Ignition Timing

[brianthemagical 1]

Any idea what the power output would be for for an xu9ja with the ignition timing retarded 5 degrees (i think) to allow it to run on 95 ron fuel. My distributer has two marks on it, about 1 cm apart. it is currently set to the one furthest anti-clockwise ( the front of the car). I'm hoping this is one of the reasons why my car only develops 110 bhp.

Thanks.

[jackherer 543]

110bhp sounds about right, they are flat as a pancake when retarded for 95 ron.

 

a friend of mine that wasn't used to fast cars bought a 205 1.9 a few years ago and I immediately noticed it was retarded for 95 ron but I kept quiet for a couple of months then when he'd got used to it I advanced it a bit to give him a free power upgrade and it was pretty significant

[brianthemagical 1]

so would turning the dizzy anti-clockwise advance the timing? does about 1cm sound about right.

thanks.

[jackherer 543]

1cm sounds about right but I can never remember which way is which

 

the best thing to do is adjust it, try driving it, adjust it some more and keep doing that until it just starts to pink under load (such as going up a hill) at low speed in fifth gear and then retard it slightly from that point.

 

the idle will be affected by the ignition timing so you'll need to adjust it using the screw on the throttle body.

[brianthemagical 1]

cheers, i'll give iut a go latter as my sumps of at the mo. it's great havin mondays off. thanks for the help.

[steve@cornwall 100]

1cm sounds about right but I can never remember which way is which

 

the best thing to do is adjust it, try driving it, adjust it some more and keep doing that until it just starts to pink under load (such as going up a hill) at low speed in fifth gear and then retard it slightly from that point.

 

the idle will be affected by the ignition timing so you'll need to adjust it using the screw on the throttle body.

 

Had my timing checked with strobe at weekend after setting it with this method .5 of a degree out only!.

Guy recommended this method over strobe as it is dependent on wear , component play etc.

 

Also adjusted mixture (h/carbon up to 3.35% ) which does give a smoother power delivery than the previous, more mot friendly reading!

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Looking at the dizzy rotate clockwise to advance, anti to retard.

 

Rob

[brianthemagical 1]

thats bad news for the markings on my dizzy, the unused mark would mean it rotating-anti clockwise. i'll try it any way, whats the worst that could happen.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Just as a guide a 1.9 running on Optimax normally has its dizzy advanced quite close to the end stops of how much it can be advanced.

[jackherer 543]

Guy recommended this method over strobe as it is dependent on wear , component play etc.

 

yes and another factor to consider for the 205 is that the book figure is intended for 1980's spec 4 star leaded fuel rather than 2006 super unleaded of whatever flavour (super 97, optimax 98 or tesco 99).

[steve@cornwall 100]

I bought mine three years ago with comprehensive history, including several invoices for "investigate low power" from different garages. The dizzy seemed closer to the stops than usual with revs rising and engine note sounding cleaner as dizzy was turned up to the stops so in a strange moment I slipped the cam belt one tooth and what a difference! and the dizzy returned to more normal position with about 8mm of "slot" showing. anyone else come across anything like this?

[brianthemagical 1]

thanks for all the advise, sparky, you are right about the rotation direction. i don't know what knocking sounds like and i belive it can be bad for an engine so i'm dubios. the mark is curently about half way between the stops. when i had the cambelt changed the old onewasn't set right so it had to be RRed, hence knowing 110bhp, if he didn't set the ignition timing as well it is a possibility that it's out.

is it safe to turn the dizzy with the engine running? thanks again.

Edited June 20, 2006 by brianthemagical

[Richie-Van-GTi 70 2 Cars]

I normally turn my dizzy with engine running when Im setting up, I usually play about with it on the emissions tester and aim it for around 3% with a nice smooth idle.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Reasonably safe, wearing gloves would be a resonable precaution though. You don't want a belt off the HT leads unless you have to!

 

You will know pinking when you hear it. It will occur under load and usually at low revs. Sounds much like a pair of teaspoons being knocked together. Multiple sharp, short metallic pings.

 

Rob

[brianthemagical 1]

cheers, i do run on superunleaded. it is advanced quite far with no bad noises i think. HT shocks arn't that nice, thats one reason i havn't tried it.

[Ahl 4]

Reasonably safe, wearing gloves would be a resonable precaution though. You don't want a belt off the HT leads unless you have to!

 

You will know pinking when you hear it. It will occur under load and usually at low revs. Sounds much like a pair of teaspoons being knocked together. Multiple sharp, short metallic pings.

 

Rob

Like Rob says. Take your car for a run between advancing the settings. Stick it in 5th and give it full throttle from 20 or 30mph. If you hear it pinking then retard it slightly.

 

Its worthwhile taking the socket/spanner out with you and finding somewhere with a few laybys or similar. Makes it a lot quicker.

 

If you still can't work out what pinking sounds like, advance it fully and you should hear it. Just don't go about pinking for very long as it can very quickly put holes in your pistons!