1st Gen Dakota Tech 1987 - 1996 Dodge Dakota Tech - The ultimate forum for technical help on the 1st Gen Dakota.

318 Timing Question?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 02-04-2010, 03:05 PM
MustangMabry's Avatar
MustangMabry
MustangMabry is offline
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Savannah, Tenn.
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Exclamation 318 Timing Question?

What the base timing for 1992 318 magnum engine???
 
  #2  
Old 02-04-2010, 04:26 PM
brihno360's Avatar
brihno360
brihno360 is offline
Amateur
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

if you are running the stock fuel injection you can't adjust the timing by rotating the distributor. The timing is set by the on board computer. I may be wrong bout this but that's according to my Haynes manual.

If you have an older system with 9:1 compression or less then you can set initial timing for maybe 6 or 7 degrees advanced and it shouldn't detonate.
 
  #3  
Old 02-04-2010, 06:35 PM
95_318SLT's Avatar
95_318SLT
95_318SLT is offline
Champion
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Apex, NC
Posts: 4,842
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

There is no adjusting the timing on the magnum engines. Like said above, it is all controlled by the computer and rotating the distributor does nothing.
 
  #4  
Old 02-04-2010, 07:22 PM
Crazy4x4RT's Avatar
Crazy4x4RT
Crazy4x4RT is offline
Hall Of Fame
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NM
Posts: 10,926
Received 16 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

The only thing you want to do with the distributer is make sure the engine is TDC on #1 and the rotor is directly pointing to the #1 cly plug wire. And make sure all the plug wires are in the correct place for the firring order. If you need the firing order or the Cly positions look at the intake manifold it is casted on it.
 
The following users liked this post:
RWEJR (10-05-2023)
  #5  
Old 02-05-2010, 10:04 AM
MustangMabry's Avatar
MustangMabry
MustangMabry is offline
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Savannah, Tenn.
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Alrighty, thanks.
 
  #6  
Old 02-05-2010, 03:45 PM
v33761's Avatar
v33761
v33761 is offline
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Clearwater. Florida
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Dodge Service Bulletin on Timing

**THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO 1992 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.9L OR 5.2L MPI ENGINES AND 1993 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.9L, 5.2L OR 5.9L MPI ENGINES.**
MODELS:
1992--1993**
(AB) Ram Van/Wagon
(AD) Ram Pickup/Ramcharger
(AN) Dakota
**1993**
(ZJ) Grand Cherokee

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
Vehicles may exhibit surging, light bucking, or intermittent engine misfiring. This will most likely occur when the vehicle is at operating temperature, and under a light load at approximately 2000 RPM. This condition may be caused by a mis-indexed distributor. The following procedure is an alternative to the indexing procedure outlined in the service manual.
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
This bulletin outlines an alternative distributor indexing procedure.
1.
Connect a voltmeter to the distributor sensor connector by removing the end seal and carefully back probing the connector. Connect the positive lead to the sensor output pin (pin 3, either a tan wire with a yellow tracer or a gray wire, depending on vehicle application). Connect the negative lead to the sensor ground pin (pin 2, a black wire with a light blue tracer).
2.
Rotate the engine clockwise as viewed from the front, until the number one piston is at Top Dead Center (TDC) of the compression stroke. The timing mark on the vibration damper should line up with the zero degree (TDC) mark on the timing chain case cover.
3.
Continue to rotate the engine slowly clockwise until the V6 or V8 mark (depending on engine type) lines up with the zero degree (TDC) mark on the timing chain case cover. The V8 mark is 17.5°after TDC and the V6 mark is 147°after TDC.

NOTE:
DO NOT ROTATE THE ENGINE COUNTER CLOCKWISE. IF THE ENGINE IS ROTATED BEYOND THE MARK, RETURN TO STEP 2 AND REPEAT THE PROCEDURE.

4.
Loosen the distributor clamp bolt.
5.
With the ignition switch in the ON position, rotate the distributor slightly in either direction until the voltmeter switches between the sensor transition point of 0 and 5 volts.
6.
Adjust the distributor as close as possible to either side of this transition point and tighten the distributor clamp bolt to 170-230 in.lbs. (19-26 N-m).

POLICY:
Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.

TIME ALLOWANCE:
Labor Operation No. 08-15-02-90AD, AN ........ 0.3 Hrs. AB ........... 0.4 Hrs.FAILURE CODE:
51 - Improperly Installed
 
  #7  
Old 02-05-2010, 07:47 PM
Az93DKota's Avatar
Az93DKota
Az93DKota is offline
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tombstone,Az
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Good trick is get an old cap and snap off the #1 cyl nipple. set engine on #1TDC and look at the cap to see if its in the #1 position on the distributor.
 
  #8  
Old 02-06-2019, 10:23 PM
matt hudson's Avatar
matt hudson
matt hudson is offline
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Ok I'm not trying to say you're wrong but

[QUOTE=brihno360;1982889]if you are running the stock fuel injection you can't adjust the timing by rotating the distributor. The timing is set by the on board computer. I may be wrong bout this but that's according to my Haynes manual.

If you have an older system with 9:1 compression or less then you can set initial timing for maybe 6 or 7 degrees advanced and it shouldn't detonate.

I set my 92 Dodge b250 5.2L according to this blog trying to rid my van of back firing. The procedure that supercedes the repair manuals took my van that I just 2000 miles ago rebuilt the engine in from running ok with loud back firing sometimes to making it die at red lights, not warming up without restarts, valves chattering, running hotter than usual and still back firing. The remedy was I turned the distributor to where at top dead center to where the rotor is pointing at the 1 on distributor cap. The back probing the cam sensor connector till you get 5 volts made my vehicle run like crap. It's running great now with a twist of the distributor so I wouldn't say that messing with the distributor doesn't adjust the timing because it will definitely stop the engine if you turn it 90 degrees or more maybe even less.
​​​​
 
  #9  
Old 02-06-2019, 10:33 PM
matt hudson's Avatar
matt hudson
matt hudson is offline
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Not true

Originally Posted by 95_318SLT
There is no adjusting the timing on the magnum engines. Like said above, it is all controlled by the computer and rotating the distributor does nothing.
ok then do I have a 318 magnum or something else in my 92 Dodge B250 van?

​​​
 



Quick Reply: 318 Timing Question?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:30 AM.