Timing via ECU

[Big_kev]

Guys

I have just re-essembled the engine and while i was doing this i set up the timing on the cams, crank and dizzy. When the engine fired "almost on the first turn of the key" the engine is idling slightly lumpy but smoothes out under trhrottle.

Is there some way to check the dizzy timing via VAGCOM as this is a 3b the dizzy is a little hard to get at and read "especially with my non detatchable fat fingers and hands"

Alternatlvely what should i look for if i were to put a timing gun on the car.

Cheers

Kevin

[S2central.net]

Tis a ****** to line up alright. 3B ECU cannot tell you what advance it has, but at warm idle you should see ~10 degrees advance with a strobe light - assuming you have a meaningful mark on the pulley !

Paul

[newsh]

Best way is to put the car in a high gear and roll it forward onto the marks, watch the flywheel mark and when its perfectly in the window check the dizzy, if you go past the mark roll back and start again, you need a torch and mirror and a short spanner and a length of strong cord to pull it with.
Having said that the ecu does the timing based on the flywheel sensors so it should tick over fine if it starts. The problem comes at higher rpms on boost, if the marks are not lined up the ecu will mistake this for knock and retard the ignition and even dump in extra fuel to try and stop it.
Your misfire is probably down to plugs or leads, isv or a small boost leak.

[newsh]

Basically, turning the dizzy will not affect the timing untill you've moved it far enough that you get no spark at all.

[Big_kev]

Cheers Newsh

The summary was good. Will try that over the next couple of days

Kevin

[Jamo]

Tis a ****** to line up alright. 3B ECU cannot tell you what advance it has, but at warm idle you should see ~10 degrees advance with a strobe light - assuming you have a meaningful mark on the pulley !

Paul

10 degrees, does this apply to ABY?
What is the figure for an ADU engine?

[S2central.net]

Yep - its approx 10 degrees on warm idle... VAGCOM reports the advance nicely for ABY/ADU of course ;-)