ignition timing problem

[91eagle_tsi_awd]

hey wassup guys,i just have a quick question.i was trying to do my base timing today and i remember that on the tab is suppose to be a 5 and 10 degree mark ,but on mines i only saw a 10 mark and if I'm not mistaken like a line on each end ,kind of looks like a 1.how do i know where to adjust it,since i don't have a 5 degree mark???? thanks any help will be appreciated.

 

[andrewjscott]

There is a mark right between TDC and 10...that is 5 if i'm not mistaken, On my cover, its not actually marked as "5". It's hard to see.

Remember to follow this, I forgot to ground the timing adjustment plug, you'll never be able to set the timing if you miss that step.

 

[91eagle_tsi_awd]

thats what i was following ,ill take a good look first thing in the morning to find the 5 on there thanks for the fast reply .

 

[shempt]

Andrew is correct, just to confirm this. Counting counter-clockwise, the first top marking is TDC. The next is a shorter mark for 5 as Before TDC (BTDC). Then the '10 BTDC' that is labeled on the case afterwards. Then again a mark just as small as the mark for the 5btdc is one for 15 BTDC.
Something that I did to make it easier to read while looking down at these markings was I highlighted them. I don't know if you have the time to take off the cover to make this easier, but you can possibly do it on the car as well.
I used a black magic marker to darken the whole raised surface. Then I used "white-out" to highlight the markings. Like the Vfaqs do, I used White-out to mark the timing mark on the dampener pulley on the crank, too. This way when you are looking down into that dark hole in the car while trying to adjust it, it's a _whole lot_ easier to see. As well as at a later date if you want to re-tune the car.
P.S. I think the manuals mention to time it to 6btdc. I tried to make it as close to 8btdc as possible and the TMO Datalogger's timing still looks real good for my tuning curves. But of course, this is just my success with that setting.
Thought I'd share.
ew

 

[91eagle_tsi_awd]

i think im going to follow your tip and use a marker on the cover.ill take a look at it tomorrow and if im still clueless ill just come to this post and read what you wrote over and over again.i know i saw the 10 in the middle of the tab,ill get it when i see it again,thanks for the help