Timing issues

[blacklab75]

I've been having problems with my 1996 Alpha 1 LX 3.0 Merc. so, I decided to look at the timing. I have the Delco Est ignition and I adjusted the timing as per instruction of the service manual to 1 BTDC and the engine seemed to be idling better.

However, when I shut off the engine/removed the jump wire and went to check the timing it's still reading at 1 BTDC, it should be reading 12 BTDC. When I thottle up to 2200 rpms it should be reading 23 but, it's only reading at the 8 mark.

What could be causing the timing to fail to advance? Or do I need a special timing light that has that comes advance feature?

 

[Don S]

Re: Timing issues

Did you also hook up the shift interrupt switch wires when removed the jumper wire?

It could be a faulty module. Did you check the timing before putting it into base timing mode?
An advance timing light just reads what the ignition is doing, it does not change the timing of the engine.

 

[blacklab75]

Re: Timing issues

Yes, I hooked up the shift interrupt wires.

I could'nt tell exactly where the timing was at originally because I think it was so far off. The engine was idleling very fast (1000 rpms) and the idle adjust screw on the back of the carb was almost all the way out. I just rebuilt the carb so the idle mixture screw was set 1 and and a quarter.