I have a 89 4x4 5speed pickup with the 22re and am trying to set the timing after replacing the cap/rotor/wires/plugs. If I set it at 5 BTDC it is very sluggish and stumbles bad when shifting gears. I am using a jumper between Te1 and E1 but it doesn't seem to make any difference of I have the jumper in or not as far as what the timing light is reading. I am set at a little more than 12 BTDC now and it seems to run ok. Any thoughts on what I'm missing here?

 

When the jumper is in correctly, you should have the CEL (Check Engine Light) flashing.

The jumper forces the engine to "base" timing, without corrections for temperature and the like. If the temperature happens to be just right, then there is no change, and there will be nothing to notice. So don't worry about that.

There should be a sticker under the hood with correct timing (which I believe is 5° BTDC for all 22re's). I have a 3vze, so that's all I can contribute.

 

TPS must be properly adjusted in order to time correctly.
If the TPS is telling the ECU that the throttle is opened even a little, the ECU advances the timing based on throttle position.
This timing advancement can be near 30' BTDC, and if you set the distributor to 5' BTDC based on this false reading, the true timing at speed will be severely retarded and the engine will not run strong.
Took me a while to figure this out on my '87 22RE.

 

I've never had a 22re NOT drop in timing and rpms when the jumper is in. Without the jumper in the timing should be around 12 which is why your truck runs ok when you set it there.

If there is no change while jumpered it means (in my experience) that your TPS is not set correctly. TPS isn't sending the idle signal to your ecu.

 

Thank you all for your help at least now I can understand what is going on a little more. This is my first Toyota as well as my first fuel injected experience so I am learning alot. I will look into the TPS and setting it correctly. Thanks again Mike