Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Cant get anymore advance

  1. #1
    DX User
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Vehicle
    1987 Accord Hatch
    Location
    Babylon NY
    Posts
    25

    Cant get anymore advance

    OK a little backround on my car, Ive had it about a year its an 87 with an auto. I Bought it from an original owner who serviced it by the book. I always thought it was a little down on power but my thoughts where always hey its a 4cyl honda. Anyway I started doing some Tuning this weekend, made a cai, put in some good plugs good wires and said hell lets check the timing and maybe advance it a little. Car is good and warmed up I pull and plug both lines from the dizzy and its so retarted that its inbetween the tdc mark and the first white mark. I advance it to the first white mark but I know i have to get to the red mark for 15 degrees. The distributor is as far as it can go counter clockwise. Locked it up took it for a ride and I am very happy with the results. But Im still about 7 degrees retarded. The prior owner had the timing belt done just before I bought the car. For the hell of it I checked to see if the timing belt was off a tooth but its right on the money. Any Thoughts ??????



  2. #2

    2ndGenGuy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Vehicle
    1981 Accord Hatchback, 1984 Accord Sedan
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    9,697

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    Why did you plug both lines? I know it's sort of an old-school thing to do, but some of that advance is set with the lines on the distributor. The FSM doesn't say anything about pulling vacuum lines to set the timing, so I don't believe you should on these cars. Leave them on, set your timing, and then your timing will be set where it should be.

  3. #3


    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Vehicle
    88 LXi
    Location
    Knoxville TN
    Posts
    5,205

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    Prolly your timing belt off a tooth. Check the alignment at TDC cam and crank and see where you are.

    Its my opinion that its very easy to get the belt a tooth off on assemble. We get your type of question monthly this is atleast the 20th person with this type of problem since I made the statement, but I am in the minority.


    wp
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
    336k miles running strong!
    Now running E85.

    Oldblueaccord <<< MY YOUTUBE PAGE!

  4. #4
    DX User
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Vehicle
    1987 Accord Hatch
    Location
    Babylon NY
    Posts
    25

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    Quote Originally Posted by Oldblueaccord View Post
    Prolly your timing belt off a tooth. Check the alignment at TDC cam and crank and see where you are.

    Its my opinion that its very easy to get the belt a tooth off on assemble. We get your type of question monthly this is atleast the 20th person with this type of problem since I made the statement, but I am in the minority.


    wp
    Thats what I thought but the marks are dead on

  5. #5
    DX User
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Vehicle
    1987 Accord Hatch
    Location
    Babylon NY
    Posts
    25

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    Quote Originally Posted by 2ndGenGuy View Post
    Why did you plug both lines? I know it's sort of an old-school thing to do, but some of that advance is set with the lines on the distributor. The FSM doesn't say anything about pulling vacuum lines to set the timing, so I don't believe you should on these cars. Leave them on, set your timing, and then your timing will be set where it should be.

    The manual says to disconnect and plug both lines

  6. #6
    LX User Bluntman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Vehicle
    1988 Honda Accord LXI
    Location
    Orange County Cal.
    Posts
    453

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    Quote Originally Posted by blknblu View Post
    The manual says to disconnect and plug both lines
    I ignore the manual in this case. My buddy owns a Honda shop and says leave lines hooked up. I timed mine and did smog the other day and it was dead on. And you can be +-2 degrees. With lines plugged I could not get it either. Hey it worked for me anyway.
    My '66' GT I built. My first Hot Rod magazine Cover "Summer 85". I've had it for 32 years, since I was 18. It's a trailer queen. 289 Hi-po, t-10 Toploader 4speed, 9 inch rearend.

  7. #7
    LX User Bluntman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Vehicle
    1988 Honda Accord LXI
    Location
    Orange County Cal.
    Posts
    453

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    When mine had jumped a tooth before I bought it, I could not see the marks at all, and I would get some predetonation under load. Aligned it back up and all was good.
    Last edited by Bluntman; 02-23-2010 at 01:14 PM.
    My '66' GT I built. My first Hot Rod magazine Cover "Summer 85". I've had it for 32 years, since I was 18. It's a trailer queen. 289 Hi-po, t-10 Toploader 4speed, 9 inch rearend.

  8. #8


    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Vehicle
    88 LXi
    Location
    Knoxville TN
    Posts
    5,205

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthrea...ghlight=Timing

    this is not the best link but someone wrote out the procedure but I cant find it atm. its on here some where.


    wp
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
    336k miles running strong!
    Now running E85.

    Oldblueaccord <<< MY YOUTUBE PAGE!

  9. #9


    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Vehicle
    89 Honda Accord LXi, Coupe & Sedan
    Location
    Millington, TN
    Posts
    3,038

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    2ndGenGuy/Bluntman are correct. Although the manual says to plug the lines to set timing. All you will do is frustrate the hell out of yourself.

    I just did this, one in Dec 09 and one in Apr 09. Leave the vacuum lines in place when you set the timing.
    Phil

  10. #10
    LXi User ecogabriel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Vehicle
    1986 Accord LX-i (BT- 142K) - 1993 Civic DX (225K) - 1996 Camry DX (173K)
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    946

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    Quote Originally Posted by blknblu View Post
    OK a little backround on my car, Ive had it about a year its an 87 with an auto. I Bought it from an original owner who serviced it by the book. I always thought it was a little down on power but my thoughts where always hey its a 4cyl honda. Anyway I started doing some Tuning this weekend, made a cai, put in some good plugs good wires and said hell lets check the timing and maybe advance it a little. Car is good and warmed up I pull and plug both lines from the dizzy and its so retarted that its inbetween the tdc mark and the first white mark. I advance it to the first white mark but I know i have to get to the red mark for 15 degrees. The distributor is as far as it can go counter clockwise. Locked it up took it for a ride and I am very happy with the results. But Im still about 7 degrees retarded. The prior owner had the timing belt done just before I bought the car. For the hell of it I checked to see if the timing belt was off a tooth but its right on the money. Any Thoughts ??????
    I do not recall exactly, but if you plug both advance lines the timing should go close (or right to) T mark (don't have the manual here).
    But you should be able to get the timing adjusted the way others suggested here (I did it that way too). If the timing is still off I would look at the timing belt. If the mechanic who did it did not keep the belt tight on the traction side (left, looking at the engine from its front pulleys) then the timing would well be off.
    With the crank mark at T and #1 in compression stroke (both valves closed), the cam pulley marks should align with the top of the cylinder head; the cam pulley is also marked on its back (side facing the cylinder head).
    If it ain't broke... I fix it!

  11. #11

    Dr_Snooz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Vehicle
    1989 Accord LX-i
    Location
    Fresno, California
    Posts
    10,638

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    Are we talking about a carb or injection?

    The distributor on these cars is needlessly complicated and goes out in lots of interesting ways. The timing inspection outlined in the manual has you check timing in two different ways. The base timing inspection is done with the vacuum lines off and plugged. However, the timing with the lines disconnected should only be 4 degrees BTDC. That was roughly on the green mark on my AT drive plate. If that checks out, you reconnect the lines and then set it to 15 BTDC.

    So, basically like everyone has said, just leave the lines connected and set it to 15 degrees. You're probably fully advanced now and run the risk of pinging. Otherwise, I think everything is fine.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

    Shop manual downloads available here: CLICK TO VIEW

  12. #12
    DX User
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Vehicle
    1987 Accord Hatch
    Location
    Babylon NY
    Posts
    25

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    Thanks for the input guys once it stops raining here I plan on going out to recheck it.

  13. #13
    DX User
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Vehicle
    1987 Accord Hatch
    Location
    Babylon NY
    Posts
    25

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    set it to 15 with the lines hooked up she runs good! Thanks again

  14. #14


    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Vehicle
    89 Honda Accord LXi, Coupe & Sedan
    Location
    Millington, TN
    Posts
    3,038

    Re: Cant get anymore advance

    Easy day, enjoy.
    Phil

Similar Threads

  1. Not many players at 195-60 14 anymore
    By w261w261 in forum Suspension/Wheels/Tires/Brakes
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 09-30-2010, 03:42 PM
  2. Eye Candy! 'Till you can't take it anymore!
    By outriding in forum Classic Honda Community Chat
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 02-13-2010, 09:10 PM
  3. I'm not chrome_thangs anymore!
    By Chrome_thangs in forum Suspension/Wheels/Tires/Brakes
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 01-03-2003, 03:09 PM
  4. not stranded anymore! almost
    By LX-i Girl in forum 3geez Accords
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 12-30-2002, 10:07 PM

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
This website uses cookies
We use cookies to store session information to facilitate remembering your login information, to allow you to save website preferences, to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.
     
Links monetized by VigLink