Little worried about how advanced my ignition timing is

[91tizzy]

car is back to running great (stock boost with direct line from pressure source to wastegate now) but I noticed while tinkering with the car my ignition timing adjuster is showing all the way advanced....Im assuming this is not stock as one of the bolts that keeps it tight is missing...doesnt move freely but one is missing....previous owner did the timing job on the car and as far as I can tell the motor is in time...im just wondering if maybe he did this to bandaid a problem....what are ya'lls thoughts...idle is a 750 right where it should be....starts like a champ...runs great like I said for a heavy ass automatic awd....should I even worry about it? about where are your ignition timing adjusters set at?

[turbosax2]

Are you talking about the cas (camshaft angle sensor)? Have you used a timing light to set the timing to 5*?

[91tizzy]

Originally Posted by turbosax2

Are you talking about the cas (camshaft angle sensor)? Have you used a timing light to set the timing to 5*?

Yes I am talking about the cas...and no I have not...I dont have access to a timing light-dammit I hate being so far away from all my stuff

[Auto RS T]

Running the belt a full tooth off on the intake side and adjusting ignition timing after will almost max the cam sensors adjustment out like you described.

Set the crank at TDC and look at the cam marks again.

[91tizzy]

Originally Posted by Auto RS T

Running the belt a full tooth off on the intake side and adjusting ignition timing after will almost max the cam sensors adjustment out like you described.

Set the crank at TDC and look at the cam marks again.

will do....will running the car like this pose a problem if it does happen to be a tooth off? I havn't the money right now to do a timing job cause if I am gonna go through it I might as well replace.

[turboglenn]

Originally Posted by Auto RS T

Running the belt a full tooth off on the intake side and adjusting ignition timing after will almost max the cam sensors adjustment out like you described.

Set the crank at TDC and look at the cam marks again.

Exactly what i was going to suggest, that's how i knew i was off a tooth last time i did mine, i started it to time it and had to turn the CAS all the way in one direction to get the base timing right.

Originally Posted by 91tizzy

will do....will running the car like this pose a problem if it does happen to be a tooth off? I havn't the money right now to do a timing job cause if I am gonna go through it I might as well replace.

Usually when only off a tooth (depending on which cam) you will either get a ton of midrange and if you're still on the T-25 they tend to way over boost with the exhaust cam off a tooth to the retarded side.. Never had the intake cam be off so i don't know first hand how that would act.

And you're right, if you're going into the timing belt area you should replace the belt unless you know exactly how long ago it was done last, and are planning on taking it down again to replace at it's schedualled interval. I replace mine about every other time i'm in there just to be sure that it's a fresh belt that's going to give me at least 60k miles of trouble free operation, but i tend to be in there once or twice a year so mine usually never see over 20k before being replaced.