B6 in and running, but not quite right... help!

[skeeters_keeper]

OK heres the situation:
fully re-built B6, from 89 tracer, Went into my 91L.

Things went OK with a few hangups, and i just started the thing up last night. let it idle for 20min and then changed the oil, couldn't get my dad's timing light to work so i didn't set the timing at that time. today when he got home i asked if there was a trick, he said that i needed to back-probe the wire b/c the light wouldn't pick up the voltage from the outside of the wire.. OK. Get the light working and the white mark on the pully is almost 90* before the "T" mark. Start going through the manual and some research on here, find the ST1 plug and ground it. same. tried it grounded before starting and after starting, all the same. after more searching and nothing I used the timing light to check the marks on the cam gear, and it showed the #1 was firing at exactly TDC, so i moved it so that according to the cam its firing a little (5* or so) before TDC.


so the question is, why can i not get the timing marks to lign up?

Other information that may be usefull:
-The engine runs alright, but stubles a little bit when it gets juice and then let off right away. sometimes a little erratic idle.
-It idles what i think is a little high, but with no tach i can't say for sure.
-I re-used the sparkplugs from the B3 b/c they were working fine, but i may get new ones. -It has a new 02 sensor and PCV valve.
-I checked for vacuum leaks by spraying starter fluid around, none that i could find.
-There is very little back pressure b/c of exhaust leaks at the DP i havn't been able to fix yet, don't think that would cause these problems.
-i used the B3 crank and cam pully, but i have the B6 one and the marks are in the same place.
-I'm using the B6 ECU, injectors, intake, exhaust manifold.
-i have checked and re-checked the crank/cam timing marks, they are dead on.

There is an extra sensor in the pass side intake manifold that i don't know what it is. Its got two "pin" connectors facing up. Its not on the B3 and there are no conectors for it in the B3 harness so i've just been ignoring it (there are 2 conectors for it in the B6 injector harness). What is it? do i need to hook it up?


Well thats about all the info i've got for ya right now, i did take it for a drive tonight. took it from about 30-55mph and then let it coast back down around 10times, as part of the break-in procedure. seems to run well, accelerates fairly normal, but still not quite right and seems to idle too high. It didn't stall at all or backfire or anything though, but somtimes it does seem to "pop" out the exaust a little, like its a mini-backrire.... i'm guessing its detonation? which means the ignition timing is off, but i stil don't know how to get it just right. Also the brakes seemed rather squishy, maybe the brake booster hose is leaking? it does seem a little loose on the intake manifold but i clamped it down as tight as i could...



Any input is much appreciated!!!


PS: maybe this should be in the N/A engine swaps forum but since its more of a general ignition timing question i thought i'd put it here...

[monkeyracing]

That extra sensor in the intake manifold is nothing to worry about, as long as you've got the two near the thermostat housing hooked up.

As for the timing problem...I'm not trying to be a jerk, or assume you're stupid or anything, but is the timing light hooked up to the #1 spark plug wire? With all else being correct, this is one of the only things I can think of that might cause the mark to be off by 90 degrees.

[skeeters_keeper]

^^ lol yes, guess i should have mentioned that, its hooked up to the #1. i also hooked it to the #3 just to see if that would move it to the correct mark, but it didn't.

its not exactly 90* off i don't think, on the side of the pully oposite the timing scale there is another pointer that comes off the lower timing belt cover, the mark is dead on with that pointer when its firing at TDC according to the cam... but i can't find any referance to the other pointer anywhere so i don't know what that means?

[tbird302v8]

did you by chance disconnect the vacuum advance from the distributor?

[fastivaca]

its not exactly 90* off i don't think, on the side of the pully oposite the timing scale there is another pointer that comes off the lower timing belt cover, the mark is dead on with that pointer when its firing at TDC according to the cam... but i can't find any referance to the other pointer anywhere so i don't know what that means?

I've had the same issue and determined that the pointer you're referring to is what you're supposed to use as a timing mark. I'm guessing that the scale towards the front of the timing cover is a carry over from the older versions of the engine.

Hope that helps.