Distributor Timing Off – Symptoms, Diagnosing, and Ways to Fix

Distributor timing is the difference between when spark plugs fire and when pistons begin to move. If your distributor timing is off, your engine may refuse to start. Moreover, if it does start, it may run rough or stall.

Internal engine problems highlights

• Level of importance:High
• Commonreasons:Mileage, poor maintenance, improper use, physical damage
• DIY inspection:Possible but may be complicated
• DIY repair:Possible, in some cases
• Price for repair:$250 - $1,500
• Can you drive?Depends on the issue
• Ways to fix:Locate the problem, outline possible fixes, replace or repair the worn-out parts

Symptoms of Distributor Timing Off

If your distributor timing stops working correctly, the engine may stop working. The following are sure signs of incorrect distributor timing.

1) Engine Refuses to Start

For your engine to start, a sequence of events must occur. When you turn your ignition switch, the battery sends an electric current to the engine. The engine begins to spin to draw fuel and air. As fuel mixes with air, the electric current from the spark plugs burns the mixture to start the combustion process that moves your vehicle.

If the distributor timing is off, the spark plugs may not create the electric current required to start your engine at the appropriate time. However, checking other possible reasons your car refuses to ignite is good. Such reasons include a bad battery, a faulty fuel pump, and a problem with the ignition switch, among other causes.

2) Engine Misfiring

Engine misfiring occurs when combustion fails to occur in one of the cylinders. When a cylinder fails to fire properly, it creates a loss of power, which makes the vehicle experience a jerking motion. Engine misfiring occurs when starting your car, idling, or accelerating. This issue can damage or cause the engine to fail.

If your distributor timing is off due to a bad timing belt, you should fix the problem immediately. Distributor timing manages the valves, which regulate the combustion process's timing.

If the timing belt causes a problem with the distributor causing it to be off, engine valves can open and close inappropriately. This causes the cylinder to lack fuel when it needs it. You can fix this problem by purchasing a new timing belt.

3) Increased Fuel Consumption

As mentioned, distributor timing is the difference between when spark plugs fire and when pistons begin to move. If your ignition timing is off, it causes the combustion process to go off. During this process, your engine loses power and consumes more fuel to compensate.

If you notice you are visiting the gas station more often than usual, it is advisable you thoroughly inspect your distributor timing for faults. You can take your vehicle to a professional mechanic for diagnosis.

4) Engine Produces a Pinging Sound

If you hear a pinging or knocking sound when you try to ignite your vehicle, it indicates a pre-ignition is happening. This happens when fuel and air in the cylinder ignite too soon before the piston completes its compression stroke. This causes the igniting fuel mixture to push back against the piston as it tries to compress the fuel mixture.

When the distributor timing is too far advanced, it causes the fuel mixture to ignite too soon, causing a pre-ignition.

5) Overheating

If your distributor is too far advanced, it causes the fuel mixture in the combustion cycle ignites too soon. As a result, the amount of heat produced in the combustion process increases. The excessive heat causes the engine to overheat.

6) Reduced Engine Power

When your distributor timing is off, it can cause the ignition to be too far advanced or retarded. If you have a retarded ignition, your spark plugs will ignite the fuel mixture in the combustion cycle too late. This causes the fuel mixture to experience incomplete combustion.

The ignition occurs after the piston has started moving downwards in the cylinder. If the ignition process misses the power stroke of the combustion cycle, the engine loses power.

What Causes Distributor Timing to be off?

Distributor timing can be off for several reasons. For instance, you must reset the ignition timing if you recently repaired your engine. If you fail to adjust the distributor timing, you could experience problems such as bad ignition timing causing hard starts, poor fuel economy, overheating, and loss of power.

Internal engine damages, such as faulty pistons and valves, could also cause the distributor timing to be off. Another primary cause of distributor timing being off is a faulty timing belt. A timing belt that skips time can cause several problems in your vehicle, including ignition-timing errors.

What Causes a Timing Belt to Fail?

A failed timing belt is a problem you do not want to encounter on the road. This issue can be devastating, and it can happen without warning. When your timing belt fails, you will know by listening to its sound.

Several factors could lead to the failure of a timing belt, including worn teeth, tensile failure, and belt tracking. To avoid such problems with your timing belt, check and ensure the crankshaft pulley and shaft are parallel. They also have to be straight.

When diagnosing your timing belt, check whether the teeth on the belt align with those on the crank pulley. They should be even and aligned perfectly. You can also check the state of your timing belt by loosening the tensioner bolt and feeling the top of the belt with your finger.

If the belt is in perfect condition, you will feel the tightness and grip of the belt as you rotate the crank pulley. If you do not feel the tightness and grip, your timing belt has worn teeth and could slip.

Additionally, check the crank pulley for cracks caused by overheating. If the pulley has cracks or any other damage, it could cause the timing belt teeth to wear out faster than usual.      

Fixing Distributor Timing Off

To fix a problem, you have to be aware of the cause of the issue. Several factors could affect the ignition timing of your vehicle. Besides physical parts that may go bad, the following factors can also affect the ignition timing in your vehicle.

• The octane rating of your fuel
• Engine displacement
• The condition of your spark plugs
• Engine compression ratio
• The pressure inside your engine intake manifold

When you understand the factors affecting your distributor timing and causing it to be off, it will be easy for you or your mechanic to fix the problem and adjust the ignition timing accordingly.

Diagnosing Distributor Timing Off

If your engine uses a distributor to time ignition, diagnosing an incorrect ignition timing is simple. You require a timing light connected to the first cylinder spark plug cable and the battery terminals.

With the engine running, the ignition cable on the first cylinder pulses and causes the ignition timing light to flash. As this light flashes on the harmonic balancer, the light illuminates an arrow corresponding to a gauge on the timing cover.

The arrow allows you or the technician working on your vehicle to identify the current location of the timing and adjusts it if necessary.

You have to loosen the bolts holding down the distributor to adjust the distributor timing. The engine has to remain running, and the timing light is connected. Once the engine warms up, you can rotate the distributor gently to achieve the desired ignition timing in relation to the harmonic balancer. Once you have done that, you can fasten the distributor hold-down bolts back in their place.

What is the Cost of Adjusting Distributor Timing?

If there is nothing to buy and replace, ignition timing adjustment should cost between $50 and $70.

If you perform the adjustment yourself, which you can, the cost comes down to $0. Adjusting your distributor timing is simple. You only need a timing light, a wrench, and a helping hand. You can adjust your distributor timing at home if the crank pulley is properly aligned and the vacuum and mechanical advance checked.

The ignition cables also have to be in perfect condition.

Conclusion

Many things could go wrong if your distributor timing is off. These include excessive fuel consumption, engine overheating, and reduced power, among other problems. To ensure your vehicle does not suffer further damage, take your vehicle to a professional mechanic to determine the cause of the problem.

A minor issue, such as an incorrect adjustment, could be causing the problem. It could also be something as severe as a worn timing belt.