Setting the timing on the 8V

[HercGTI]

Decided today to tune the 8V, went through all the steps...

Aligned piston 1 to top dead centre.
Made sure the camshaft was on the mark... check!
Made sure the Dizzy rotor was pointed to the mark... Check!
Revved the car to 2250rpm.... check!
Timing light pointed at the flywheel... Check!
Loosened the dizzy bolt... Check!
Cant see the marker on the flywheel properly, I think its a small raised bump which is not close to the indicator arrow on the transmission case, its about 2cms away towards the firewall... Crap!
Tried turning the distributor to bring that bump on the flywheel closer to the indicator but the dizzy wont turn... crap!

Help! lol

[ryana89]

This guide may help,

HOW TO: Tune a MK2 8v digifant GTI - Edition 38 Forums

Your timing the engine to the large mark or 'v' (6' BTDC)
The smaller dent to the right is the TDC mark.




The dizzy may require 'force' to loosen it, mine certainly did...

[HercGTI]

I cant see those indentations......

Ill try again tomorrow

[Alex Mckenzie]

Question.
I’ve read when setting timing, you need to get car to normal operating temp, unplug green temp sensor, rev to 3k back to idle 3 times, set the timing at 2250 rpm, when you set it,is the green plug re connected or is the green plug still off when setting 6 degrees BTDC @ 2250. ?
What is the best way to confirm you green sensor is still working ?
When I unplug the sensor the revs normally go up about 100rpm ( if the radiator fan is going I don’t think the rpm’s change)
Questions, question, question

[HercGTI]

Question.
I’ve read when setting timing, you need to get car to normal operating temp, unplug green temp sensor, rev to 3k back to idle 3 times, set the timing at 2250 rpm, when you set it,is the green plug re connected or is the green plug still off when setting 6 degrees BTDC @ 2250. ?
What is the best way to confirm you green sensor is still working ?
When I unplug the sensor the revs normally go up about 100rpm ( if the radiator fan is going I don’t think the rpm’s change)
Questions, question, question

I thought it was the blue sensor?

[Alex Mckenzie]

Mine is green, looking in line though they are blue or green, no idea what the difference is apart from colour,

Ps my plug to go on to the sensor is also green. I've checked the ohms resistance ( cold = 2250, hot = 235 ) not sure if the blue needs to be the same....

[HercGTI]

Finally got the dizzy loose.... and how you ask? lol well in December when I first tried to set the timing, smart me couldnt get the dizzy loose, but in saying that, when I gave up on the task I forgot to tighten the bolt that holds the dizzy in, I have been driving around with it for 3 months, well its loose now. Set the timing, and my MK2 8V auto has really got some zip now. Also got the litres/100km down to 8.0 on highway and around 9.4 around town.

[Brumma]

Mine is green, looking in line though they are blue or green, no idea what the difference is apart from colour

This blue/green sensor question was in another thread recently. I think they found they're the same thing, just the blue turns green after a while with the heat of the engine.

EDIT: Just realised that was you with the colour question.

[Alex Mckenzie]

hi I just want to double check timing.
when I unplug the blue plug, rev 3k 3 times my timing is at 6 degrees at idle as i increase upto the 2250 sweet spot it dosn't alter much, maybe 1 degree or two. is this the norm or should i get variation. it seams to be ping happy at the moment and my mfa is reading a average of 10 mpg, although the other night after retuning again I was getting about 30mpg but first time i restarted again the mpg reading started to fall, by the time i covered 6klm i was down to 10mpg.

.. ps ive replaced all vacuum tubs blue temp sensor, o2 sensor, I think thats it,,