Ok in leiu of a couple issues going on with my fiero,

Turning the distributor (From a top down looking direction) clockwise does what -- advance or retard the timing???

My car has been running like TOTAL bung lately, I was going to replace the fuel pump (still might) but for craps and giggles I just loosened the clamp and gave it a little twist counter-clockwise......instead of idling it immediately died. So I said hrmm what about clockwise, turned it, and now she is at least idling smoothly..... about a 15* turn on the distributor tho!!! That seems like a TON.......

The problem i'm having now is it is putting out maybe 50% power, and when the revs hit 4100rpm or so it gets a noticeably louder "lugged down" sound and refuses to rev any higher at all.

With the distributor where it was to begin with I was having it totally lug down at 3700rpm-ish .... so turning the distributor this way gave me another 400rpm ...........

??? Confused ????

Anyhow I hope you can tell me if i'm advancing or retarding it ......... and if you live near cedar falls iowa and have a timing light please come to my rescue

I'm wondering if the geniuses didn't jumper the wires into diag mode before timing it...............................................

Thanks --

Matt

Turning the distributor counter-clockwise advances it, but I wouldn't do any more turning of the distributor until you get a timing light and set the timing properly. You could very easily burn up pistons, valves, and your converter by trying to set your timing by ear. Remember, the ECM adds over 30° of advance at idle.

Another thought I just had is it may be possible that your harmonic balancer outer ring has slipped.

JazzMan

(edit to fix erroneous info!)

[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 08-16-2005).]

Could this in any way cause the engine to stop revving at 4k rpm???

Agh so many issues.

(BTW What exactly does the harmonic do)

Turning the distributer counter clockwise advances ignition timing, clockwise retards it.

Erm......

So can we get a consensus?? 88 GT 2.8L, looking from the top of the engine down at the distributor, which way advances / retards the timing?

Either way it seems to have helped greatly............but not gonna drive her yet. Still need to get it 100% timed correctly and figure out what is causing that stupid power cutout at higher RPM......

Easy method to make sure for any car........take off the dissy cap, get somebody to turn the engine over for a second. Whichever way the rotor turns,if you rotate the dissy body in the same direction, you are retarding it, and opposite direction is advancing the timing.
Nick

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fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!!

Responsibility: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..

Or....I could look at which way cyl 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 spark plug wires go to. Or I could check my Haynes which tells me. *slaps forehead*

It rotates clockwise, so rotating cap clockwise is retarding.

Soooo......I retarded the timing 10-15 degrees and it's running better but not like it used to. Time to call up the mechanic friend who knowns all

But hey, I tried poppin the gas to see what would happen in first and I got a little squeek out of the tires. Not quite the screech I used to get but a lot better than the dying it was doing. I can't wait to have it going again

Matt

If the outer ring of the harmonic balancer has moved, you timing marks will be off. That is what Jazzman was referring to.

Alright, I feel really really stupid asking this question -- but does anyone have pics or an exact description of where to look to time a vehicle?

This is my first vehicle that has ever needed manual timing (everything else is distributorless i've driven / worked on) ..... I understand putting it in diag mode, having the timing light flash off plugs 1 and 4 and all that ordeal, but I don't know where to look to see the timing. And in the cramped bay of the fiero, i'm just not seeing it......

thanks very much,

Matthew

If you shine a light vertically downwards, under the dogbone, you will see the crank pulley,and the marker plate.Paint the notch on the pulley, and the pointer with white paint, and it will all become clear!!
Best of luck
Nick

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fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!!

Responsibility: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..

Timing tab:

Closeup:

Note, the timing tab is reversed on the Fiero because the timing light is used from the rear, as opposed to from the front on FWD cars.

Just in case anyone swapped in a FWD motor and didn't swap the timing covers.

JazzMan

thanks......i saw that right after i posted.....any ideas what * each one of those is? ;P

The timing tab has numbers stamped on it for the major marks, I think 8, 10, and 12 degrees are stamped. You'll have to wipe it down to see them clearly. Sorry I don't have a better picture, I was still learning the focus capabilities of that camera when I took those pics.

JazzMan

i'm still happy, it gets the point across to me thanks a mill....

Here is a little better picture of what the marks look like. These are on the wrong side as Jazzman noted but I have no problem seeing them.

Here is a close up so you can see the notches and numbers.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 08-17-2005).]

What is the timing supposed to be set at? Arent you supposed to average the readings from the number 1 and 4 pistons while jumping the A and B terminals? Pics of terminals? I could use this info too!

I should be able to get pics of the terminals easy enough for you =)

And yes it's supposed to be average of 1 + 4, at 10*.

That much I knew :P

Thanks man! I have always timed it by ear because I could never get a good timing reading, I'm doing cv's and wheel bearings this weekend so I will paint the balancer when I do this as well as clean off the timing scale.