"Advance timing kit"

[93Leg-c]

Hi guys. For the longest time my engine hasn't been running properly. It sounds and feels retarded . . . I mean, there doesn't seem to be anywhere near enough ignition advance upon acceleration. Only occasionally (maybe once a month) the engine pulls strong and sounds good.

I've been seeing this "advance timing kit" sold on eBay for the longest time, and while I usually don't even consider purchasing such a "fix" (seems almost like a scam to me) today it suddenly occurred that MAYBE it might help my engine and not hurt it at all.

Any thoughts on this kit?

Alernatively, where should I start checking to remedy the retarded timing?

Any help will be much appreciated!

[aspect]

Care to post a url of what you're looking at? Doesn't sound too good...

edit: oh god, dont buy that.

from ebay:
"Most people say they have noticed that their car performs better on colder days. This is because the intake is receiving cooler air. This intake sensor mod uses a resistor to “trick” your engine into thinking that it is taking in cool air all the time. This allows it to put out more power. Simple and effective. This kit shows the same results as some other modifications that cost as much as $400.00. The kit includes a resistor, with resistance OPTIMIZED FOR YOUR ENGINE"

First of all, it's just a resistor. The reason why your engine is more powerful when it's colder out is because the colder air is denser, therefore there is more oxygen in a given volume drawn into the intake of the engine.

There is no cold air mode that gives you an extra 20 hp (yeah, thats what he says...20hp from a resistor that fucks up your sensor readings!:roll:).

The guy even says what the resistor value is! If you want to actually try it out, just get one from radio shack. Search for "timing advance" on ebay and see just how many different engines he's calculated "optimized" values for...(or maybe his auctions get taken down if he has more than 10 identical items...hmmmm)



If you want to adjust your ignition timing, I'm guessing you'd want to go with a standalone ignition unit from MSD or similar (or is there some way to hack the ecu to give timing adjustment?). HOWEVER, your lack of power could be due to any number of other issues.

If you've got an old laptop kicking around (or a desktop PC and some real long extension cables!) you should try out vrg3's scantool program. It will give you an idea of what's going on with your ignition timing...

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~v/bcbfscan/

[evolutionmovement]

If you're running on timing retard you should find out why. First check the knock sensor - if the ECU sees it's bad it will drop timing to save the engine (at least in theory as it never worked on mine and I suspect that's why my exhaust valve melted). Do you have N/A? Even the N/As run relatively high compression for a car designed to run on 87. There's also a learning function where if you've been driving like an old lady for a while the car will respond accordingly to conserve gas. Thrashing it should put it back into 'power' mode relatively quickly. You could also try some higher octane gas and if the timing comes back you may not have a knock sensor issue. Usually they are visibly cracked when failed.

Steve

[georryan]

I've looked into those things:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... light=ebay

Don't go for it.

-Ryan

[93Leg-c]

Hi guys! Just got in, booted up the computer and got your messages.

Thanks a million for your posts! You got my attention, I'm listening, and I won't buy the gadget.

I'm going to try vrg3's scantool to locate the source(s) of the retarded timing. If everything works out, I'll get the electronic parts tomorrow to fabricate the connector and I'll check out the thread on the scantool to see first if it answers my questions on the scantool and how to use it.

Ummm, how do I check the knock sensor to see if it's working properly? No, rather than answer, let me first see if I can find one or more threads on it.

How many possible causes of retarded timing are there? If that is a retarded question please don't start screaming and pulling your hair out. It's just that I don't know now that engines are so computerized. I figure one or more sensors are malfunctioning and there could be inter-related issues But. . . I would like to know.

Kinda going off-thread here but is there any detailed but simple written-for-layman reference that I can read to learn about all the different sensors, how they work, what kind of symptoms are produced by malfunctioning sensors, and how to fix/modify them? (Should this question start another thread?)

btw, that occasional day that my car has decent power usually happens on a cooler or more humid day but at other times it the air can be cooler but the engine feels like its running on about 60% power. And this is even after I've been manually shifting the auto tranny at 4500 to 5000 rpms (due to the usual lack of power, this is how I've been driving).