Base Timing and EST Problem
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Base Timing and EST Problem
I am having a problem trying to set the base timing on my vette. I swapped to the smaller distributor and have a remote coil. I verified the adapter harness is correct. With the distributor in the car and everything connected it runs. As soon as I shut it off and disconnect the EST bypass to set base timing it dies. I have tried everything. I cannot get it to stay running with the EST bypass disconnected. I tried starting it and disconnecting it and it dies. I don’t know what to try next.
I have a new distributor, MSD Coil, Accel Ignition Module in the distributor, and it runs and drives, but I don’t feel comfortable not knowing or being able to set the base timing.
The main reason for switching was I was getting a Code 43, which I got today before the distributor swap. For the Code 43 I have replaced the o2 and wire to the ECM, The ECM, and the MEMCAL. Although both the ECM and MEMCAL are ones I had I may take my known DEAD ECM and Get a new one along with a new MEMCAL. For the Code 43 I replaced everything that could be causing it.
Now I don’t know if that is causing me not to be able to set base timing, so I reset the ECM and tried again with no luck.
What else can I look at?
I have a new distributor, MSD Coil, Accel Ignition Module in the distributor, and it runs and drives, but I don’t feel comfortable not knowing or being able to set the base timing.
The main reason for switching was I was getting a Code 43, which I got today before the distributor swap. For the Code 43 I have replaced the o2 and wire to the ECM, The ECM, and the MEMCAL. Although both the ECM and MEMCAL are ones I had I may take my known DEAD ECM and Get a new one along with a new MEMCAL. For the Code 43 I replaced everything that could be causing it.
Now I don’t know if that is causing me not to be able to set base timing, so I reset the ECM and tried again with no luck.
What else can I look at?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 26
From: Winchester VA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Base Timing and EST Problem (-=Jeff=-)
I know that when the EST is disconnected, the timing drops way back (retards). Perhaps you do not have enough advance to begin with and when the EST is disconnected, timing becomes too retarded to run. You could try turning the distributor counter-clockwise a little at a time and see if the situation improves. This will advance timing in small increments.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
Re: Base Timing and EST Problem (-=Jeff=-)
Jeff, you may just be off enough to not start it. Did you try checking the timing with the wire hooked up? It should be advanced off the scale. If not the timing may be too slow to run with wire unhooked. :chevy
[Modified by Spankyellow, 4:29 PM 4/10/2004]
[Modified by Spankyellow, 4:29 PM 4/10/2004]
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Re: Base Timing and EST Problem (RainDelay)
I know that when the EST is disconnected, the timing drops way back (retards). Perhaps you do not have enough advance to begin with and when the EST is disconnected, timing becomes too retarded to run. You could try turning the distributor counter-clockwise a little at a time and see if the situation improves. This will advance timing in small increments.
Odd thing is I know I am real close and the Rotor was in almost the same place as when I pulled the old distributor out. The car idles and drives like it did before. But I just cannot set base timing.
I wonder if I cold have a bad ECM, I guess it is possible. Mayeb I will go get a new ECM and try that.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Re: Base Timing and EST Problem (Spankyellow)
Jeff, you you may just be off enough to start it. Did you try checking the timing with the wire hooked up? It should be advanced off the scale. If not the timing may be too slow to run with wire unhooked. :chevy
so I am wondering if the ECM is doing somethign to kill the motor. It acts as if when I pull the EST connector I lose spark. the Ignition Module is new so I think I can rule that out
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Re: Base Timing and EST Problem (zelement)
Are you still getting the code with the EST connected?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
Re: Base Timing and EST Problem (-=Jeff=-)
Ive never had a bad ecm so I cant advise on that. Seems odd that you would only have 8* at times and 20* at times. Did you drive ehough to warm it up? Get any pinging? I will check a datalog and see what my timing is hot/cold and get back. :chevy Just checked and found I have 26* at idle hot or cold. I should add that I have a ski_dwn_it chip but dont expect timing to be far from stock at idle. This tells me your timing is slow at any rate.
[Modified by Spankyellow, 4:43 PM 4/10/2004]
[Modified by Spankyellow, 4:45 PM 4/10/2004]
[Modified by Spankyellow, 4:46 PM 4/10/2004]
[Modified by Spankyellow, 4:43 PM 4/10/2004]
[Modified by Spankyellow, 4:45 PM 4/10/2004]
[Modified by Spankyellow, 4:46 PM 4/10/2004]
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Re: Base Timing and EST Problem (JAKE)
What module are you running in the small distributor?
Are you even getting spark to the plugs with the EST disconnected?
Jake
Are you even getting spark to the plugs with the EST disconnected?
Jake
From what I can tell, if I disconnect the EST bypass and try to start it, the car will fire then quit right away. so it acts like it has spark for 1 revolution, although I have not checked directly for spark yet.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Re: Base Timing and EST Problem (-=Jeff=-)
FIXED!!!!
I ended up taking a Junk 7727 ECM and went to Autozone and got Remanufactered one. I installed it with another memcal I had and it works fine. I was right on the money with my distributor when I installed it. I did not have to adjust it at all. I will be ordering a new memcal this week and Soldering an EEPROM inplace of stock so I will not neeed the Moate adapter any more
Thanks for all the help
I ended up taking a Junk 7727 ECM and went to Autozone and got Remanufactered one. I installed it with another memcal I had and it works fine. I was right on the money with my distributor when I installed it. I did not have to adjust it at all. I will be ordering a new memcal this week and Soldering an EEPROM inplace of stock so I will not neeed the Moate adapter any more
Thanks for all the help
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 3
From: Lafayette IN
Re: Base Timing and EST Problem (-=Jeff=-)
Edit:
:thumbs:
Heh...thought too long about my response...by the time I got it up, you had already fixed it ;)
[Modified by HighHopes85, 9:12 PM 4/10/2004]
:thumbs:
Heh...thought too long about my response...by the time I got it up, you had already fixed it ;)
[Modified by HighHopes85, 9:12 PM 4/10/2004]
