I have a turbo wagon and there are no timing marks on the crankshaft pulley. Will it still have timing marks on the flywheel even though it is a turbo?

If it's an EA82T then the timing marks are on the flywheel. If it's an EA81T then there is a notch on the crank pully that get aligned to a plate with degree marks.

How should i go about finding the marks on the flywheel. There is a little bit of rust on it. Do I turn the motor over by hand to find them and if so how do i do that. thanks

Remove the plugs (label/number them) and you can turn it by hand, but a rachet or breaker bar is easier.

Once you find the mark, hold some steel wool against it and turn the engine back and forth to clean it up, then put some chalk or light colored crayon in the mark to make it easier to see.

Mitch I like to take just number one plug out (pass.side front) and put a plastic soda straw in the hole a short way (3 or so inches)

Put a 7/8" socket on a ratchet turn engine clockwise till the straw moves. Either stroke (comp or exhaust) will yield the timing marks in the window. 10, 0, 10, 20 BTDC

Another way is to pull the dist cap and turn the engine until the rotor points at number 1 or 2 spark plug wire tower.

Ed's idea on paint is way kewl (I use a yellow paint stick).

DO NOT forget to plug the green connectors together when you check/set the idle speed timing. (23 deg BTDC)

Then unplug when done, these are beside the ECU under the trim panel under the steering col.

Hope this helps

These green connectors your referred to? You mean the Check Engine Light wires? And would I have to connect the two green ones if I was adusting my timing on a non turbo?

 

 

Originally posted by Skip

DO NOT forget to plug the green connectors together when you check/set the idle speed timing. (23 deg BTDC)

Then unplug when done, these are beside the ECU under the trim panel under the steering col.

Hope this helps

plug them in for spfi and turbo. the old models have them in the kick panel, and 88 and up have them under the hood

 

plugging them in prevents the dist from advancing when setting the timing initially. the electronical sense of disconnecting the vac advance on a carm

er...

Sorry Donald, to my knowledge they never were in the kick panel.

The Spfi units have them under the hood in the area by the drivers side hood hinge

Turbo units have them to the left side of the ECU which is near the steering column,

not in the kick panel. But just above your knees while driving. The trim panel under the

steering column must be lowered.

Just wanted Mitch to be able to find them.

The manuals will also tell you to have the "idle switch" closed.

This switch is incorporated in the throttle position sensor (TPS) and will be closed

if the car is idling properly.

BTW these green connectors are called "test mode" connectors

The ones normally used for checking trouble codes are black on turbos

and white or black on the SPFI and are called "read memory" connectors.

Both found in the same general area as the "test mode" connectors

ok, i get it now

i was under the assumption

being my 87 turbo has them in the "kick panel" (under the steering column) and the 88 spfi has them under the hood

 

but no matter where thay are at, plug them in to set the timing

leave plugs in, turn by pulling on belt eather way, use permanent paint for desired setting, worked for me on ea81

Thanks for all the advice. I would do it today but i broke my clutch ankle snowboarding last night. It was a fun drive home. Looks like i'll be surfing the web today. Just a quick question about the idle, should i set it exactly to 700 or can it be anywhere from 600-800?

Mitch anywhere in that range is fine, the adj. screw sits vertical behind the throttle body.

Sorry to read about your appendage injury