On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 23:03:59 -0500, Chopface <thename_is_slick@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Hello,
>
> I finally coughed up the money and bought a timing light. I am using
>the directions in my Helm manual My timing is significantly off on my
>car which has 130k miles. Looking downward, the 3 marks (made bright
>silver with a ball-point pen) on the crank pulley are above the pointer
>by at least twice the width of the 3 marks. Are there 2 deg. between
>each mark? I am just hoping I didn't jump a tooth on my timing belt.

Yep, I'd investigate the timing belt/cam first. Who replaced the timing
belt? The 1.6L & 1.5L engines have different cam pulley alignments for
proper belt installation/timing -- see
http://www.cadvision.com/blanchas/54pontiac/honda.html -- and it wouldn't
be the first time somebody got it wrong. Hell some goon "mechanic" once
lost the crankshaft pulley key and the pulley was not aligned on the
crankshaft.

Are you sure you're reading the index mark and notches right?... no fancy
advance thingy built into the timing light which needs to be disabled?
Engine at normal idle of 700-800rpm? You're supposed to jumper the service
connector too but it's been said it makes no difference below 900rpm -
which I found to be true. Not sure what you mean by "above the pointer"..
the strobe goes off with the pulley marks to the right of the index mark...
i.e. advanced? With timing that far off I'm surprised the thing runs at
all.

> I tried loosening the distributor bolts so I could adjust the timing,
>but I couldn't find a good fit with my sockets and wrenches. The bolts
>seem like they are really tourqued on there. My 12mm tools seemed to fit
>the best, but there was significant play when turning the tools back and
>forth lightly against the bolts. Do I have bad tools or is there a
>certain size wrench that I should look for?

On my Integras it's a 12mm and yes, if they haven't been loosened in a
while, it'll take a whack with the heel of your hand to get them off.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??