Engine timing

[mhibbins]

As part of my epic gearbox repair saga I took out the engine & gearbox and in order to do so I had to remove the distributor.

The procedure I used to set the timing when it went back in was to set roughly at 12 deg btdc and then when it was running (albeit roughly) use a light strobe to get it at 12 deg btdc at idle. I did this when the engine was cold and the engine ran very smoothly.

I've just given the car it 1st good run since reinstalling the engine and it misfires when warm when pressing on. Was my timing procedure right or wrong and could it be causing the misfire?

Thanks for any advice.

Regards,

Mark

PS. Oh, it was standing with a tiny bit of optimax in the tank which was what it was running on when I did the timing. I put 10 quids worth of normal unleaded in for my little trip (no shell garage) but I did this when the car was cold so don't know if it misfired on the optimax as it only misfired when warm.

>>> Edited by mhibbins on Sunday 8th September 19:42

[mhibbins]

quote:When you removed the distributor did you mark where it went so that you could replace it without upsetting the timing?

Erm, no. I took a photo of it though and that gave me a rough idea where to place it but as we had the engine half out and were a bit hacked off with the whole thing it never occured to me.

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I seem to remember that the ignition timing is factory set and left and is modified by the ECU as well (unleaded plug setting for a start). I think it is around 8 degrees statically (12 for the 2.8) but then the car is hooked up to diagnostic and the timing adjusted for emissions so there is no specific final value as it depends on the engine. Once set, that is it.

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Oh bugger. So realistically I need to get it to a dealer to set up for me? Will all garages have the equipement required?

Thanks,

Mark

[mhibbins]

Thanks gadgit, got one of those but apparently there's more to it than that. I phoned the ford dealer and they say they have to hook it up to a diagnostics machine which tells the ECU that the timing is being adjusted. Then you do the timing based on the diagnostics machine and the emissions.

If you don't do this it gets all confused and puts you into get you home mode.

Mine's booked in in 2 weeks time (!) and it costs 25 quid plus vat apparently.

Mark

[mhibbins]

quote:If you don't do thid the ECU is trying to readjust as you are trying to adjust

Ah, that makes sense.

How much was the rolling road session Mark?

Thanks,

Mark

[dern]

Just had the timing done today at Ford and it's running much better - cost me 30 quid. The connection they need for the confuser is with the fuses (ie, in the footwell).

Cheers,

Mark