Ignition Timing S3

Ignition Timing S3

Author
Discussion

MBS3

Original Poster:

24 posts

275 months

Tuesday 21st May 2002
quotequote all
My car is in the garage (not a TVR specialist) and thay have said the timing is 18 degrees, what should this be and how do you adjust it. I thought it could only be done electronically (connecting additional wires on the ECU)

shpub

8,507 posts

279 months

Tuesday 21st May 2002
quotequote all
It is basically set for life and is electronic. The timing can be adjusted a bit by playing with a connector so that it will run on unleaded.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

MBS3

Original Poster:

24 posts

275 months

Tuesday 21st May 2002
quotequote all
Cheers,
That is what I thought
I do have the Bible but it is at home, what made me ask was this (taken from S3 Throttle response thread)

"Yes the problem is now fixed. There is just a hint of hesitation now but it’s far better than before and perfectly acceptable. Not entirely sure what fixed it though. Here is a list of the things I did. 1. Strip and clean air flow meters, idle control valve and throttle assembly. 2. Re set Ignition Timing to 10 deg BTDC at idle. (was 14 deg) 3. Adjust base idle to 800 rpm (throttle plates just cracked open and throttle pot reading 505 Ohms) with idle control valve disconnected. (throttle stop was fully shut at idle previously 455 Ohms) 4. Air hoses checked for leaks. 5. Fit new Ford 2.9 Granada throttle cable to correct linkage mounting with clips rather than the bodged bolt and Nylock that came from the factory. Pedal travel now longer but feels better. 6. Check throttle pot on scope OK."

and if mine is 18 deg that could account for inability to idle when cold and poor throttle response

ianl

71 posts

291 months

Tuesday 21st May 2002
quotequote all
Hate to disagree with Steve but I believe the ignition on the 2.9 engine is adjustable. Slacken the distributor retaining plate off slightly and twist the distributor. Worked for me.

shpub

8,507 posts

279 months

Tuesday 21st May 2002
quotequote all
quote:

Hate to disagree with Steve but I believe the ignition on the 2.9 engine is adjustable. Slacken the distributor retaining plate off slightly and twist the distributor. Worked for me.


We are not really disagreeing. The ignition is originally set using a microwave device (?) and is then sealed. It is electronic and should not need any attention during its life (100,000 miles). Ford manual paraphrasing.

If the distributor is changed then it needs resetting and then the fun can start as some state it can be done with a strobe, others say it can't. Some of the timing figures are for static other for dynamic. Static operation is tricky as you are looking for a sensor pulse. Dynamic is tricky as you need to make sure the distributor bits and pieces are disconnected.

And then the ECU can overide the settings anyway !
Generally it shouldn't be touched. Doesn't mean you can't play with it but it is not as straightforward as in olden days when you could use a bulb to work everything out...

Steve

Dave_H

996 posts

290 months

Tuesday 21st May 2002
quotequote all
Steve's right,

when we stripped my S3's engine and had the distributer out in doing so, it was a bit of a mere to set the timing as it did seem that the ECU was trying to do it's own thing, proberly due to the battery being disconnected and the ECU trying to re-map/re-configure itself in my case anyway.

APMAUTO

368 posts

273 months

Tuesday 21st May 2002
quotequote all
you really need to connect the ecu to the ford star diagnostic tester as there is a mode where you can set ing timing without the ecu trying to compensate for it