um, i just tried this method earlier today, and couldn't get the large slit to line up with the sensor while the cylinder 1 was at TDC. it was off by a good margin. tried with another spare distributor, and was off the same distance. tried turning another round to TDC again, and still doesn't seem to work???

Was the distributor rotor button facing straight down when the engine was at TDC on cylinder 1?

You can't change it while driving with that. It will put the car into timing mode at the push of a button though.
Yes you can, in active tests you can modify the base timing by a selectable amount. It isn't a permanent setting but will allow you to try it out.

http://blazt.biz/products/images/datascanactivetest.JPG

um, i just tried this method earlier today, and couldn't get the large slit to line up with the sensor while the cylinder 1 was at TDC. it was off by a good margin. tried with another spare distributor, and was off the same distance. tried turning another round to TDC again, and still doesn't seem to work???

Bump

is there an answer to this question.

^^^Yeah, just buy a timing light. :)

I have one, car wont idle

i tried this method and it wouldn't line up. the large notch wasn't anywhere near pointer, i can't remember because it was a month ago... tried with second distributor and same thing...

getting same exact results