hey guys new to the crew.. i have this wierd problame i been battling with for a couple weeks now.. its on a 89 toyota truck v6 3.0... the truck timing changes pretty much with ever key on or start up. i turn it on runs fine.. shut it off turn it back on . it will run poor like crazy give it gas to the floor and it will just back fire through intake wont rev up or nothing ... turn it off and turn it back on . it will start runing rich.. pinging and back firing thru exhuast.. CRAZY HU.. and i will just have to turn on and off till i lands in the right timing .. once it starts good it will run awesome til i have to turn it off again.. and it will either start pining runing rich or run poor to an extreme. any magicians out their who think they can help me solve this anoying problame. VERY MUCH APRICIATED BEFOREHAND TO EVRYONE . PLEAASEEEEEEE HELP

 

O yes if i check codes it shoots a 52 but with no check engine light . Maybe this will help.. I know it will move timing but just didnt think it wil do it both ways. Forward and retard

 

Welcome to YT!

Sounds like you know your way around your truck, but start with the basics. Make sure ground wires are good, check plug wires, cap/rotor, make sure all bases are covered. After that i'd be checking your throttle position sensor, afm, and other sensors. I haven't had a v6 in a while but hopefully someone more knowleagable than me on the threevee will chime in. Good luck!

 

Let me start with the obvious question: how do you KNOW the timing is changing? The symptoms you give can be caused by lots of things; you have to use a timing light to see the ignition timing.

As soon as the ECU loses touch with the knock sensor (the cause of code 52) it will retard the timing in a desperate attempt to save the engine. But this could easily be intermittent (the most common cause of a 52 is a bad pigtail, not the sensor itself), so it might come and go.

But one thing is for sure: if you get a code 52, the engine will run poorly, no matter what else you do. Replacing the pigtail requires removing the (lower) intake manifold, so it is not a small job. But you might as well get on it.

 

yes thank u for response.. yes i know the timming is changing cuase i have a timing light on it.. like i mentioned . i can turn it on and it will start up fine.. base timing 8 to 10 degrees.. shut it off turn it back on . my timing mark will be berly visible on the btdc side probably like at a 40 degree btdc. shut it off turn it back on . and it might start around 10 15 degres after top dead center. it randomly chooses where to start i guess. but it does give me a code 52 knock sensor. which i know it to retard timing just not that bad ... or advance timing. that is what has me troubled .

 

I'd look at the distributor & ECU. Sounds like it could very well be a short in the wiring harness.

 

i was also thinking distributor . but talked to previous owner. and told me they replaced the distribuitor. thinking that was the problame.. could it be the ecu? for it is the ecu that controles timing based on senor inputs correct?

 

bump
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Check the ignition signal wires, specificly the shielding might be damaged.

 

the ones going to distributor correct . ?
from ecu and ignitor

 

Yep, between dist and ecu.

 

Well guys ended up being the ecu. Problame solved thanks to all