Call me stupid but does the VE not have an ignition timing "sight"? I'm not sure what else to call this, but other cars I've set the ignition timing on have a "sight" very similar to a gun sight above the crank pulley so that the timing can be set accurately.

I mean, otherwise depending on your angle in relation to standing over the crank pulley, there's no way of accurately setting the timing (if that makes sense).

I've had my ignition advanced for a number of years and I'm trying to go back to stock and unfortunately the ole Sharpie-mark-on-the-crank-angle-senor is long gone, but this is stumping me. The FSM isn't showing anything in regards to this other than the 15 and 20 deg. marks on the crank pulley. I *think* I've got it at 15 deg. now but I would like to be a little more sure

 

The only sight that I know of is the pin that sticks out of the block and if your viewing angle is off it won't give you an accurate reading. I usually just eye ball it the best that I can. Hope that helps.

 

Well, yeah, that's what I mean. That's the problem. Depending on your angle the timing can be off by quite a bit.

On Honda's for example, it has that pin (well it's plastic), and right below that it has a "V" and you stand above it and line the pin up in the "V" and that sets your proper angle, then you base the marks on the crank pulley in relation to that.

The VE lacking anything to "line it up" is quite troubling to me! Plus it's nearly impossible to get a sight line in there anyway with the timing light.

I just took a test drive after setting it to what I believed to be 15 deg. and it had NO power under about 2k RPM so that can't possibly be right.

 

Just crank her up good and run 93 octane.. worked fine for me for 100,000+ miles..

 

IIRC, he has a turbo....

 

dude there has to be two persons to set timing on VE...(unless u have Fantastic 4 hand )....and fsm does show how to set timing on VE and there r 3 ways to set timing on VE...but unfortunatley theres nothing to line it up....u cant accuratley set the timing on VE by jus guessing....

 

All the more fun

 

I honestly just advance until it ping and then back it off a little. I definitely wouldn't recommend this method for FI.

 

 

It's burnout, so disregard..

 

What in the world..?

The FSM shows three different methods of setting up the timing light, but not three different methods of "setting the timing" per se.

If you can succinctly/coherently state your two-person method I'm all ears. I can get the timing light hooked up just fine - I'm mostly interested in getting an accurate "line of sight" somehow.

Also, guys, no turbo, just bone stock aside from '05 Maxima wheels

 

he means one person holding the light and watching the pulley, and the other person turning the CAS and listening to the person w/ the light.

 

I see, well, that doesn't really seem two necessitate two people as I can just as easily (and did) adjust the CAS a bit, check myself with light, repeat, etc.

That still doesn't help with the actual sight line to verify exact timing

 

EM-56 shows something sticking out of the timing cover just above the crank pulley. that is what appears to be the 'pin' you guys were talking about. but yea even on a VG it's hard to see through everything and down to the pulley.

 

NIStune. Use your laptop to see the exact timing and adjust it as needed. Forget the caveman adjustments with the CAS and timing light.

 

Are you running NIStune?

I remember Hadman (I think?) was going that route on his VE but I'm not sure it's ever fully come to fruition?

 

Yes and I HIGHLY recommend it for ANY 3rd gen; its capabilities will blow your mind!! James, PM me for detailed info.

 

so does the nistune ecu really give an exact timing readout without the need for the light........ ive been considering gettin the chip for the performance gains........... but i never considered the fact that i would be saving money on gas and increasing engine parts life simply with proper timing......i have a feeling that adjusting the timing yourself every week ... using nistune instead of every 30k when u get a full tune up would save money on gas and parts to the point that the $375 mod would essentially pay for itself?

...plus the i hear the extra power aint bad either