i have a 92 rs tbi not to many mods 180 stat, open element, headers,polished tbi, all the symptoms point to my timing and as some of you may have found out timing on this car isnt very easy i found the timming mark and tried to get it right but there is something about a magnetic timing probe? does anyone know what that is? and does anyone the recommend timing specs? thanks alot

You did put the timing light clamp on the #1 plug right? Dont quote me but if you have the stock chip still, at idel it should be at 0 if I recall. Also what syptoms do you have, check plug/wires and cap/rotor?

new plugs wires cap and rotor the plugs are carbon fouling really badly so its getting to much fuel but i have no clue why yea it is the stock ecm but have you heard anything about that magnectic probe socket

Are you unplugging the EST wire when setting the timing (i think its the EST). Make sure you are doing that you can check the tech article on this site to see exactly what that is if you don't know. It was simple to set when I did it.

yes i unplugged that wire it was brown with a black stripe

any one know ne thing about a magnetic timing probe or is ne one sure of the timing specs for a 92 rs tbi 305

mine was to be reset at 0 degrees. the only magnetic timing sensor i can think of would be the crank position sensor. magnetic pulse generator working off the basis of self induction. or is it mutual, nope pretty sure it's self induction...at any rate that doesnt matter. but it's the only sensor i can think of that could fit loosely under magnetic timing probe category.

In regards to the magnetic timing probe that you're talking about; Timing lights work off of a magnetic pickup that's clamped around the #1 cylinder's spark plug wire. The magnetic field that's created by the change in current in the wire induces a current in the magnetic pickup which triggers the timing light to fire. That's most likely what the person you heard that from was talking about. There's also magnetic crank triggers, but our cars didn't come stock with them, MSD makes kits to convert to these.

Tony

The circular magnetic probe hole on the timing indicator next to the harmonic balancer is to be ignored.. used with special equipment not normally available (Wow, I'm horrified more people don't understand what you're talking about)

What you want to use is an inductive pickup stroboscopic timing light vs the marks on the timing indicator vs. the notch in your balancer. These cars are VERY simple to time, as with all plain-old-distributor cars.. clamp timing light around number one plug, hook up light's power leads to battery, disconnect tan EST wire near firewall, let car idle, point timing light at harmonic balancer, pull trigger, see little notch vs. timing indicator. If it's not at 6* BTDC, loosen distributor clamp and rotate slowly, checking timing as you go. When it hits 6* BTDC, tighten clamp, recheck timing, turn car off, disconnect timing light, reconnect tan EST wire, drive.

Our cars have no crankshaft position sensor (Nate, ... I thought it was pretty obvious these aren't DIS cars...)

EDIT: oh, and if you have trouble seeing the timing mark on the balancer with the timing light, use some brush-on white-out and paint the notch white.. makes things easier.

yes i know that our cars do not have a crank sensor, forgot to include that into my statement.....but it sounds to me as if he's done timing before, didnt think i needed to explain that. but since your the tech smurf i'm sure you know all anyways:hail:

thanks for all the help but i have just one more question ... would the timing cause my car to get excessive fuel and back fire? thanks alot