can't set the timing pls help

[IH8TEC]

ok, borrowed a timing light from work today, (yes it does work) and went to do the timing on my gtz, afm with coilpacks.

ok the timing light tells you revs, and you set it (has two buttons, up and down) to 0deg on the light to work as a normal timing light, or go +/- for advance from the point that it is.

anyway, i know you have to bridge the two terminals on the diagnostics plug, T and E1, no i dont have a TE1. hooked the timing light up to battery, then on number 1 lead, and nothing happens, the light wont flash at all.

thought the light might be screwed, but tried it on my mates blacktop 20v. with distributer, and the timing light worked fine,

anyone have and suggestions, would be much appreciated,

cheers
brendon

[Spannergal]

might seem like a simple question - but is the car actually operating? the timing light won't flash unless spark/current is flowing

[IH8TEC]

lol, yeah i'm not that stupid.

[Spannergal]

have you tried the timing light on other leads on your car - potentially number 1 cylinder could not be getting spark

[IH8TEC]

yeah i have, i've tried all those possiblities and it is running on all four cylinders, it has new genuine toyota leads, would they have more insulation or anything???

that is my only other thought, that and something to do with the diagnostics

[RedMist]

I would presume that the fancy timing light is getting confused by the wasted spark.
Your engine fires every 360 degrees, whereas a standard 4 cylinder engine is fired once every engine revolution, 720 degrees.

[IH8TEC]

so how can i remedy this?, just get borrow a very basic one? and what i was doing before?

[Lloyd]

Shouldn't matter, its still just checking the spark going through the lead so for all it know you're simply doing double the revs.

Did you have the clip around the right way on the spark plug lead? Should be an arrow or something on that needs to point in the direction the current is travelling otherwise you wont get a flash from it.

[IH8TEC]

yeah i did, pretty frustrating, dont wanna raise the boost until i sort the timing