Timing Adjustment

Is it worth buying a timing light and handheld tach to adjust the idle speed and timing after replacing ignition components like the Haynes manual recommends? The truck seemed to be running really well before the ECM died so if it's off it couldn't be by much.

That's more of a personal need or an expense issue. Do you plan to maintain the vehicle for a long time? I owned those tools before I got my B2200. Since my B2200 is an older model it comes in handy as well as other family members that need a quick check on their cars.

I'm not sure if a auto store rents out tools in your area. If you want to make sure the engine is running like it should then you'll need those tools. If your engine is 100% OEM parts then the ECM/ECU needs fixing or replacing to run like before it failed. Emission testing of your vehicle is a must in your area?

yeah, I live in california and they screw us on emissions. In Arizona it was a small part of the registration fee and the DMV had dedicated emissions test facilities that were set up in a drive thru layout with multiple lanes so it was pretty quick and you didn't even get out of the car. Here they actually inspect your engine and if there's duct tape on your stock cold air intake hose they'll fail you for violating the law against "engine modifications." I also got scolded for having put foil tape over some wiring to protect it after the original plastic conduit and vinyl tape rotted off. There's a lot of things I love about California but this is definitely one of the things I hate.

I checked into getting a loaner timing light but O'reilly auto here doesn't loan those. I guess they're cheap enough that the store just wants me to buy it. I still can't decide if I should buy one. I think I do need it to get the best performance from the engine but at the same time I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to keep this truck running and I think I remember someone telling me that timing lights aren't necessary with newer vehicles. Is that true?

Where in California are you?

I'm in Fremont but originally from SoCal near Anaheim. I have never been FULLY inspected for smog I even pass with pacesetter headers in both locations, all I have to change is my cold air intake/tube back to stock and take it in.

The foil tape thing is a little extreme I have a lot of my own wiring under the hood neatly wrapped and secured and never had an issue with this.

Maybe I just know how to pick my smog shops and how to spot an inexperienced smog tech that I can pull the sheet over their eyes.

If the 2600i is similar to my EFI B2200 then you have to ground a green connector to set the base timing. What that does is disables the electronic ignition advance so you can set the timing W/O the advance active.

Good luck with everything and make sure you take some pics of your ECM repairs to share them here.

EDIT: the green connector you have to ground is in the engine bay on the passenger side wheel well up near the firewall. I would use a timing light though.

cosmicsunset if the new vehicle has no spark plug cable from a distributor then you can't clip the inductive pick up clamp of the timing light to check your timing. My other truck a 2003 Tacoma Quad Cab is computer controlled timing. If I'm not mistaken 3 or 4 wires are attached to a spark module of the spark plug boot. There is a test cable that is placed between the spark plug and the boot that either has a light to indicate spark presence or to connect the timing light inductive pickup clamp and check your timing. I've never tried to do that but it's done on new vehicles. Nowadays these vehicles have cam and crankshaft sensors that are monitored/controlled by the ECM. Out here you are a victim of the shops that charge a minimum $80 to run a diagnostic and tell you what the codes mean and what parts need cleaning or replacing, more $$$. So I bought an OBD II code reader that to me is a guide to check what might be the problem.

Sorry for the long story...but keep us updated on your truck progress.

Spacemonkee:
I live in a smaller town called Vacaville. It's between Sacramento and San Francisco. I've moved a lot in the past few years and I think this time I just ended up going to a shop that works strictly by the book. I know I've passed smog check at least twice before with the wiring like that.

Seems like the law should prohibit modifications that increase performance above stock, not just a blanket prohibition on all "mods" because it's ridiculous not to be able to repair a damaged part. I can't think of how anyone would benefit from me not being allowed to wrap duct tape around my air hose.

Thanks for the tips on timing. I believe the timing procedure in my haynes manual was fairly simple but I want to read it a couple more times right before I try it, and I'll probably re-read your post too.

Since i went to the junkyard yesterday I have two ECMs with burst capacitors here now and some replacement capacitors in the mail. Hopefully I can manage to get at least one working. I'll try to remember to take pics between the various steps of the repair process I'm attempting so you guys can see how well it works (or doesn't work) and how to fix this issue if you ever run into it. Replacing the cap is a cinch compared to cleaning all the leaked electrolyte off the board. But I have to get it really clean or the corrosion will just continue.

Try a different smog shop. I noticed for me the last one I went to the guy was very critical on my 03 civic si. Buy that was a one man shop east of sacramento. I there is any dispute you can make an appointment with the bureau of automotive repair referee (BAR). I have gone before because a smog shop was saying a legal intake wasn't legal. I also had to go years ago for an emission violation fix it ticket. Both times were with civics.

You could check autozone for renting a timing light. Harbor freight sells one for $30. They are in Fairfield. Summitracing.com sells a cheap one for $18

Good luck with your truck!

I'm getting ready to smog my truck. Fingers crossed.

I know Vacaville, my buddy down here is from Dixon and we have driven through Vacaville to visit his family a few times.

What I think the SMOG laws here are any modification that would adversely effect the sniffer readings (even if some mods help with cleaner emissions) thanks California tampering with wiring/tubing etc, is part of the "safety inspection" portion of the test, that rarely gets checked other than obvious "repairs" like duct tape or foil tape in your case.

I agree some shops are more strict than others, but when you find one that is lenient stick to it! I have gone to the same guy for all my cars in the last 3 or 4 years and he sets me up with some major discounts for always coming back to him and I'm in and out in 15 min.

Timing is very simple, personally I own a timing light just in case but I think you can rent them from the parts store. It takes 10 min to do so you can bring a piece of wire to ground the connector and your sockets/ wrenches (B2200 is a 12mm bolt for the dizzy unsure of B2600i) and do it right there in the parking lot.

Good luck on the ECM repair!

I love harbor freight. Looks like they have a standard light without advance for $20. My engine has a degree scale so I don't think I need to spend the extra $10 for an advance adjustment.

$20 is no biggie but my service manual says something that has me a little confused and makes me think I'll need more than just a timing light. In the timing setting procedure, step 5 says "Connect a tachometer according to the manufacturer's instructions and make sure the idle speed is correct."

Are they talking about a handheld tachometer tool? Is this only for models that don't have a tach? Mine does but I'm wondering if maybe it's not considered accurate or if the manual's author thought it would be too much trouble to walk from the front of the car to the driver's window in order to read the tach.

O'reilly doesn't loan timing lights. I didn't ask at Autozone but for $20 at harbor freight I'll just buy it, as long as I don't need some crazy handheld tachometer to go with it.

That sounds like good advice about shops. I'm moving in a couple months so it doesn't really matter now but in two years when I do this again maybe I'll ask around and find out which shops are most reasonable before I pick one.

The ECM capacitors I ordered are supposed to get here on October 25th so hopefully I'll have some good news to post by the end of the weekend.

thanks!