Adjusting ignition timing on a 1998 Civic

[California98Civic]

Using the shop manual and some fairly useful youtube videos I adjusted the ignition timing, advancing two degrees from the stock 12 to 14 degrees BTDC. I jumped the ECU so it wouldn't automatically undo what I had just done. I noticed that my Ultra Gauge seemed to freeze at 12 degrees when I jumped the ECU. Adjusting the timing was a pain because this generation Civic seems to have an engine mount in about the worst possible place for reading the markers on the pulley. After I set the advance, I shut the motor off, reconnected the ECU, and started it again. At first it read 16 on the UG timing advance indicator. Then it returned to 12 and idled there. I then tightened the distributor again and let it idle. It sat at 12/11.5/12.5. Has the UG been fooled and it now thinks 16 is 12? Or has the ECU figured it out and undone my adjustment?

[some_other_dave]

One good way to confirm: Put your timing light back on it.

-soD

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by some_other_dave

One good way to confirm: Put your timing light back on it.

-soD

Thanks. That simple command put me back to it. I had it right. The UG just does not register the change. It treats the new timing as if it were stock timing for purposes of the readout. But the timing has changed 2-4*

I will post a write up special for the ecomodding novice, like myself, in a short bit, with pics.