Can you tell if timing belt is off with timing light?

[Pyrice4]

If I hook up my timing light and I cannot get it to 5 degrees advanced no matter how much i turn the CAS, Does that mean my belt needs readjustment? OR, can I get to 5 degrees advanced and still have the timing belt be off 1 or more teeth?

 

[TunaTalon]

The timing light reads ignition timing relative to the crank.
The timing belt controls valve timing relative to the crank.
One has no effect or control on the other.

 

[Pyrice4]

I am aware that they are independent of eachother. Im asking if you can tell if your timing belt is off, even by just 1 or 2 teeth, just by trying to set the base timing?

 

[Gstclipse69]

To see if the timing is off just pull the upper timing cover off and look at the cam gears. The two dowels pins should be pointing straight up at tdc and the marks on the cam gears should line up with one another horizontally. Check this out and that will tell you if the timing is off, then go from there.

 

[Pyrice4]

I know how to set timing. Dowel pins are at 12:00, marks all line up. Assuming crank is lined up, If i cannot get to +5 advanced by moving the CAS, does that mean my timing belt is off by like a tooth?

 

[redtsi252]

Yea...what he said ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Are you sure you are try to get to to 5* BTDC and not 5* ATDC. Just a thought. But the 2 aren't relevant. Did you change heads or CAS recently? Are you adjusting the timing right?
Engine Timing

 

[My1GLaser]

IIRC, every cam tooth is 15* crank rotation. So if your Intake cam is off a tooth and it controls the CAS then I say yes it can affect ignition timing. Just like installing adjustable cam gears and degreeing them will affect your CAS position and it will need moved to get the proper 5* base timing. I would say that you have to be off more than 1 tooth to not see your timing mark on the crank pulley IMO. If everything is stock on your motor (cams/gears) and nothing has been decked you can be 2-3 teeth off and not hit a piston. So it is possible.

 

[rrussell]

IIRC, every cam tooth is 15* crank rotation. So if your Intake cam is off a tooth and it controls the CAS then I say yes it can affect ignition timing. Just like installing adjustable cam gears and degreeing them will affect your CAS position and it will need moved to get the proper 5* base timing. I would say that you have to be off more than 1 tooth to not see your timing mark on the crank pulley IMO. If everything is stock on your motor (cams/gears) and nothing has been decked you can be 2-3 teeth off and not hit a piston. So it is possible.

This is what was wrong on my engine. ^^^

I couldn't get a correct reading on the timing light no matter what I did.

I even check it with a dial indicator (through the spark plug hole)on number one piston to find TDC and to make sure the timing cover wasn't off. You could use a long screwdriver for that matter. Everything lined up except the intake gear. I can't remember which way the intake was off but I think it was retarded on tooth.

So I moved the belt one tooth and the car ran better and now I can use a timing light.

 

[jspec]

I was looking to verify the base timing on my car. I have a 2g so I cannot adjust the base timing. Do I just look at the dowel pins on the cam gears or should I get a timing light as the vfaq states?