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Please Help Me Find The Timing and Tune Up Thread; Preignition etc - need to set the timing
Topic Started: Sep 30 2012, 12:29 PM (984 Views)
GeoZone
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Seems like it would be super easy to find a tune up guide on here but I've been searching for like 45 minutes. Someone help me out. Haven't set timing on a car in 20 years. There's gotta be a thread on here for setting the timing.

Bought my Geo a few months ago and doing stuff as it needs to be done first and now I got some pinging under load so I figured it's time to go buy a timing light and do a tune up. Can't find the thread! :dunno
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Old Man


The best search engne for this site is to go to google and type in --
geometroforum and then type what you want info on. for instance you want to know about timing then type in:

geometroforum timing

and several threads on timing will show up.
try it you'll like it
Edited by Old Man, Sep 30 2012, 12:59 PM.
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geogonfa
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have to ground out the timing plug located near the left strut tower...there should be a decal on the hood telling you which ones...check with the timing light first...if it's not correct loosen the dist. bolts and turn the dist. to either factory specs. or 8 deg. before TDC...
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GeoZone
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Old Man
Sep 30 2012, 12:59 PM
The best search engne for this site is to go to google and type in --
geometroforum and then type what you want info on. for instance you want to know about timing then type in:

geometroforum timing

and several threads on timing will show up.
try it you'll like it
Thanks Old Man, that helped a little but not much. I thought there'd be a guide, but mostly just disparate threads with timing a tangential issue. I did figure out that my 93 doesn't have vacuum advance, which I hadn't realized that any of them had that so that was good. Most everything I found was for other years/models and the best was a youtube vid for 95's and later.
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Old Man


try this and scroll down to post #28
http://geometroforum.com/topic/2689420/2/

also check on the underside of your hood. Sticker there should give instructions

and here is several videos specifically for a 93
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=ie7&q=geometroforum+setting+93+distributor+timing&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7ACEW#q=geometroforum+setting+93+distributor+timing&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ACEW&prmd=imvnsfd&source=univ&tbm=vid&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=BKloUOKDEYbwiwL92YHgAQ&ved=0CCUQqwQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=138afdd8dd6a4bb&biw=835&bih=495
Edited by Old Man, Sep 30 2012, 03:22 PM.
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clarkdw


If you recognize the sound of pinging then you don't need a light. Your best performance and mileage will be just short of ping. Loosen the two bolts that hold the distributor and rotate it counterclockwise to retard and clockwise to advance if looking at it from the drivers side toward the distributor cap.

There is a noticeable and measurable difference in performance and fuel mileage between setting it according to specs and setting according to your ear listening for ping. Make no mistake, you must be sure that you do know the sound of ping to do it this way but the reward is worth it.

I reset mine according to ambient temps and occasionally to compensate for a tank of poor fuel but again the payback is big. :thumb
Edited by clarkdw, Sep 30 2012, 04:00 PM.
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GeoZone
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OK, thanks. Very helpful. The hood says 5 degrees BTC which seems less than what I read elsewhere (8-10). Also, I bought a tach (from Harbor Freight with Chinese instructions and am now regretting) thinking I needed to set idle speed first but the hood sticker says "idle speed set and sealed at the factory" and can't be adjusted. Really? this tach reads "033" when I attach the pickup to the #1 plug wire. Seems like my old tach (sold at a yardsale) attached to the coil as well. Anyway I think I recognize the sound of ping, but am thinking that it won't ping till it's under load. That's actually why I decided it was time for the tune up as I was getting some ping under load (interestingly only when my wife is driving do I hear it)
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clarkdw


Ping will only be heard under load, generally when someone with a heavy throttle foot is at the helm. :banghead :D
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GeoZone
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Well, when I checked the timing it was set to 5* BTDC so I set it up to 8. The car seemed to have a little more pick up on the test drive but DEFinitely still had the ping under load i.e. when going uphill and right after switching gears, especially if shifting too soon. I dropped it back down to 5* BTDC and still seems to ping on the test drive so now I'm ruling out timing as an issue causing ping. I've replaced the plugs, cap, and rotor - the old plugs all looked great and relatively new. hmm
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91 ragtop
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If an engine has too much carbon built up on the pistons and combustion chambers they will ping at factory settings. I've taken apart worn out engines that showed 200 pounds on the compreesion tester because of the carbon .


Ken.....
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GeoZone
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91 ragtop
Sep 30 2012, 09:31 PM
If an engine has too much carbon built up on the pistons and combustion chambers they will ping at factory settings. I've taken apart worn out engines that showed 200 pounds on the compreesion tester because of the carbon .


Ken.....
Well, I bought the SeaFoam awhile ago but I've been hesitant to use it. I guess it's time? I think I read in one of these threads that an engine never before seafoamed could release so much carbon that it could cause problems so I've been taking it one step at a time.
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GeoZone
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91 ragtop
Sep 30 2012, 09:31 PM
If an engine has too much carbon built up on the pistons and combustion chambers they will ping at factory settings. I've taken apart worn out engines that showed 200 pounds on the compreesion tester because of the carbon .<br /><br /><br />Ken.....
Well, I bought the SeaFoam awhile ago but I've been hesitant to use it. I guess it's time? I think I read in one of these threads that an engine never before seafoamed could release so much carbon that it could cause problems so I've been taking it one step at a time.
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Oddmodman


Yes I realize this is an old topic, but figured I'd add to it. When I had this problem on my Chevy K1500, it sent me ricocheting all around the engine trying to figure it out. Turned out to be plugs/wires, but the wires were actually the worse of the two.
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