Yesterday I took my car in to have the timing advanced after searching hi and low for a dealer who even knew what I was talking about. When I arrived, the service writer immediately went into the back and brought out the Consult II. I watched him do the procedure:

1. He plugged in the Consult II and it took a couple of minutes to set and read my vehicles computer.

2. He then checked several settings, in particular the idle speed (since I have a UDP) and the timing. He pointed out that at idle the speed was ~700 and the timing was fluxuating between 14-15 deg.

3. He then programmed three settings to display; the timing, the idle speed and a third which I didn't understand looking at the display. He then proceeded to watch the display as he revved the engine and then let it come back to idle for several minutes. He explained that he was allowing the computer to "learn" to advance the timing quicker, compared to the idle speed, which in essence was advancing the timing. I questioned him about programming a specific degree, i.e. 17 deg. and he said that was not how the Consult II programs the timing.

As he was finishing, he said all we needed to do was check the timing and said it would read around 12-13 degrees, now that it will advance a lot quicker. Sure enough, when he was checking the final numbers, I saw the timing was now fluctuating between 12-13 degrees. He also checked the fuel mixture so that the check engine light wouldn't come on and it was fluctuating between rich ~ lean, which he said was perfect.

Took him all of 5-8 minutes. I can't really tell a difference in performance, maybe a little quicker in the bottom end, but then maybe that's in my head. It's definately not slower.

Any ideas if this is the right way to get the timing advanced??

Any input is appreciated.

 

if the timing was set to 12-13 then he retarded your timing. my stock setting was 15btdc and mine was advanced and it went back and forth between 17-18.

 

Hey Sloppy,

How's the advanced timing on your 2k1? Noticeable improvement? Any pinging? Thx brotha...........Peace_

 

its noticeable but not night and day. it just feel more responsive in lower rpms. ill take all the torque i can get. no pinging noticed at all and i run citgo and amoco 93.

 

I'd run 93 if I could.........Right on. Thanks, KilLR

 

Hey Sloppy, did you watch your car get done? Was the procedure I described above that same as yours? I questioned the 12-13 deg. setting and he said that is how it obtains the advance quicker.

 

He went the WRONG way!!!

If you have an OBD scanner or know someone who does, you can verify this.

 

ya that sounds like retarding the timing... hm.... thats no good

 

Well, I spoke to the Dealer again concerning the timing being at 12-13 deg. He said it has always been his experience to set it as I explained above, because the vehicle is an auto. I am going to bring it back on Monday and he will have his tech try to set it in Drive, instead of in Park and see if it will advance it that way in respect to the timing. Any of this make sense to those who have had it done? Do you think this guy knows what he is doing?

 

What he said doesn't sound right. I have access to a Consult II and I changed mine and a buddy's myself. There are 2 places to "view" timing---you want the one under "Work Support" and you will change the "Target Timing" setting to 17 degrees. That is as high as you can go.

There is slightly more low end response after doing this. Jury is still out on WOT gains.

Keep in mind: this is solely at "Target Timing" setting as it implies--if the ECU senses knock from the already-known-known-to-be-quirky knock sensor then it will retard as it sees fit.