I know that when you time a TPI unit you're supposed to disconnect the blk/tan wire. Every time I try the car dies. If it is disconnectecd the car wont start. When I put the timming light on with the wire hooked up it reads about 50degrees. Can anyone please help me????????

 

1-I,

Your procedure is correct for an '85 TPI. Disconnect the ESC bypass connector (tan/white wire) then set the base timing.

That "50°" thing is really weird, though. The car should start and run with the bypass disconnected, although it will run a little poorer. You probably should check the static timing of the distributor to see just how far off it really is. When you remove the distributor cap and rotate teh engine to the TDC position on the #1 cylinder (compression stroke), the rotor should be physically pointing toward the #1 cylinder. If it's 50° off (advanced), the rotor will be pointed closer to the left side of the engine. The ESC shouldn't be changing the timing that much unless there is a problem with the detonation sensor, sensor wiring, or the ESC module itself.

Something certainly isn't right.