My timings Fucked...where do i begin?

[onehalfasia]

I took the distributer out, and put it back. Now the car doesnt start. I Spun it countless times to the left and right. Its just really bad now. The car barley turns over. Do i have to reset the ecu or something. If anyone knows where to begin, so i can atleast start it, that would be very helpful. Thanks.

John

[Dopefish]

Wow... unless you know the basics of timing, its not suggested you mess with things like that. You should mark items or bring the motor to TDC first.

set the engine to Top-Dead Center... there are 6 markings on the crank pulley and a indicator pin on the right side above the pulley. When turning the engine CCW, TDC will be the second of six markings. Pull the distributor and remove the cap. Set the rotor inside to the #1 piston position. (I believe that 10 o'clock on the distributor is #1, if not its just a tooth off on the helical gear)

Now insert the dizzie, and connect everything back up. Try again, using a timing light to assure your timing is 20 degrees above TDC. (The sixth marking on the crank pulley) Once all is set then drive it to make sure it is running properly at all RPMs.

Careful, this is opening you up to a flaming!

~Kris

[Yoshi]

I took the distributer out, and put it back. Now the car doesnt start. I Spun it countless times to the left and right. Its just really bad now. The car barley turns over. Do i have to reset the ecu or something. If anyone knows where to begin, so i can atleast start it, that would be very helpful. Thanks.

John

ok, so you're KA ya?
which engine? and what EXACTLY have you done?

Dopefish has good info.
You didn't just go tearing things out did u? uh oh...

[onehalfasia]

Well, i was taking the lower timing chain guide off, and didnt think about putting the distributer back in the same position. Then i f'ed it up more by trying to fix it without knowing how. Thanks for the info Dopefish. I'll be able to fix the beast now. Yes, its a KA. Thanks for the help though. :bow:

John

[aznpoopy]

in the interests of not typing this procedure out over and over again, i'm just going to type it out now and link people to this response anytime this question comes up in the future.

how to reset timing, the aznpoopy way.

1. remove spark plug #1. stick something long and thin into the cylinder, so that it rests on the piston.
2. distributor out
3. put a breaker bar + socket on the main crank pulley bolt. spin the engine. it's supposed to spin clockwise, iirc.
4. this is your crank pulley and the timing marks on that pulley, circled in green. (to borrow from 240sx.org)
http://www.240sx.org/faq/articles/pics/timing02.jpg
5. tdc is the 2nd mark from the left
http://www.240sx.org/faq/articles/pics/timing01.jpg
6. turn the engine until the pin lines up with that mark. as you turned the engine, whatever you stuck in cylinder #1 should be going up and down. it should be at the top of an 'up stroke.' if its not, you are at tdc for another cylinder. spin it again until you have tdc on the crank pulley, and cylinder #1 is at the top. that is TDC for cylinder #1.
7. take whatever you put in cylinder #1 out and put the spark plug back in.
8. now it's time to align the distributor. look for the marks at the base of the distributor. align it as shown.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a104/kirinpoopy/distomg.jpg
9. put it in. do NOT torque down the adjusting bolts.
10. put the cap on and connect all your wires. plug the battery in, etc. make sure the spark plug wires are on the correct plugs on the distributor cap.
11. have a buddy crank the car. you now get to turn the distributor. most likely it will not start on the first turn. you want to turn it gently left and right until the car starts to sputter and catch. it should 'want' to start more as you turn it more towards the proper position. if it starts, good. skip the next step.
12. if you are here, that means it's not starting. it wants to start more as you turn the distributor more one way. but you ran out of adjustment room! this means you are are tooth or two off. if you ran out of room turning the distributor right, you need to take out the distributor, rotate it over one tooth to the left, and reinstall. try again. likewise, if you ran out of room turning the distributor left, you need to take out the distributor, rotate it over onen tooth to the right, and reinstall. continue until the car starts.
13. yay, the car started. if it starts and dies, and you don't have enough adjustment room to get it to idle on its own, you are one tooth off. do the procedure in 12. if it starts and idles, go to 14.
14. now break out the timing light. disconect the throttle position sensor and wait for the idle to level out. now set the car to 20 degree BDTC using the timing gun.
15. your car is done. congratulations. drink a beer. after typing all that shit out, i might just drink one myself.

[Indolent]

^^ what aznpoopy says, another way to be sure that you're not a tooth or so off is by taking off the valve cover to see the alignment of the distributor

[NIK90s13]

Great break down and photos AZNPOOPY. That will probably help alot of people!!!!

[Dopefish]

AZNPOOPY is correct, I mentioned the wrong marking in my post but corrected it.

~Kris

[projectRDM]

You can also pull the oil filler cap and check the cam lobes, TDC on the correct stroke will have both lobes on the #1 cylinder pointing outward, to the sides.

[sunnys14]

this happened to me also, i had to retime the whole motor...