Blacktop SR20DET break up

[KevinOBrien1987]

So I'm pulling my hair out trying to get this thing to run right. I took the valve cover off, set the timing correctly (marks lined up, CAS in the right place etc...) and when I start it I hit it with the timing gun and it doesn't line up, the timing is off to the point where the pin on the crank pulley is isnt even close. The marks are about an inch to the left of the pin. I advance the timing like crazy, the pin is almost on the first mark on the right and it runs better but still breaks up at all RPM's and I'm not gonna run it with the timing like that. Does anyone know what the hell else is could be?

~KOB

[MangoDorifto]

Are you putting the car into timing mode before actually checking timing?

[DSMNerd6889]

I'm having a similar problem, I've not been able to start my s13 blacktop swapped 240 yet... When I try and check ignition timing, the marks aren't even on top of the pully?!?! I pulled off the valve cover and cam timing seems to check out.. I'm really at a loss. What is this timing mode that you speak of, I haven't found anything about that yet, btw I'm hooking up my light to the loop to the coils... is there something else I should be doing? Thanks.

[MangoDorifto]

quick break down from what I remember:

-start engine and get it fully warmed up, make sure it's idling 1,000-under
-run engine at 2,000 for 2 minutes under no load
-race engine two-three times (over 2-3k) under no load
-run engine at idle for about a minute
-shut it off, unplug your tps and fire it back up
-race engine two-three times (over 2-3k) under no load
-let engine revs drop down to idle and bust out your timing gun!

Car will be in timing mode now, you can proceed to check timing with the light and adjust CAS as necessary.

The black single wire loop on the back of the harness near the firewall has always worked for me. I've heard some have had success just slipping the connector over the whole wiring harness leading into coilpack #1.

[DSMNerd6889]

Well, I got mine going... as it turned out the CAS was installed wrong... someone got lazy and didn't take off the waterneck to install it. Thanks for the help guys!

[KevinOBrien1987]

When I use the black loop i roll the CAS all the way forward and the timing is on the first mark on the right. If I clip it around the entire front spark plug wire bundle (all three wires) I can get the timing to the second mark from the left. I dont know which is right and which is wrong but either way the idle drops down with the cas rolled forward and it breaks up under boost no matter what i do. i took the valve cover off and the links line up, i installed the cas correctly with the marks and still the same thing goes on. i found out i have two codes on the ECU 11 and 34. "knock sensor" and "crank angle sensor/cam angle sensor" i dont know if that means they are bad or something is wrong with the motor and it is setting the codes off in the ecu. I will be messing with it tomorrow (monday) to see if i can swap those pieces out with known working ones. check back in a day or two for more posts and feel free to throw in your input!