Ignition timing question
Ignition timing question
I have a 2000 SE 5 speed that i bought with a blown tranny. I bought a used one from a junkyard and installed it. When the tranny was out of the car i pulled the flywheel off because i was going to do a 6 speed swap. When i put the flywheel back on i remember being able to turn it as it sat on the crank which tells me the dowel pin probably fell out while the flywheel was off. it is back together now and running but there are a few problems. When i start it it will start funny and sometimes sound like its hydrolocking. When it does start like that it will blow a nice puff of white smoke when it starts. It is acting like there is way too much timing. Im thinking the flywheel is in the wrong position. Yesterday i borrowed my friends scanner so i could see what the timing was doing and i took this video. Any input? I just wanna make sure thats what it is before i go taking the tranny off again. How the video got uploaded upside down, i have no idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot9I-...ature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot9I-...ature=youtu.be
if the flywheel is off, then the timing reading will not be accurate. I'm surprised it would run though, how many bolts are in the flywheel? I would think something like 8 which would mean off by one is still over 40 degrees off. If you aren't getting a check engine light its probably something else.
edit: I missed 88gtu's post somehow. The ecu is capable of determining timing from the cam sensors IIRC so since its reading over 40 it would make sense possibly that its using the cps which is reading wrong (5 degrees, actually 40 something) and as soon as the throttle moves it corrects using cam sensor info. Just spitballing, too bad its a PITA to physically check if the dowel is correct or not
edit: I missed 88gtu's post somehow. The ecu is capable of determining timing from the cam sensors IIRC so since its reading over 40 it would make sense possibly that its using the cps which is reading wrong (5 degrees, actually 40 something) and as soon as the throttle moves it corrects using cam sensor info. Just spitballing, too bad its a PITA to physically check if the dowel is correct or not
Last edited by Gemner; Sep 25, 2013 at 05:48 PM.

Initial timing advance (idle timing) should always be 15 +/- 2* (whatever yours is set to) and it should never change. Timing should only advance/retard under load, but initial timing should always read the same number no matter what.
You 100% have a problem if your initial timing is at 5* and that is definitely why your engine starts funny. Remember, initial timing advance correlates directly to crank position, you're lucky the car even started at 5 degrees, that's way too low for a Maxima.
Get the timing under load (WOT) from as low in the RPM to as high, that' the real timing (dynamic) curve. Also, see what it (timing) is along with idle when fully armed up. Mine was at 12º not too long ago, not sure why.
In any case mine always hovers in the mid to upper 40s when cruising under little to no load so that's at least normal.
In any case mine always hovers in the mid to upper 40s when cruising under little to no load so that's at least normal.
Last edited by NmexMAX; Sep 26, 2013 at 10:00 AM.
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