Well got a timing light today from auto pro ($47) not bad! followed the general procedures to checking the timing and to my surprise it was set at 30degrees+ :O i had a feeling seeing how i got some pinging when going up steep hills. Also one of my mates said to me little while back if i had done anything to her cause it was quicker then he has seen em before. Its only got 60,000k's just put on her so still pretty fresh but has no mods part from a pod and and upgraded exhaust so shouldnt b much quicker. Took her for a drive after changing the timing back to 15 degrees and she feels fair slugish to what she use to but not to bad. little bit devostated but glad to fix my crazy pinging and retarded timing! people check ur z's if u have never had the timing checkd once purchased! people crank them right up on you! Anyway this is my first post hopefully been lil helpful to sum1! Im no mechanic but i try. This forum is the best! so helpful! Thinking bout the whole N/A to TT conversion any pointers would be helpful! Thinking could be just easier buying another TT Z and starting work on her! Hit me back people!
Quite often cheap timing lights actually read double the real amount... a few members have found that here. A way to double check is to chuck Datascan on it and see what it reads the timing as.
Software that runs on your laptop. You connect the laptop (or any PC) via USB/Serial cable to the Zeds diagnostic port and it will read various values supplied by the ECU - one of which is timing. Obviously you don't have it but maybe someone who does can lend it, or someone with a more costly timing light...? I only mention it because running the wrong timing, especially if it's out by 15 degrees, can be...umm...bad.
ah cheers man just checked it out they got one going on ebay for round $100 think that would be good? might see if my mates got a better timing light lol cant believe i bought a piece of junk timing light
Well there's nothing wrong with it, as long as you can confirm it's showing the correct timing, or double - in which case just halve the result when you use it next time. From vague memory it can change depending on where you place the induction loop...? C'mon where's the real gurus...
hehe ah tru well i connected the inductor to the black looped wire coming from the ptu as it says in tha tech section but yeh thats interesting might take it into nissan and get a datascan done if no1 can confirm anythin 4 me
I'm pretty sure Datascan shows the timing figure that's written to the tune at that particular point on the map. It doesn't show the actual timing as indicated by a timing light.
i have a thought - if the CAS is what adjusts the timing and theres is only around a 4-5cm adjustment room is it possible to be able to tell if the timing is way out by the position of the CAS. to get to my 15 degrees with my timing light i had to turn the CAS clockwise all the way so the top 10mm bolt holding the CAS in is all they way to the left. can this be a sign of incorrect timing?
have a look if your car has an Auto ECU in it if its a manual. If it does thats why it reads wrong. Also is the adjusting bolt more or less in the middle? It should be The right way to set the cas if it is off to one side and you have an auto ecu (and seems wrong like your reading does) is to adjust it with consult connected so it reads 15 degrees, then check the timing light. It will read about 28 degrees on the light. Dont use the loop on the PTU for setting timing. Open the inductive jaws on the light pick up and shove it behind the cylinder one coil pack.
thanks 4 the info fellow zeder! i checked the timing again this morning, having the inductive clamp over the fat middle wire on coilpack 1, at first it gave me the correct reading of around 10 degrees, my top adjustment bolt was as far left it could go withthe gap on the right. i adjusted it to a little of centre and checked again. It read 25 degrees i was a lil stumped! then i rememba sum1 sayin in a post to pull the top part of the inductive clamp back whilst its connected to the wire. bingo it was at 15 degrees! after i realeased the slide thingy on the clamp it jumped to 25 but the second time i pulled it back it stayed at 15 when i let it go so its constantly at 15! yay! so took her for a drive and very smooth no pinging! sounds clean when reving hard and still has good response! BUT I WANT A TT BAHAHA
check if the neutral switch on the gearbox is connected. This is a very common problem if there has been any gearbox work done- often the wiring plug for the neutral switch is left off- this causes the ECU to think the car is constantly in gear and hence advances the timing by approx 15deg. You'll need someone with datascan or consult to check this easily. Another way is to get under and check for three wiring plugs connected to the rear of the gearbox. They are neutral switch, backup lamp and speed sensor. Here's a pic to show you approx locations
No it's not. Datascan, Conzult, etc will only report on the timing values set in the maps, NOT what the physical timing is set at. ie, at idle, the stock map, and all intelligent tunes, will be set at 15 degrees. Your CAS however may have been advanced by accident, or you've slipped a tooth on the crank sprocket. If your showing 30 degrees at idle there is something wrong. Either your CAS is fully advanced, or you've slipped a tooth on the crank sprocket.
Yeah I dunno my mate came over with his timing light and its on +30, my car never pings and runs like a dream (Altho I run it on nothing but 98)
Good stuff. Thanks for reporting back. Even if it wasn't the cause in this instance, at least you can eliminate one possible cause...
no worries! so tru! its all about the eliminating process hehe. drove her on the highway tonight went nice and smooth was trying to here for the usuall pinging i got on the hills around where i live but no pinging! huge improvement after getting the correct timing reading i believe. i think it comes down to what ur plugging the inductive clamp to on gettin a truely correct timing reading. The CAS is just off centre now too thanks 4 every1s input! always love getting new ideas and new info on my zed so please feel free to post or message me!
