How to Adjust Timing The car's timing refers to the ignition and the process by which the spark plugs fire,creating a spark in the car's combustion chamber. Your timing must be at the correct setting for your car to perform at top level,affecting the speed and efficiency at which the engine fires. You can adjust your car's timing with a timing light and a set of wrenches,tools available at any auto parts store. Part 1 of 3: Understanding Ignition Timing 1. Learn if your car needs to be adjusted or not. Modern cars that are controlled by electronic ignitions don't need to have their timing adjusted,but old-style 4-stroke engines require that the timing be adjusted periodically to optimize the efficiency of the engine,making sure that the spark fires at the appropriate moment in the ignition cycle. If you hear telltale signs of the timing of your car not being quite right,such as"pinging,"backfiring,or if the car runs too rich or too lean,you will need to either take it to a mechanic or adjust the timing yourself. 2. Understand the ignition cycle. The four"strokes"in the 4-cycle engine refer to the process of intake,compression,power,and exhaust. The timing of the ignition refers to the point between the compression and the power strokes at which the spark plug fires,creating the combustion that results in your horsepower,forcing the piston into the cylinder. When the piston comes during the compression stroke,just before what is called"top dead center,"the spark plug should fire. Over time,this tends to get misaligned somewhat,resulting in a less-than-optimum spark plug firing time. The distance before the"top dead"center is the ignition timing,and it's represented by a row of graded numbers on the balancer. 3. Learn the ignition timing number. Look for the ruler-style row of numbers on the front of the engine's harmonic balancer,which should have numbers above and below zero. Typically,when your car comes from the manufacturer,the number will be set on zero with the number one cylinder at top dead center. The timing advances as the engine's speed accelerates,however,resulting in a variable that will need to be periodically adjusted using a timing light. Numbers to the left of zero on the timing tape refer to the piston as it travels down,while numbers to the right of zero refer to the piston's upward motion.Follow the instructions particular to the timing light you're using to hook it up properly. The"gun"works by illuminating the timing marks in a strobe fashion as it spins,allowing you to see the point at which the spark plug is firing on the timing index. When the spark plug fires,the sensor sends a signal to the light,which strobes in the gun,illuminating the numbers at the proper moment. 2. Have a helper rev the engine. To check your timing number and see how it is firing,have someone rev the engine while you illuminate the timing numbers with your light. You obviously want to make sure the car is in park,and keep your hands a safe distance from the engine as it revs. 3. Shine the light directly onto the harmonic balancer and find the number. Though the wheel is turning,the light should seem to"freeze"it at a particular number. This is the timing number. Note the number of degrees to the right or left of zero. As the RPMs increase,the point at which the spark plug is firing should also increase somewhat. This is normal,because ignition works on a curve,allowing for the speed increase and adjusting the timing accordingly. To check for total timing,you want to be sure to rev the engine to at least 3500 RPMs. This will allow you to make sure the curve of the ignition timing is being set,as well as the initial timing. 4. Account for vacuum timing,if necessary. If your car features vacuum timing advance in addition to mechanical timing,and you'll need to loosen the distributor adjustment bolt before you start the engine launch x431 v plus. Next,remove the vacuum advance hose from the carburetor and plug it with a rag to check your timing launch cresetter ii. Vacuum timing works by making minor adjustments at at low RPM by rotating slightly to adjust for the timing. 5. Adjust the timing,if necessary.When you've got it set where you want it,lock it back down by tightening the distributor bolts. 3. When in doubt,set somewhere between 34 and 36 degrees. A typical small-block Chevy's timing curve needs to be set somewhere in this range for maximum performance,when the engine is being revved at 3500 RPM. At this point,the timing should stop advancing and should remain steady.[3] To do the job properly,it's helpful to set it at this point in the engine cycle,then check it again in idle to find your optimum number for your initial timing. 4. Tighten the distributor bolt when you are satisfied the timing is set correctly.
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