Ignition Timing
Timing dynamically is fairly simple and is the best way to time your engine. Static timing is good for a baseline adjustment, but real accuracy requires a timing light. You can get a timing light for about $30 at Wal-Mart, so it's not a big expenditure and is a wise investment. To set timing you will also need a tach/dwell meter.
The first step to setting your timing is to adjust your valves. Valve adjusting is to be done on a stone cold engine and is a topic for another procedure, but John Muir explains well how to do it in his Idiot book. If you have a '78 or later Bus with hydraulic valve lifters, you can skip this step.
Once that's done, you need to adjust your points. NEVER set the timing before setting the point gap. Changing the point gap changes the timing.
3-1/4 Inch (2) 7/8 Inch (1) See more See less Length (in) 10 Inch (3) 10-3/4. Timing covers can crack or corrode and may leak oil. They can also crack and warp from over-tightened bolts or be damaged by loose timing parts. If you notice any timing belt symptoms like high revs, misfires, start up issues, engine noises, or excessive exhaust. Timing Belt Replacement Interval Guide WEATHERLY INDEX CATALOG NO. EDITION SUPERSEDES 400 431-1448A 2010 428-1466 (2005). 1.7 L (CANADA) EL Cam.
Once that's done, you can proceed to set your idle speed. Do not adjust the timing until you've adjusted the idle speed to specifications (usually between 800 and 1000 rpm on the VW engine). Idle speed adjustment can only be done on a warm engine. This is where you need the tach/dwell meter.
OK, now that you've done all the above, you can mess with your timing. First look at your timing light. You will see two alligator clip type leads and a black box lead. The two alligator clip leads are for power and ground for the timing light, red is power and black is ground. the black box is the inductive pickup. You simply clip the inductive lead over the spark plug wire for the #1 cylinder (cylinder numbers are stamped on the tin next to each cylinder). OK, so you've been out driving and the engine's all nice and warm and you just adjusted your idle speed to spec. OK, turn off the engine. The first thing you'll want to do here is mark the timing notch on the pulley with something to make it more visible. Chalk or white-out do wonders. You can crank the engine around with a wrench on the alternator nut to bring the timing notch into view, and then mark it with chalk or whatever.
Now, hook up your timing light. Clip the power lead to the + terminal on the battery or the + side of the coil (make sure it's the + side or you'll blow that sucker -- ask me how I know). You want to hook the power lead of the timing light to the terminal on the coil that the condenser does NOT connect to.
Clip the ground lead to a good ground. Hook the inductive pickup on the #1 spark plug wire and then start the engine.
Also, at this point, if your engine needs to be timed with a vacuum hose disconnected, this is a good time to disconnect and plug it. Pencils make good plugs.
Now, you've started the engine. Let it idle, check your idle speed again just to make sure it's within spec. OK, pull the trigger on your timing light. You should see the strobe flash in time with the engine. If not, check your ground. Some places that seem like good grounds really aren't. Now, point the strobe at the crankshaft pulley. You should be able to see the strobe highlight your timing notch. Then look where it is in relation to where it's supposed to be. On a Type 1 engine, the notch is supposed to line up with the crack in the engine case (case seam). On the Type 4 engine, the notch should line up with the proper number on the plastic timing scale. If it doesn't, you need to make the adjustment.
What you do now is get out your 10mm wrench. Look toward the bottom of the distributor, you will see a clamp that goes around the distributor body with a 10mm nut holding it closed. Loosen this 10mm nut a bit and slowly turn the distributor body by hand while watching the timing mark in the strobe light. As you turn the distributor body, you will see the mark move and probably hear the change in engine speed. Turn the distributor so the mark moves to where it's supposed to be and then tighten the 10mm nut.
That's it, you've timed your engine!!
As an addendum to this topic, I've had a couple people ask me questions about timing a Type 1 engine which just has a notch in the pulley. I've been asked what value the notch represents.
The best answer I can give you is that it depends. First it depends on you having the correct pulley for your engine, which is not always the case. Secondly it depends on the year of your engine what the timing spec is. Your best bet is to look in the Bentley manual for your year and find your timing spec. It should show you what the different notches stand for for that year. Some have only one notch, in which case that's the notch that should line up with the seam in the crankcase, however some have 3 notches which represent different timing settings. Consult the manual to be sure.
If you have a Type 4 engine, this should not be an issue. A Type 4 engine has a plastic or metal timing scale attached to the fan housing right by the pulley. You just line the notch up with the correct number on the scale. If your timing scale is missing, go buy a new one. They are still available.
Back to the tech page. There is an easy way to find out if your car is driven by a timing chain or timing belt motor. If, on the side (not top) of the engine, either left or right, there is a plastic cover, your car has timing belt. If there is no plastic on the side, you have a timing chain. Here is a video that explains and shows the point.
Another way to find out is through some external sources. One good resource is the Honest John website. They made a list of timing chain driven cars. You can find the original article here – https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/chain-cam/ I repost it here in case the article disappears from the original source. By no means, this is a full list. If you know that a car with chain drive which is not mentioned in this list, please, post it in the comments with the model, engine type/size and year. I will add it to the list. Balsamiq mockups 3 5 17 round.
Alfa Romeo 159 and Brera 2.2 litre 4 cylinder and 3.0 litre V6 petrol engines.
Audi: 1.4TSI and 1.4TFSI (but from 2013, EA211 1.4TFSI ACT is belt cam), 1.6FSI petrol in A3, 1.8 non turbo petrol and TSI 160 in A4 B8, 2.0 litre 1,984cc 2-1PS EA888 TFSI in A3 and A4 B8, 2.7 and 3.0 V6 TDI, late V8s,
BMW: All models since 1993
Cadillac: All models
Chevrolet: Corvette, Epica 2.0 straight six petrol, Colorado pick up with I-TEQ engine, Spark 1.0 and 1.2, Colorado 2.5 and 3.0 diesels from 2007.
Chrysler: Neon, PT Cruiser, 4.0 straight six, 300C petrol and diesel.
Citroen: C1 1.0 petrol, C3 Picasso 1.6 petrol, C3 1.4 and 1.6 petrol from 2010 model year, C4 petrol from 2010 model year, DS3 1.6 petrol, DS4 1.6 petrol.
Dacia: Duster 1.6 petrol, Sandero and Sandero Stepway 0.9TCe 90, Logan MCV 0.9TCe 90.
Daewoo Musso 2.9 diesel.
Daihatsu: YRV and Terios, Copen 1.3, Sirion 1.3.
Timing 1 7 2 Esv
Fiat: 1.3 litre Multijet diesel, Sedici 1.6 petrol, 500 875cc TwinAir.
Ford: Ka and Fiesta pushrod 1.3, Ka and Fiesta ohc 1.3, Ka 1.6, C-Max and Focus 1.8 125ps, and 2.0 145ps, all Mondeo 2001 – 2006, all Mondeo V6s, Mondeo 2.0 litre 4 cylinder petrol engines from 2007 including SCTI 200 and 240, Galaxy 2.3 and V6, Transit 2.2 litre diesel from 2012, Ranger 2.2 litre and 3.2 litre diesels.
Honda: all Jazz, all 2006 Civic including 1.8i-VTEC, all 2.0 litre 4-cylinder from 2002, including CR-V, 2.2iCDTI diesel, 2.4 4-cylinder, 1.6iDTEC diesel, 2.2iDTEC diesel, 1.6iDTEC diesel.
Timing 1929 Model A Engine
Hyundai: i10 1.0 and 1.2, i20 1.2, 1.4 petrol and 1.4 diesel, ix20 1.4, 1.6 and 12.6 diesel; i30 1.4 and 1.6 petrol, 1.6 diesel, ix35 1.7 diesel, 2.0 diesel, i800 2.5 diesel, Santa Fe 2.2 diesel (from January 2010); Grandeur 3.3V6 petrol.
Isuzu: 2007 twin-cam 2.5 and 3.0 I-TEQ diesel in D-Max and Rodeo pick-ups.
Jaguar: all models, including X-Type 2.0 litre and 2.2 litre diesels, but excluding 2.7V6 diesel and 3.0V6 diesel and 2.2 litre 4-cylinder diesel fitted to XF.
Jeep Compass 2.2 diesel from 2011 (Mercedes diesel engine); all 3.0 V6 diesels (Mercedes or VM Motori).
KIA Wolf landing page designer 1 36 16. : 1.1 3 cylinder diesel in Rio from 2011, 1.4 petrol in Rio from 2011, 1.0 and 1.2 petrol engines in Picanto from 2011, all 1.5 diesels in Cerato and 2005-2011 Rio; 2.5 diesel in 2003-2009 Sorento and Sedona; Ce’ed 1.4 and 1.6 petrol, 1.6 diesel; 1.4 petrol, 1.6 petrol and 1.4 diesel in Venga; all engines in Optima, including 1.7 diesel; 1.6 GDI, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.2 R Type diesels in Sportage, Sorento from 2010 and Sedona from 2010.
Timing 1 7 20
LandRover 2.2 litre Ford Transit diesel from 2012.
Lexus: IS250 V6, IS220 diesel.
Timing 1 7 2 0
Mazda: all 2008 model Mazda 2 except diesel, all Mazda 3 except diesel, Mazda MX5 1.8 and 2.0 from 2005, Mazda 5 except diesel, all 2002 – 2008 Mazda 6 except diesel, all 2009 model Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 except diesel, Mazda 2.2 diesel. All Mazda Skyactiv 2.0 petrol and 2.2 diesel engines.
Mercedes: all models including A Class, but excluding 2012 model A Class 1,461cc diesel and Citan van with Renault 1,461cc diesel engine which are belt cam.
MINI: all models including 1.4 diesel, and 1.6 N47 diesel and 2.0 diesel from 2011, but not 2007-2010 1.6 diesel. Also all new MINI 1.2, 1.5 3-cylinder and 2.0 4-cylinder engines from 2014.
Mitsubishi: All Colts, petrol and diesel, Shogun and L200 2.8 and 3.2 diesels, ASX 1.8VVT diesel, 2.2 litre diesel manual in Mk II Overland.
Nissan: all Primera petrol, all recent Micra, Almera, Primera models (except Micra 1.5 diesel and older Primera 2.0 diesel), Qashqai 2.0 diesel, 2.0 petrol, X-Trail 2.2 diesel 2.0 petrol and 2.5 petrol and 2007 X-Trail 2.0 diesel, Note and Juke 1.4 and 1.6 petrol (not 1.5 diesel), Navara, Pathfinder and Murano 2.5 diesel, Navara and Pathfinder 3.0V6 diesel, 350Z, 370Z, 1.6 diesel in Qashqai from 2012, 1.6DIG-T petrol in Qashqai and X-Treail from 2015.
Peugeot: 107 1.0 1.0 litre petrol, 207 2007 MY 1.6 120PS and 150PS, 308 1.6 petrol.
Perodua: MYVI 1.3.
Renault: Twingo 0.9TCe 90 and 1.0; Clio 0.9TCe 90 petrol and 1.2TCe 115 petrol; Captur 1.2TCe 115 petrol, Scenic and Megane 1.2TCe 115 petrol and 1.4TCe 130 petrol, Scenic 2.0 diesel, Laguna 2.0 diesel, Laguna Coupe 2.0 diesel and 3.0V6 diesel, Renault 1.6DCI 130 diesel.
SAAB: all turbo petrol 4 cylinder engines and 2.2 diesel, but not 1,796cc 1.8i and not 1,910cc diesel.
SEAT: 1.2 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, 1.2TSI and 1.4 litre TSI 4-cylinder up to 2012 when replaced by belt cam EA211, 1.6 litre FSI,1.8 litre TSI 160, 2.0 litre 1,984cc 2-1PS EA888 TFSI and Alhambra V6.
Skoda: 1.2 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, 1.6 litre FSI, 1.2TSI and 1.4 litre TSI 4-cylinder up to 2012 when replaced by belt cam EA211 (though some Yeti 1.2TSIs remained chain cam up to 2015), 1.8 litre TSI 160, 2.0 litre 1,984cc 2-1PS EA888 TFSI.
Smart: All ForTwos; All ForFours, petrol and diesel.
Subaru: flat-four ‘Boxer’ 2.0 litre diesel from 2008, Subaru H6 three litre petrol.
Suzuki: 1.0 litre (including BoosterJet), 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4T petrol engines, SX4 1.6 petrol, Grand Vitara 2.4 petrol.
Ssangyong Musso 2.9 diesel.
Toyota: Aygo 1.0 petrol; IQ 1.0 petrol, 1.4 diesel; all 1.0, 1.3, 1.5 VVTi and 1.4D-4D Yaris; 1.5 Prius; 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 Corolla VVTi petrol and 1.4 D-4D; 1.8 MR2; all Auris engines; 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4 Avensis and Verso VVTi petrol from 2003, Avensis 2.0 and 2.2 diesel only from July 2006; 2.0 RAV-4 VVTi petrol, 2.2 RAV-4 diesel from 2006; LandCruiser LC 4.0 V6 petrol.
Opel/Vauxhall: Agila 1.0 12v, 1.2 16v; 1.3CDTI, Corsa 1.0 12v, 1.2 16v; 1.4 1,364cc petrol and petrol turbo (fitted to Adam, Astra, Meriva, Zafira Tourer and Insignia); 1.3CDTI; DI 16v 1.7, 2.0 and 2.2 diesels; 2.2 petrol in Vectra and VX220, but not 2.2 petrol Omega; new 1.6CDTI from 2013; new 1.6 petrol from 2015; new 1.0 3-cylinder petrol from 2015.
VW: 1.2 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre FSI and TSI and TFSI up to 2012 when replaced by belt cam EA211, 1.6 litre FSI, 1.8 litre TSI 160, 2.0 litre 1,984cc 2-1PS EA888 TFSI from 2009, Golf VR5 and VR6, Sharan VR6, all Touareg, all Phaeton (later VW 2.5 5 cylinder diesels and 5.0 V10 diesels have gear train driven camshafts rather than belts or chains).