ok so i finally got my camaro to not die on me. but i was wondering. everyones saying ten degrees btdc. does that mean ten degrees base timing? or time it to like 2 btdc so the ecu can set it to ten?...

 

10 degrees is your base timing, you put your car in limp mode and then adjust your timing to 10 degrees.. if at 10 degrees you are not running right, then there is something else wrong...

 

if i set base timing to ten. it goes to like 16... is that supposed to happen?

 

sorry if this is a stupid question but im a tinkerer not a mechanic by any means.... how exactly would i go about setting my 91 3.1 v6 maro at 10*?

 

if its anything like my 2.8 then youd take a paperclip and stick it in the top 2 holes where u plug a chip in to check the check engine light while the car is running. the check engine light should blink. then u loosen your distributor and rotate it a hair or 2 till it says ten. but thats basing it off of the 2.8 .it may be different

 

i would imagine its alot like the 3.1 hmmmmm i will check my haynes when i get home from work and see what that says. now will it give me any more performance for setting it at 10?

 

well ten degrees for most chevys are stock setting. so if your at zero then the engine will run alot better so i would assume so

 

well im not sure what its at now because i just got it out of the shop and i know he had to retime it do you think he would have put it at 10?

 

he should have put it at 10*. the proper way to set it is by unplugging the est connector by the ac blower housing, let the car idle and with a timing light set it to 10* (via turning the distributor). You should not start the car while you have the paper clip jumper in the connector ports.

 

probably... go buy a timing light and hook it up then aim it at the timing marks on the crank and press the button. the mark should shop up at ten

 

on my 2.8 im not allowed to disconnect that wire or else my car wont even start

 

what could happen by starting it up with the clip in the ports? i think i may have done that a couple weeks ago

 

if i set base timing to ten. it goes to like 16... is that supposed to happen?


higher timing set by the ecu is a good thing, the more advance (higher) the timing, the more torque and power... until you start to get knock/misfires which lower the power.

heres an example:

you set your base timing to 10 (factory)... and your ecu can adjust based on sensor readings in either direction:
[0----5----[10]----15----20]

it can only compensate so far in a given direction before it reaches the advance limit of 20.

so if you change your timing to 0 the ecu will be able to use:
[-10-----5----[0]----5----10]

so the ecu wont be able to increase power if its available beyond 10 advance even if the engine can handle it

 

The car goes into service mode, if everything's working fine don't worry too much about it just remember to unhook it next time

 

lol sorry but service mode? i did notice that it ran rough then i remembered it was in there so i reached and pulled really fast and it shut off i started it back up and no problems well of course other than the 13 years old battery finally dieing lol.

 

sorry if this isnt in the right area but i figure were basically talking here you wouldnt happen to know if a dead battery would throw a code 44 would you because when i charged the battery it wouldnt but then i would see the battery gauge drop a bit and the light would come on.

 

Service mode just uses the SES light to tell you if your car is in closed or open loop while running. Usually you'd start the car first and then add the paperclip after the car's running

 

oh thanks

 

you set your timing to 10 degrees, then plug the module back and your timing should jump.. this is the ecu adjusting your timing ... I would disconnect one of the plugs at the module... I don't remember which one it is... so what I would recommend with the engine off, unplug the first one and then fire it up... if it starts... you should have a loping engine, very low idle... this means it's ready for your adjustment...

 

ok so i set the base timing to ten and it looks to be above 20 now. but im not scared cuz of the info you guys gave me. thank you all. she purrs and doesnt pop out the intake when under load. but i do have a heating problem. it overheats. the hose that goes to the thermostat is incredibly hot and the overflow tank bubbles over. is that a stuck open thermostat?

 

if the top hose get's hot, that would mean the thermostat is opening... how is your radiator fan, does it come on?

 

yes it does..i dont know if its doing it all the time every time. but the engine overheats even if the fan kicks in

 

never mind. i ran it for 15 mins. and the fan did not start at all

 

just found out i have a stretched timing chain