Thread: Setting the timing w/o a timing light?

I was playing around with my OBD2 reader the other day (had a 1447 CEL:mad
and I looked at the "live data". One of the parameters it listed was timing. It read "Ignition Timing 11deg". Should be 15deg.

Is it possible to set the timing using the OBD2 reader vs a timing light?

If its at 11 deg I think you'd notice a difference with it lacking power however you can always adjust it up a little bit and check through that but I personally wouldn't recommend it

The reading you are getting is compensated by the ECU, not base timing. When you set the timing you are setting base timing, the computer assumes its at 15*, if you advance from there the ECU does not no any better. If the computer is saying 11* then what ever code you are throwing is making it retard the timing.

And no, you can not set the timing without a light.

No. The ECU only knows what timing it is trying to achieve. It has no idea what the actual ignition timing is. There is no way for it to know.

You can set the timing to 15 degrees BTDC by ear though. It is not nearly as hard as it seems. Setting timing to anything else by ear however is pretty tough.

doesnt autozone loan out timing lights?

Really??
I'll have to check that out.
Anyone have a writeup how to check the timing on a RR SR20? Is it the same procedure as in my '92 B13 with a Highport SR20?

Why? They are only 20 bucks to buy the cheap ones....

Yes you check it the same way as any other sr20

I couldn't find anywhere to loan me one.. they said they are too "finicky" or easy to break I guess to loan them out so I just had to buy one

well at least you would have it if you need to use it again, i figured they might loan them out, it was worth a try though.