My dad has an 85 GSL-SE that the timing is at least 90-180* out of whack and he has no idea why. Can anyone give me any suggestions as to why that would happen and how to remedy the problem. Any help would be fantastic.

Thanks
Paul

 

Sounds like the distributor needs to be repositioned.

Welcome

 

yes, set motor to TDC and then re seat the dizzy...

and... were 4 threads really necessary?

 

Well in defense of burnsrx7, the forum has not always been replying with the submitted screen. It happened to me once. Seems like the thread gets created but the text isn't always put in the thread. If you keep hitting submit you get multiple threads.

 

How do I set the motor to TDC. The last time my dad checked the timing it was right on the money but this time it was way off. He talked to someone at RX7 Heaven here in Missouri and he asked if he had done anything with the water pump then told my dad that there is 4 ways to bolt that thing on? Is there anything to that?

Thanks
Paul

 

The waterpump has nothing to do with it. The person your dad talked to was refering to the main pulley which can be bolted on in four positions. But, if that hasn't been removed since you last checked the timing then it's obviously not the problem. It wouldn't be the dizzy either unless it's been removed recently.

So, before you go ripping the dizzy out and possibly making the problem worse, make sure the plug wires are attached to the correct sparkplugs and that the timing light is hooked up to the front plugs when checking the timing.

The plug wires are marked clearly on the dizzy cap and the location of the sparkplugs (when facing the sparkplugs) are as follows:

T1 T2

L1 L2

 

I'll have to check with my dad to see if he has taken the pump off since the last timing. if so any suggestions?

Thanks

 

My dad did take the pulley off. So now what should he try? Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

Thats the problem with those things on the early cars. You can put the pulley on any of four different ways. The 2nd gens had staggered bolt holes which only let them line up one way. First of all does the car run? Is the problem simply that the timing marks don't look right? If this is the case then just remove the puleey and rotate it 90 degrees and reinstall it. If you went the right way then it should line up. If it doesn't then do it again. If the car just plain doesn't run then you've got alot of trial and error ahead of you.

 

So what hasn't been answered yet is:

how do you set it at TDC? (notes that he should probably find this in his Heynes, but that the manual in question is at least 40km west of here and that he's between classes... besides, someone DID ask that)

Jon

 

Assuming the pulley is on the correct way and that the timing marks are pointed the correct direction, turn the motor until the timing marks are visible. Do this by hand. Line up the timing mark on the front cover with the leading line on the pulley. Remove the distributer and look for a notch on the gear. Line this up with the little hole on the non-rotating part of the distributer right above it. Reinstall the distributer. Start the car. With a timing light check to see if the timing mark on the front cover still lines up with the corresponding mark on the pulley. If it doesn't then turn the distributer either way until it does line up. Very simplified version. Shop manual has more detailed explanation and pictures.

 

Here's what you do. Obviously you need to rotate the engine to TDC. Remove the trailing spark plug on the rear rotor and spin the engine by hand (using a socket on the main pulley) until one of the apex seals just passes the open plug hole. It should now be very close to TDC.

If the pulley is in the wrong position read this before you do anything else. If you don't follow the right procedure you could easily unseat and damage the rear thrust bearing which would require removal of the front cover to fix.

If the pulley was in the right spot already or you still can't get it timed you need to pull the dizzy and drop it in according to the directions rotarygod gave you.

If this doesn't help (and assuming the plug leads were the right way around to begin with ) I don't know what will.

 

burnsrx,
replied to the PM. is it ok now??
Mike