I was searching for some old paperwork yesterday.
I found the build sheet I had sent off for when working on it shortly after I first bought it.
Thought I had lost it.

Then, I was cleaning up the garage today looking for a grinding wheel.
I ran across an old "inductive timing light" that I haven't used for so long that I can't remember when I used it last.
It made me think about checking the ignition timing on my '98 Dak 318.
It has certainly never been done in the 15 years I've owned it.
Made me think it probably could use some touching up.
Although, the engine runs well enough.
I'd say any less than perfect running is probably due to the plugs that have been installed in it for many years now.
But then, I remembered something to the effect that the timing is not adjustable.
So, I pulled the shop manual out.
Sure enough, it says something to the effect that the timing is not to be messed with.

I'm thinking that I should probably throw my timing light away.
What's the story with the 2nd gen. Dak's ignition timing?

 

It's all electronically controlled. Computer reads crank position from the... crank position sensor, located behind the passenger side head. Its just a hall effect switch, that reads from the flexplate/flywheel. Computer calculates when to fire the coil with that, and engine RPM. The sensor under the distributor cap, still referred to as a the pickup coil..... tells the pcm which half of the firing order it is in, so it knows which injector to fire. The relationship between crank, and cam position, is know as fuel sync. It has a narrow window, about 14 degrees, in which the engine will run right. Moving the distributor changes injector timing, and does absolutely nothing with ignition timing.

 

Wow, it's simple, but it's also complicated.
Guess I'll have to stop worrying about the timing, ... forever, unless something in the timing gear train breaks.
Got a feeling life might get complicated then.

I may never need a timing light again.
When I get used to the idea, guess I'll need to throw it out.
Thanks, it is beginning to make sense to me now.

 

I still have my timing lite. It also works good as a spark tester.

 

I'll never throw away my timing light, even though I've not needed one for years. You never know what you'll buy in the future.

 

Well I still have a few vehicles as well as my son has, that still need the timing set with one of those.