KA24DE Broken Distributor?

[StryfeS13]

I just finished my built KA24DE and I can NOT get the thing to time right. The cam timing is perfect. Everything is lined up, no mechanical timing is wrong.

My problem is that it doesnt matter how you set the dizzy, it will not go to 20 BTDC. Im under the impression that with the rotor pointing at #1 that my motor should be perfectly timed with a few adjustments of the distributor, of course. But even if I fully advance it, the most it will hit it 13-15 BTDC. And if I move the distributor one tooth back, it will shoot up to 30 BTDC when i have the dizzy fully retarded.

What the F:mad:CK is going on?!?


Here's a pic of my cam timing, and a JWT reference so you can see they're perfect.

Motor was timed like so:
-Removed number one spark plug, reinstalled wire back into hole
-Clicked starter until wire came flying out
-Took valve cover off and front cover
-Disconnected cam chain and cam sprockets
-Set motor to precise TDC using a ratchet to turn the crank and a long screwdriver in the cylinder
-Lined up perfectly with second notch on crank pulley
-Set cams exactly as they should be
-Reinstalled tensioner, front cover, valve cover, and distributor (facing number 1 spark plug)
-Engine wont go past 10 BDTC

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/5900/2lllrvr.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/%7Erogoman/images/ka24de_timing_chain_marks.jpg

[Jasonx63]

you need a new distributor

[StryfeS13]

^ Need a real response please lol, that's my friend being a dick

I'm really hoping it's my dizzy

Or could it be cause my base idle isnt set? Idk, I cant see it making that big of a difference

[StryfeS13]

Anyone? Lol

[jesse5150]

Your distributor may be in just a tooth off, and make sure you are looking at the right position for s13 or s14 because they are different. Also, you may wanna try borrowing a known working distributor and see if yours is in fact the problem. Idk if that helps but good luck

[StryfeS13]

i'm really hoping that's it, but i've put that distributor in every way possible.

There are little dots on the distributor "shaft," do I line it up with the small dot or the big dot? Someone was telling me you line it up with the small dot, then move the dizzy back one tooth so when you put it in it rotates and is lined up where it should be.

[jesse5150]

Heres a link I used to do mine, go almost halfway down and theres an image for s13 and s14
http://forums.nicoclub.com/how-to-fix-your-timing-chain-rattle-t105618.html

[StryfeS13]

Eh yeah...I've set my distributor exactly like that SO many times. Nothing works, I have tried every tooth on the distributor.

Easiest solution - sell motor.

[StryfeS13]

So it's not my distributor. I went to my friends apartment and set his motor to TDC and looked at how his rotor was. It was completely horizontal. The problem is we can not get mine to line up like that. It always is either slightly pointed up or slightly pointed down. The rotor will not go straight. We even tried his distributor in my car and it wont work.

If it makes any difference, you cant just "push" my distributor in, you have to tap it with a mallet.

http://i54.tinypic.com/2mbfpl.png

[jesse5150]

Well I'm not sure, the part that the distributor would mate to is the idler sprocket. You can visually inspect that for either broken or striped teeth or if its loose.

[StryfeS13]

The idler sprocket is torqued to factory specs, which if i remember correctly is like 70 lbs. And all the teeth are perfectly fine.

[phobos]

Wow, I'm in the same exact boat. You're not alone.

[xxaznkidxxx]

dude same here, except at idle, my timing is like at 0, and like 10 btdc when revved up, lol i have no idea how my car is still running and daily driveable (its hella slow though) please figure this out, i don't wanna waste money on a new dizzy lol

[doomviillain]

take the cap of the distributor, crank it and see if the rotor turns.

for a while my sohc never started up cuz the rotor was loose and didnt spin. Hopefully I wont have the same problem cuz im in the process of building my dohc KA and my rotor points slightly up or down as well

[doomviillain]

try interchanging ignition coils too, it sounds like your getting no spark

[phobos]

Mine idles and drives fine when the idle adjustment screw is all the way in (it stumbles slightly almost not noticable). It is just when I try to get the timing to 20btdc I can't retard the distributor any more to get 20btdc when its warm.. So I'm running around with my timing advanced at 10btdc.

Can't find ANY vacuum leaks. Could the EGR valve be leaking at idle?

[xxaznkidxxx]

EXACT same thing happened to mine, my distributor was a tooth off, not allowing me to advance my timing past 0 BTDC, make sure your distributor is perfectly aligned with your oil pump when your motor is at TDC pointing to #1 cylinder, just search it up on how to align them

[StryfeS13]

To anybody that still has this problem..hopefully this is your issue.

This was my problem.

I actually wrote this tutorial, and it got in the articles section on NICO, I thought that was cool.

Fix an incorrectly installed lower timing chain (http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/incorrectly-installed-timing-chain.html)

[Kougeki]

I cannot get any spark in my motor. It's a rebuilt DOHC in a 91 S13.
It cranks and I smell fuel, but no spark. I cranked the motor to TDC,
checked the cams to be facing away from each other (9 and 3 o'clock position),
matched up the mark on the distributor, had the rotor be on number 1 spark plug. Oh, the distributor doesn't go in easy. And
the teeth are fine on the distributor and the head gear. I checked an re-checked the wiring and grounds (so did a buddy). Made sure no wires are cute or damaged, check continuity on a couple plugs from ECU and they're OK. Nothing. I'm obsessing over this
and I don't know what else it can be.

[StryfeS13]

If you had the head resurfaced, but didnt get the upper front timing cover resurfaced, then it will cause the dizzy to not go in easily.

Make sure the coil is good/plugged in? When I first tried to start my rebuilt KA it wouldnt get spark either, but I didn't notice that there are like 3 different plugs that go into the coil.

[Kougeki]

Yeah, all plugs are connected to coil. Just no spark.
I came across this which I'll try to do tonight;

Automotive Questions and Answers - (http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1c/bl280c.htm)

But other than that, I am completely lost. I mean, I'm using the very same working
distributor my car ran with, and now I can't get any spark.

[StryfeS13]

Check grounds

[Kougeki]

Got it running. It was a stupid connections that didn't click in all the way.
I knew it was gonna be a silly thing we overlooked. It was the one
that connects right under the coil.