i recently put a new distibuter, cap and rotor in my 89 gta 350 tpi, iset the timing at 6*the car ran ok and seemed fine but then the ses light came on code 42 and the car seemed to lose most of its power it would still run but shaky at idle and not enough accel, so i played with the timing some more i raised it to about 13 14* or so past the indicator marks the car feels good through low rpms has power accels ok and idles alright but when i stomped the pedal to the floor it sputters badly and backfires so something is still off, i set the timeng basically by trial and error and listening to how it was running, at 6* it would run fine but had no power once i advanced it it still runs ok and has some power back but still a loss at high rpms it seems the computer isnt advancing the timing maybe.... would that explain this problem 6* is just base timing if the computer doesnt advance it it would result in low power right?? and moving the base timing way high like 13*14* would make it run better because it isnt being advanced but still would not be completely right correct me if im wrong anywhere here ... is there a way to check the esc resistance voltage ect it seems as if the esc might be an issue not it doesnt seem to be advancing the timing on its own i need to get this fixed right once and for all. by the wayfuel pressure is good also new plugs wires injectors and computer for some background. and i did discon the brown and black esc wire while setting timing and cleared computer of all code numerouse times.

 

well a code 42 comes up as
Fault at electronic spark timing circuit OR
Fault at direct ignition system OR
Fault at fuel cutoff relay circuit
you may have a bad connection, or could be that you have a rich/lean condition(from what i understand) or you may have a higher voltage coil and wires with too great a resistance to run the spark and it fizzles out before it gets to the plug(but that would make more sense on a really high performance car), but how this gets you started in some sorta direction!!

 

Yeah i know what the code represents but all connections are good fuel pressure good it seems as if the computer isnt advancing timing the way it should ..

 

perhaps the computer got a flashed and scramble some of the circuitry, was it always running like this or did this happen right after the distributer? also, did you match the rotor position when you dropped it in?

 

Double posting is not cool, we played this out on another thread.
Funny how it reads exactly the same.

 

yeah sorry about the doulble post just desperate to get it fixed it seems the problem is the computer is not advancing my timing after the esc wire is reconnected so im trying to find a solution to this and it did happen after the distributer install it ran fine before the ignition module an pickup coil went bad.

 

It's not a double post! I don't read every forum on here but I read the ones that interest me. The subject applies in both forums!

Looks like we've got another mini-Mod here! Registered this month, 129 post later, he's in charge!

Set the timing back to 6° where it's supposed to be. Make sure you have the heat paste under the module in the distributor. Check the connections carefully and make sure you don't have any spark plug wires routed near the connectors on the back on the distributor or laying on your tan/black ESC wire.

If that doesn't fix it then ask mini-Mod Bob how to fix it.