Ok so my 86 z28 Camaro seems to run for 3 weeks then jumps off timing after 3 weeks I have replaced plugs, wires, and the entire Distributor assembly so any other ideas would be great!!!! I need her to stay on timing so I don't get stuck on the side of the road like I did earlier!!!!!

 

Timing on a computer controlled car is all adjusted by the computer. Did you disconnect the EST wire and set base timing per spec when you replaced the new distributor? Did you stab in the new distributor when #1 piston was at TDC on compression stroke?

Maybe you have a timing chain issue and it's time for a new chain? They stretch over time and need replaced.

 

I have done that all as well as replaced the timing chain on her last month me and my dad have been trying for a month now to keep her on timing because before she was just misfiring now she jumps off timing every 3 weeks the only other thing I can think of is replacing the rotor button!!!

 

What excactly are the symptoms? How do you know the timing is off? Are you checking base timing with the EST wire disconnected?

 

check for bad grounds and such...i had a loose ground wire not even anywhere close to my dizzy and that solved my timing issue ... you may have a bad prom and/or ecm? just spitballin

 

i know shes off timing due to the fact that my dad is a mechanic and has been turning wrenches for 37 yrs and my uncle has been for 40 yrs they both agree its a timing off i am gonna check the ground now thanks for all these suggestions they are being taken to the drawing board!!!!!

 

OK - whatever. Cars just don't "jump" off timing unless the timing chain skips a tooth, and a new chain shouldn't do that ... or the distributor was never tightened down, and thus twisted while engine was running.

And computer controlled cars - their timing "jumps" around all over the place if timing is checked while the computer has control over it - since the computer advances/retards the timing about a gazillion times a minute. That's why you have to disconnect the EST wire BEFORE looking at timing, and that's why you have to set the base timing per the specs for that car with the EST wire disconnected.

I'm not trying to belittle any of your family - they may be great mechanics - but you must face the fact that ...

1) today's "mechanics" don't understand how to properly diagnose and fix these cars
2) mechanics in the 1980's couldn't diagnose and fix these cars - this is the first generation of computer controlled anything, and the idea of a computer controlling anything just created a mental block for even the best GM certified mechanics back in the day
3) if you knew exactly what the issue was, and how to repair it, it would be done already, and you wouldn't be here asking questions

We can't help you unless we get specific answers to our questions. If your mechanic friends/family are going to help you, and thus you choose not to answer our questions, then your wasting our time and yours - which is fine. But it seems silly to me that you'd waste your time (and ours) asking for help, and then not respond when we ask questions in an attempt to help.

Unless you put a timing light to the car, with the EST wire disconnected, and verified the timing per the specs for that engine, you have no way of knowing if the timing is off or if you have another issue. And if you did this, then you would have simply adjusted the timing back to specs, reconnected the EST wire, locked down the distributor, and would no longer have a timing issue. And then either the car would run correctly, or it would not, signifying that you have a different issue not timing related.

So, I still am confused - do you need help or not?

 

well thank you very much for breaking it all down for me newbie i did all that and now she is running like a champ so thank you very much for answering and sharing your knowledge to my problem you helped a great deal so thank you very much!!!!!

 

So what was the issue? Reason I ask is, if someone else searches the forum, and sees this, maybe you can save them some time.

 

Unless you put a timing light to the car, with the EST wire disconnected, and verified the timing per the specs for that engine, you have no way of knowing if the timing is off or if you have another issue. And if you did this, then you would have simply adjusted the timing back to specs, reconnected the EST wire, locked down the distributor, and would no longer have a timing issue. And then either the car would run correctly!!!

 

So you're saying the car wasn't "jumping" timing, but out of time completely, hence the fouled plugs.....