried to short the connector in the passenger foot well (as per Eric’s video on acura integra ignition timing) but the CEL doesn’t stay on like it’s supposed to, anyone have any ideas? I’ve tried 5 different wires (including the papper clip), but the CEL goes right off after 3 seconds from turning the key to “on”
I’ll get a multimeter on the connector tomorrow to test it, I’d like to avoid cutting the connector if at all possible.

[Mike]

Why are you farting around like this? Get a timing light.

[Author]

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