Failed Ca. Smog possible timing issue
 

So my 87 22r pickup failed smog and was labeled a gross polluter. In November it was tested by the previous owner and passed. The test said the timing was 3 degrees btdc. Went in today because I was an idiot and let the smog cert expire before registering it. They said I passed but my timing was 9 degrees btdc outside of the legal limit apparently (Don't know why they should care).

They said they would put my timing back in spec and test again. This time my HC readout at 15 mph was 151 with a 143 max. My CO was 3.98 at 15mph with a 1.01 max and at 25mph it was 3.22 with a 1.28 max. They set my timing to 0 degrees.

Truck seems to still be running fine. Any Ideas what could have caused this???

My suspicion is that the smog tech guys forgot to plug the vacuum lines while checking my timing but I'm not sure.

What does the sticker under the hood give for timing? I know next to nothing about the 22r, but 0° sounds too little (too "retarded"). The sticker gives the timing you are required to have.

My sticker is mia... I just checked the timing myself and it shows I'm above 15 with the vacuum lines plugged into the diet. and around 8-9 with them capped. Think I just got screwed by smog place. They will have a visit in the morning...

Just went back and checked the timing this morning and now its reading 0 degrees.... Really weird...

The vacuum advanced is known to fail. It is located on the distributor. Those are not cheap. Usually chepaer to find a whole distributor with it already on. There is a way of checking it but I dont know what it is. Seems like one hose will have vaccuum at one time and the other will have vacuum at another time.

Interesting... maybe that's part of the problem.

Should be able to test the advance unit with a mity-vac pump.

did they jump the molex plug next to the fuse box and then pinch off the vacuum line?then hook up your timing light.mine timing was at 7 degrees but dhould have been 5 degrees