Engine Timing

Engine Timing

I finally purchased a timing gun and wanted to share the way to set the timing on a 2.0 Turbo engine. Use your other source of info (manuals) for anything I may have missed. You may read about advancing timing and other things at DSM.org

I set mine to 5 degrees BTDC as shown in the shop manuals.

	Find the tab on the engine guard labeled TDC, 5, 10 so on. Clean all the oil and dirt so that it is visible.
	I decided to remove the plastic cover to help see the timing mark on the pulley and clean what the cracked dripping valve cover left behind (a Mess). I left the front wheel on and turned it to the left to access it. You do not have to remove the cover and go through the trouble. I did it to clean the pulley area. Use a 12mm socket to remove the two top bolts.
	A Phillips screwdriver to remove the plastic screws. Pop off the plate.
	You will now see the crank shaft pulley. I shot degreaser on what I could get to and let it soak.
	Here is the tab I was talking about in pic 1.
	Here is a spare pulley I had to show where to look for your mark (notch). It is on the center ridge as shown by the arrow.
	Take some whiteout and paint the tick mark (notch). The dotted line is to show the notch is to the side of one of the four bolts. This will help narrow down the hunt for it.
	You may also turn the key over to find the mark or rotate the crank by hand.
	You will need to remove the cap and ground the timing adjustment plug before starting the engine. Circled for clarity.
	I grounded it here with an alligator clip.
	Hook the timing light up to the battery. Run them around the front of the car to keep clear from moving parts.
	Hook the inductive clamp to the No. 1 cylinder plug wire. With the inductive timing light you leave the plug wires connected.
	Get the car to normal operating temperature and let it idle in park or neutral. Make sure all AC, heater and other things are off (No power draw). Point the light at the crank pulley and find the tick mark. If it is not floating around the 5 degree BTDC mark, Adjust it.
	Using a 12mm wrench/socket. Loosen the two nuts on the Cam Angle sensor just enough to rotate it. Do not take them off.
	Using your hand rotate it one way to retard timing and the other to advance the timing. I gave it a little twist and then used the light to check it again. Once it is set to 5 degrees (or where you want it), tighten the two bolts back down. Go to DSM.org to read about advancing timing and so on.
	This is the best picture I could get of the light on the tab. Once set, remove all wires, tighten all things and place cap back on timing adjustment plus. It is there to keep water out.

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