unstable ignition timing at idle problem with distributor?

Suzukii · Post by **Suzukii** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 11:30 am

Hi guys,

datalogging shows a stable idle but ignition timing fluctuates 4 degrees erratically.

Motor stars to misfire at WOT above 4000rpm. Everything checks out alright. So i'm guessing the distributor might be the culprit, any suggestions?

Could it be noise interference or a faulty crank or cylinder sync sensor in the distributor?

Suzukii · Post by **Suzukii** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 11:45 am

Attached is a datalog showing the erratic ignition at idle.

For this test i've sent the ignition timing at 25degrees for the entire idling region but ignition timing fluctuates very badly.

Trigger problem or noise?

Post by **Hondata** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:34 am

It is because your battery voltage is changing from 13.2 to 14.3 volts at idle.

Suzukii · Post by **Suzukii** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:26 pm

Hondata wrote:It is because your battery voltage is changing from 13.2 to 14.3 volts at idle.

Fixed the voltage problem. Changed alternator but ignition is still fluctuating at idle. What could be the problem?

Post by **Hondata** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:57 am

It looks closed to normal. See ignition controlled idle in the help file. http://www.hondata.com/help/smanager/in ... meters.htm

It has not got much vacuum for the highish idle speed, so if you make tuning / mechanical changes which improve the idle quality then you'll find the ignition variation will go down. I'd suggest looking at cam timing first.

Suzukii · Post by **Suzukii** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:22 am

Hondata wrote:It looks closed to normal. See ignition controlled idle in the help file. http://www.hondata.com/help/smanager/in ... meters.htm

It has not got much vacuum for the highish idle speed, so if you make tuning / mechanical changes which improve the idle quality then you'll find the ignition variation will go down. I'd suggest looking at cam timing first.

This is a turbcharged B16a. Perhaps the high idle can be adjusted on the throttle body but if you look at the datalogs, the idling is pretty stable with very slight variation.

Moreover, the ignition map has been adjusted to the same numbers for the entire idling areas.

How could the ignition timing have so much variation on its own? I dont see why the camshaft timing would affect the way the ignition timing fluctuates so erratically.

Post by **Hondata** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:34 pm

The ignition is within normal range; but if you want to reduce the variation then see what will give you more vacuum at idle. If the compression is lower than stock then that would explain the lower idle vacuum, otherwise often the cam timing might not be correct.