A couple of years ago, Eric and I were able to advance the timing on my car. You know the routine, get the car is timing mode, set base idle, then adjust your timing.

Anyway, after that, I bought my own timing light from Sears... this way I wouldn't have to bug Eric. From that point on, I hadn't been able to get the car into timing mode again.

Yesterday, I decided to give it another try. Went through all the proper protacal, still, couldn't read the marks in order to be able to adjust the timing. Damn, I thought, this is bs. I've replaced the iacv within the last few months, just in case that was the problem. Then a light bulb went off. Wait, I thought, I can adjust my idle and I've done just that. Anywhere from 700rpm to 1000rpm... and it's stayed there. Now, from reading the fsm, se-r.net and the archives, that means my car is/was in timing mode. You can't permanently adjust your idle w/o being in timing mode or the ecu will set your idle back to 750rpm +/-50.

Has anybody out there had a timing light that just doesn't work for our cars? My car runs great, I'd just like to bump the timing a bit. I can never get the damn marks to show, even though I'm obviously in timing mode.

I've never heard of this before, but it would explain a few things.

Peace,
Mark

Hmmm, all it does is pick up on the voltage spikes with the inductive clamp so it will either work or not really.

Is it flashing ?? Is the clamp facing the correct way on the HT lead ?? Does it have an advance dial on the back that is adjusted way off ??

Nope, no adjustment on this model available. It is flashing and the clamp facing the correct way on the HT lead? I don't understand the last part of that. The clamp goes on the 1st spark plug wire.

Peace,
Mark

Inductive clamps 'usually' (every one I've used) has an arrow on it that must point towards the spark plug.

Be right back. I'm going to feel like a total tool if that's the case and I've been using it incorrectly. But, better to be a tool, than not get the timing adjusted.

Peace,
Mark

Nope, no arrow. The clamp is just a rectangular "jaw", with the open trigger to get the clamp on the #1 ignition wire.

Be right back. I'm going to feel like a total tool if that's the case and I've been using it incorrectly. But, better to be a tool, than not get the timing adjusted.

Peace,
Mark

Nope, no arrow. The clamp is just a rectangular "jaw", with the open trigger to get the clamp on the #1 ignition wire.

There should be an arrow. But, just for the hell of it, flip the orientation of the clamp and see what happens.

did you try switching the clamp around just for shits and giggles?

Ok, time to go and try switching the clamp around, upside down. There is no arrow on it... anywhere. Even have the instructions in front of me. Craftsman model no. 21027.

This wasn't a "cheap" timing light, either. I got it rather than the timing light advance model because it was $20 less, but still cost me over $40.

I'll be back.

Peace,
Mark

Well, no luck. Set and reset the idle 3 times... 1200rpm, 1000rpm and 750rpm. So, it was in timing mode. But, regardless of how I used the clamp, no marks were showing up.

I think it's strange that there's no arrow on this model, makes me wonder if it is the appropriate timing light to use. I'll try borrowing someone's or maybe rent a different one to see if it makes any difference.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions, sorry that I was able to get them to work.

Peace,
Mark

If the light is firing then it should pick up the marks. I have had an issue where I can't see the marks. It's really annoying. I ussually take some white paint and put a mark on the dots on the pulley. Try that. Might help you see them. Then you will know if you are in timing mode as well. If you are not in timing mode the marks will be about 20degrees off and they will move around a great deal. If that doesn't solve the issue take the light back and get another one.

I've seen the marks before, when Eric and I did the advanced timing 2 years ago. They were there, bright as day. Now, I can't see any of the marks, even rotating around and not in one spot.

I'll take the light back and exchange it for something else. It couldn't possibly be user error;). Really, it's pretty easy to use a timing light and I'm pretty sure the car is is timing mode.

Peace,
Mark

Putting the white on helps you see them when they are not directly in your view. Thats my point. You can see them from any angle really. Thats very helpfull in figuring this out. You can even see them 180 degrees out when the paint hangs over the edge a bit.

You'd see the marks if it wasn't in timing mode anyway. It's just that they probably wouldn't be steady...

Gotta be someting wrong somewhere...

Maybe I'll recheck the marks. It makes sense, because at the very least, I used to be able to see the marks, even if they were jumping around. If the marks have gotten that dim, I wonder what I did to cause them to fade that much in 2 years(or less). Let's see, how many times have I cleaned my engine bay? Maybe some leakage got on the pully and washed the marks out.

Damn, that would suck. If any of you have followed my "heroics" over the years, nothing ever turns out to be simple, for me. I get things fixed and done, all the time. It's just that I tend to create other problems... which I fix... and create others;).

Is there an easy way to advance the pulley to make sure the marks are still there? I'll check my fsm, too.

Peace,
Mark

Maybe I'll recheck the marks. It makes sense, because at the very least, I used to be able to see the marks, even if they were jumping around. If the marks have gotten that dim, I wonder what I did to cause them to fade that much in 2 years(or less). Let's see, how many times have I cleaned my engine bay? Maybe some leakage got on the pully and washed the marks out.

Damn, that would suck. If any of you have followed my "heroics" over the years, nothing ever turns out to be simple, for me. I get things fixed and done, all the time. It's just that I tend to create other problems... which I fix... and create others;).

Is there an easy way to advance the pulley to make sure the marks are still there? I'll check my fsm, too.

Peace,
Mark


Mark, this has happened to me. For some reason I just could not see them with my light. Put a dab of white on them and bingo, there they were.

i just bought an el-cheapo timing light from sears last weekend and adjusted my timing for the first time and i dont think mine has arrows on it either. i just revved a few times above 3000, disconnected the tps, and checked and adjusted the timing. the first time i tried it i didnt see the timing marks so i guess i didnt get it into timing mode properly so just check and double check you got it into timing mode correctly.

So, just great, not only can I not see the timing marks, I can't see the needle/pointy thing... at all. Have I mentioned that my near vision absolutely sucks, even with glasses. I seem to remember having this problem last time. Which is why I had Eric looking for the marks, since I couldn't see the needle/pointer thingy.

It's funny, even after he pointed it out to me, I still couldn't see it. I guess getting it in timing mode would be a moot point at this time;). At least, I think I'm looking in the right place... wouldn't that be my moronic moment for the week.

Peace,
Mark

So I guess it's time to get some better glasses or a helper. Did you try the paint? Use a color on the pointer (say blue) and then white on the dots.

make sure the clip thingy is on the right spark plug lead

Can't see the pin, can't see the marks, can't make new marks. I have kerakatonis in both eyes(mojo bad thing to have), so I cannot focus on anything that close, with or w/o glasses. Makes working on the car interesting at times... painful, too;).

I think I'll ask the guy next door to give me a hand. He's another engineer and there's nothing one engineer likes doing more... making fun of another engineer.

Peace,
Mark