I know that dealers are reluctant to advance the timing on our cars. However, I have been hearing troubling things calling around to dealers. I have been told that, if you advance the timing on a 2002, the ECU will eventually just move the timing back to factory spec. Is this just the dealer giving me an excuse or is it true? Will our ECU relearn its factory spec timing? I tend to think that the ECU would not change the timing. However, I know that the ECU is very responsive and will adjust the timing if detonation is detected. What do you guys know/think?

 

Heh, your dealer is full of it. I advanced it myself, disconnected the Consult II, drove around for week, and reconnected it. Still set where I put it. Note: it is a "target" timing advance. Under normal conditions (high octane fuel, etc) it will use the advanced setting. If it detects a knock it will retard to compensate.

 

my dealer told me it will ultimately cause problems for the engine

 

did they tell you any specific problems that may result or was it more like we dont feel like doing or learning it so it will cause problems?

 

the SM wasn't specific, then again I wasn't there..this was all relayed to me thru my pops...he brought the car in for me

 

My dealer told me that the new setting will not hold and that it is just a waste of gas anyway. I think it is funny that dealers make this stuff up without any real evidence.

 

My dealer SUGGESTED doing it to quicken low-end response

 

I had mine done by t56gen3 (Man I love your connections). Simple update We also verified that his was the same after around a month of his being set and it was still at 17.

I do notice an improvement. Not as much as an intake, but I did notice it.

 

Your dealer is full of it too. This setting is within factory spec. If Nissan thought it would damage the engine then I'm pretty sure they would have set the ECU to NOT allow for any timing change. The factory Nissan ECU allows for 5 degrees of adjustment---13-17 degrees BTDC.

Secondly, the only potential problem would be engine knock on low octane fuel. If you are feeding it what Nissan recommends (91+ octane) then you should have no issues. If you fill it with lower octane and the engine knocks, then knock sensor will detect it and retard the timing to compensate.

This will not shorten the life of the engine. If you are one of those who do not use the recommended octane, then you should not consider this mod, as it will do you no good.

 

I always run 93, so I shouldn't have any problems. I suspected that the dealers were feeding me a line. I guess I'll just have to keep calling until I find a dealer that will do it. Even though this is off-topic and belongs in the regional forum, if anyone knows a dealer in the Atlanta area that will do this, please post or mail me. Thanks for the info. guys.

 

What did the dealer say about that grille?

 

According to my FSM it's 15+/-5 for the 2001, so 10-20BTDC is "in range". The problem with getting past the 17BTDC is that you need to perform an idle air volume learning procedure. I suspect that once you reach 17 and you perform the procedure, you will be able to advance it further. However, I agree that once the ECU starts adding advance during throttle it will compensate.

If you have a reliable hook-up, I'd love to see this done on a dyno. I don't think there is a more black/white comparison.

 

how does advanced timing reacts to really hot weather or really cold weather

 

Not sure about the amount of power increase, but it does make a difference--not sure how much I would pay for it though. I only did it cause it didn't cost me anything.

The Consult II only allows you to adjust it up to 17 degrees. I've done the advance on 2 different cars (2k2 and 2k3) and it's the same on both. If there is a way to go beyond that then I'm not sure on the procedure, but the Consult stops at 17. It only offers 5 degrees worth of varience. I'm on the latest software version as well (301.) Maybe it's different on others?!?

 

What's the sweetspot for a 2k?

Thanks, T

 

manual or auto?

 

Ok, since we are at this topic. I'd like to ask you guys this. I have a 2k manual. My car stalls from time to time. It might do this for 5-10 mins then stops, then again repeatedly. I notice that the idling rpm is somewhere around 580-630, and sometimes it shakes the steering wheel a bit, proven that rpm is so damn low. Also when i rev the engine the rpm drops to 500 rpm or below. They told me that it's normal. I know it varies from cars to cars but something like this is not right. Do you guys with 2k/2k1 manual have this annoying problem??????
I told the dealer to bump it up a bit/advance the timing to fix it (cuz they performed an ECU update on my car) but they said it cannot be done. Lots of .ORG fellows here told me that are BS'ing. I agree ...
This is not my first manual car so I took the fight to Nissan Consumer Affairs. They'll call them a$$ tomorrow with the nissan tech line...
BTW "SES" light is not on and my car only has 44K on it.

 

you wont need to have the timing advanced to fix this, you just need to have the idle adjusted from nissan. ive never heard a situation where a manual felt like it was going to stall and it was normal unless it had cams. i would try another dealer and if that doesnt work call my friends at 1-800-NISSAN1.

 

Think in his post he was talking about 2k1s, not 2k2 - 2k3. Per his post, they have more variance.

 

Clean your throttle body. It works wonders. Also either have the dealer or a shop clean your injectors. My mechanic has an additive you put in your gas tank to clean injectors, very close (if not the same) to the stuff Nissan uses. He told me to use it every 10k miles. You can't get it at a store, this isn't STP BS.

 

So....

I can't get dealer to do it, and I look for auto shop that specialize in Nissan, and they say they only do factory setting..

People everywhere say that advance to 17degree is within factory specs...

It there anyway to prove it?
Any info to prove it will really help thanks!!!!

 

the proof is in the factory service manual (fsm)

 

You must find a shop that has a Nissan Consult-II, which runs about $4K. I've heard of one member who knows of a shop that has one, but I've never seen a shop that specializes enough in Nissans' to have one.

 

if any of you live around or are driving through charlotte, nc then i can give you the number of the shop that can do it. 35 bucks and you are set.