I just purchased an 87 4runner with an 22R-E (my second truck!) and have PO receipts for a completely reconditioned engine, which included a new timing chain, pistons, rings etc...

I decided to check the timing with my timing light.

The crank pulley mark was set to 0 degrees TDC and I checked to make sure the rotor pointed to about 11 '0 clock (looking from the driver's side), which it did. After that, I connected my timing light to the #1 wire and battery and checked for a reading with E-T1 shorted. It was so far off that it didn't show up until the cap was moved around. I was able to rotate the distributor cap to get 12 degrees with E-T1 shorted. However, the cap would not rotate any further in its slot to get the 5 degrees the FSM recommended.

Any suggestions?

Troy

 

sure you've got the right jumpers shorted? i think the timing is 12* unshorted. make sure you're getting good contact!

if you do have things right, get the engine back to TDC on the #1 compression stroke(rotor pointing at #1 on the cap) and pull it out and try and restab the timing.

 

Check your TPS idel setting, if that is not set right, the timing jumper will do nothing and 12 BTDC unjumpered = 5 BTDC jumpered:

- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/TPS/index.shtml

 

I'll clean out the terminals with electronic cleaner and retry. Also, how would I know if it's on the compression stroke? Would I need to pop the valve cover ?

Troy

 

hmmm... good point. I'll check the TPS.

Troy

 

Finger over the spark plug hole will tell you #1 is on the compression stroke as you turn the crank around.

 

Thanks Roger.

Troy

 

Problem fixed! It was a misadjusted TPS and dirty terminals in the diagnostic cluster. After adjusting the TPS and cleaning up the contacts, I was able to adjust the cap to 5 degrees BTDC with T-E1 shorted. After the wire used to short T-E1 was removed, the timing light read 12 degrees BTDC. Can't get any better than that!!

Big thank you goes out to both Roger and Kyle for nailing this one.

Troy