i just did my first total tune up. plugs, wires, cap, rotor and distributor. i've never replaced a distributor before, and everything went ok, but when i try to start the car, it idles really rough and dies after a few seconds. i marked the position of the old distributor housing and the new one is positioned the same way, but i forgot to mark the old rotor. the first time it didn't start, so a friend suggested taking everything apart again, loosen the distributor clamp, and rotate the rotor+distributor until it is pointing at the #1 plug. it worked, the car started, and ran fine for 10 seconds. now when i try and start the car, it runs really bad for 5 seconds and cuts out. i've searched for articles for adjusting the timing, and the ones ive found mention letting the car run at idle. what happens if your car wont stay running?

 

Been there done that.

It might be way off.

The way I do it is to pull the number one spark plug. Push something like a ziplock baggie or a rag barely in the number 1 plug hole.

You can either bump it with the starter till the baggie flys out of the hole, or disconnect the battery and turn the crank bolt with a ratchet and socket until the baggie pops out. This means that the number one is on the compression stroke. Slowly rotate the crank some more until the timing mark on the damper lines up with zero on your stationary timing mark. Now. Reinsert the plug. Your rotor will be pointing to where you need to put your number one plug wire. put the rest on in the correct firing order, clockwise (on my engine).

That should get you close enough for it to start and idle to actually set the timing.

Clear as mud?

 

awsome, thanks man. i'll do that tomorrow at work.

 

When the car is running unplug the EST and have someone turn the distributor to get the car to run. If it wants to die than tap the throttle while the guy under the hood plays with it. Once it runs set the base timing.

 

well, we got the car running. i was getting frustrated so some of the other techs came ova to help. 1 more question though, i forgot to unplug the battery before i turned the crankshaft with a ratchet. and i also forgot to unplug the EST while we we're playing with the distributor. should i redo everything? or just proceed with the timing light?

 

and im not quite a tech yet, barely a c-tech. so theres a whole lot i don't know

 

Disconnecting the battery is just a safety precaution. Always a good idea.

Disconnecting the other wire makes the ECM leave the timing alone, so you can set the base timing. Otherwise it would wander with the rpm change.