Buying a Timing Light

[AAA240SX]

OK, decided I want one for general use around the garage. Renting sux.

There's a ton on eBay. Some are regular inductive, and some are digital w/ timing advance. Like Snap-On's. Is the digital really worth the extra money ($200), and how significant is it to have a digital read out in opposed to just the strobe...

[wootwoot]

f snap on. just get the inductive

[idlafie]

OK, decided I want one for general use around the garage. Renting sux.

There's a ton on eBay. Some are regular inductive, and some are digital w/ timing advance. Like Snap-On's. Is the digital really worth the extra money ($200), and how significant is it to have a digital read out in opposed to just the strobe...

Congratulations on taking the next step towards enhancing your tool collection!! :rawk: :rawk: :rawk:
Timing lights to a certain extent are a matter of budget & personal choice. Most timing light only uses three wires & a inductive pickup. The difference in the digital timing light is that you DON"T have to go out & buy a tachometer to read your RPM's...it's already included in the digital timing light. Most regular timing lights don't come with a tachometer which means another $20-$40 bucks for a tachometer to read your RPM's while you adjust timing.
Sears Craftsman Timing lights are pretty damn good. I've owned one for several years & can account for their reliablity. You don't need anything fancy, just something that gets the job done. Unless you are ALWAYS working on your car, (or friend's cars), you'll be lucky if you use it 3-4 times a year IF THAT!!
Now if you want to go fancy, then go out & get the one with timing advance. That way you don't have to hunt around for the timing mark like you do for the regular inductive lights. You set your timing at the advance mark where you want it & your timing should always show up at TDC...top dead center. It's more of a convenience thing than anything else. But if you know where to look for your regular inductive timing light, then all it takes a second or two more to spot your timing mark with the regular timing light.
Hit your local auto parts store along with Sears & see which one you like. If you're lucky Sears will be having a sale & you can pick one up new for cheap. Or you can check Ebay..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11704&item=4318585860&rd=1
Anyhow, hope this helps!!
ID
95 SE

[AAA240SX]

i won this auction for the timing light:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2486666371

i don't like the chromed one, its too gaudy. neways, thnx guys.

[aznpoopy]

hey that's the same one i have. except i bought it from pepboys for quite a bit more $$$. damnit. well it works good anyway. the chrome is a little 'wtf?' but i needed a timing gun and that was the only one they had (last one too supposedly).

[Var]

that light didnt have an advance knob on it right? I own a craftsman that broke, and 2 MAC TOOLS ones , one of which broke so i bought one cause i sent the other one out for repair. From now on it's Harbor Freight since everything breaks anyways.

Timing Light with Advance (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40963)

[tastyratz]

ive had a craftsman advance inductive for like a year or 2 and its treated me well so far... great for the value and always nice if your a tuner to be able to change your timing somewhat acurately without guessing...

[AAA240SX]

Damn, that Harbor Freight looks nice. Let me know how it operates after u get one. If it's good, I'll try it myself. I just got the used Craftsman because well - it's craftsman... :(