So I just rebuilt my 93 3VZE and and got her started and the timing is really bad.

I checked the timing according to the FSM, and the closest i can get the timing mark to 10 degrees is an inch to the left of 15(with the distributor all the way turned to compensate). Otherwise, with the distributor the other way, the timing mark is around the top of the pulley.

She sounds good but running real hot. Also the idle is around 1100 when im doing the timing, even when E1 and TE1 (in diagnostics terminal access) are crossed.

The only thing i can think of is to offset the distributor gear when i install it to compensate....

Has this happened to anyone else? Any suggestions?

 

Your distributor is a gear tooth off.

 

Yeah thats what i figured, its just that ive tried twice to put the sucker in straight. its hard to tell if its in right until its all hooked up. hope i didnt screw myself by taking it around the block on that timing, and with the new rings not set yet.

 

Did you mean the gear tooth on the cam gear or the rotor gear inside the distributor?

I hope you mean the cam gear i just want to clarify.

 

Colton, I've been dealing with a similar problem on my '87 22RE. I had her apart today and definitely confirmed that both the timing gear and the distributor were correct. I did a bit more troubleshooting and found 1) a small vacuum leak, and 2) my throttle position sensor (TPS) was way out of adjustment. Fixing those two things seems to have brought the timing back into spec, but I'm not certain it's truly resolved - I had to go to work before I could finish.

Your high idle definitely seems like a vacuum leak. It's possible that your distributor is off a tooth, but it might be the TPS instead. Maybe unplug the TPS and see how much that affects the timing? If it is the TPS, you might be able to adjust it rather than replacing it. Good luck.

 

The helical gear on the end of the distributor (which gear mates with a helical gear machined onto the camshaft) has 13 teeth, so if you are off one tooth you will be off about 28 degrees. If you're off by "about" that much it is not the TPS. If you are off 10 degrees or so it is not the helical gear.

There is a mark on the distributor housing to match to a mark on the helical gear in order to get it to align correctly, but it is still easy to get it wrong. Probably the best way to fix it now is to carefully pull out the distributor, turn the gear exactly one tooth in the correct direction, then carefully slide it back in.

 

^^What he said~

 

Alright thanks alot guys, im going to mess around with it in the morning I just needed to confirm it wasnt a more intensive fix. And ill have to check the TPS too about that idle, good call

 

Your timing will be affected by that high idle. Fix your high idle first! It should idle at 800 or so when warm.

 

^ Great advice! I reinstalled that distributor like 10 times before i read that post. Important to know lol

 

did your match up your pulley under the timimg cover and put it on tdc? that sounds like your issue, i had the same problem when i was doing my knock sensor.