The ignition timing is not adjusted with a timing light or with the engine running, and to set the ignition timing follow these procedures.
There is a mark or notch on the distributor housing that the rotor should be pointing to when the engine is on TDC. (Top Dead Center) This "Static" timing is all that matters and the computer will be able to control the timing as long as the ignition rotor is in that position when the engine is at TDC.
1. Place the engine at top dead center.
2. Look under the distributor cap and find where the number one terminal runs under the distributor cap, and where that position on the distributor cap corresponds with the distributor housing, and it should match up to a mark or a notch on the distributor housing (usually has a #6 for 6 cylinder engines or a #8 for 8 cylinder engines) indicating the number one TDC alignment position.
3. With the engine on top dead center the ignition rotor should be pointing to the number one TDC alignment mark or notch that is on the distributor housing, if it is not then loosen up the distributor and turn the distributor until the ignition rotor is pointing to and aligned with the TDC alignment mark or notch on the distributor housing and then tighten down the distributor, the engine should now be "Static" timed. (The more precise that you are aligning the TDC alignment mark with the ignition rotor the better the engine will run, and it will be less likely that there will be a camshaft to crankshaft correlation problem)
If the distributor can not be turned enough to align the ignition rotor with the number one TDC alignment mark on the distributor housing, or the distributor does not set properly and will not allow the installation of the spark plug wires then the distributor is not installed correctly and is most likely a tooth off and it will need to be re-installed correctly. (The distributor should set like it is shown in the firing order diagram when it is properly installed)
Here is a firing order diagram to also help assist you.
Rebuilt my 454 engine, installed distributor with - 8da39ce.jpgg src="/uploads/images/8da39ce.jpg" alt="8da39ce.jpg" class="h_mi" />
Some distributors have the hold down bracket secured onto the distributor housing and the distributor can not be turned into alignment and then tightened down into that position, and these distributors will only fit into the engine and correctly align on "Static" timing one certain way, and when it is correct the distributor hold down bracket bolt can be installed and the TDC alignment mark on the distributor housing will remain properly aligned with the ignition rotor.
I appreciate your feedback. It has not made much of a difference yet, but it did confirm that I had done everything right so far, at least mechanically. As I said at first, we set everything right but when the scanner showed advanced timing, we started messing around with the distributor. Nothing worked and the values got silly, jumping between values-- all advanced even though we retarded it two notches at one point. Today I replaced the cam sensor. Same problem. The killer for me is that when we first fired it up it ran great but the ses was on. Trying to fix it has made it unrunnable even though it's physically back where we started when it ran. I'm thinking there is some wiring problem or god forbid a computer module problem. Any ideas?
Well, we solved it (after throwing a few parts at it). I had seen other posts on other sites talking about worn camshaft, worn distributor shaft, worn timing chain, etc. but none of these looked bad in my engine and the timing chain was new. It turns out that there is a washer between the lower end of the distributor shaft housing and the upper part of the helical gear. Even though everything looked all right, over the 120K miles the parts had worn enough for there to be about a 3/32 worth of slop in that washer area. When the engine cranked and the camshaft gear engaged the distributor gear, it pushed it up that 3/32 which was enough to move the rotor out of range of the computer's ability to compensate. When we moved the dist a whole notch, it was way out. The fix could have been a new distributor, but we were able to find a washer that filled the space perfectly without binding. Put it back in. It fired up and no ses light. I can now take off a coil and remove a distrubutor on a 98 Silverado in my sleep.
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Honda CRV/Odyssey 1995-2000 Repair Information
Distributor
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
The radio may contain a coded theft protection circuit. Always make note of the code before disconnecting the battery.
Fig. Fig. 1: Exploded view of the distributor mounting-Odyssey 4-cylinder models
Fig. Fig. 2: Exploded view of the distributor mounting- CRV shown
Fig. Fig. 3: The distributor keyway is offset and can only be installed in one direction
To install:
If the camshaft or crankshaft has rotated during assembly, rotate the crankshaft counterclockwise until the white Top Dead Center (TDC) mark on the pulley aligns with the pointer on the engine cover. If the valve cover and upper timing cover have been removed, be sure the UP mark on the camshaft is facing up, and that the crankshaft TDC mark aligns with the pointer on the lower timing cover.
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