Date:         Sun, 10 Feb 2002 11:27:58 EST
Reply-To:     CMathis227@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Mathis <CMathis227@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: '85, 1.9 timing questions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Oh crap, I've been quoted.

The timing notch for the 1.9L is to the left of the TDC notch.  Bentley may
have flipped the photo.  Of course, if VW had put it to the right fewer
people would be bitchin' about their wimpy 1.9's.

You shouldn't be unplugging the temp sensor to adjust the timing.  You should
unplug the idle stabilizer and plug the connectors together.

I took my '85 in for the state inspection yesterday.  Decided to give it a
shot with the timing at 5 BTDC and reset it if it failed.  The idle at this
setting stays between 900 and 950 rpm.  Initially the "highly trained
inspector" was concerned with the high idle.  After some discussion he did
the sniff test without trying to reset.  Past test results in Ohio and Texas
have been surprisingly clean with the stock exhaust and everything set to
factory specs.  This time ( with the ceramic coated exhaust and advanced
timing) the results weren't quite as clean as before but they were well
within the guidelines -- good solid lower midrange.

The "highly trained inspector" proceeded to fill out the sticker entering
"Voltswagon" for make and "Van." for the model, then placed the sticker on
the windshield slightly crooked.

Now these results are in Texas -- land of poor spellers, cowboy boots and
giant trucks.  Folks in the People's Republic of California and other places
where these things are taken more seriously might not be able to get away
with goading the "highly trained inspector" into testing with a high idle.

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Wesy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'

In a message dated 2/9/02 8:58:56 PM, LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

<< Date:    Sat, 9 Feb 2002 12:30:21 -0500
From:    Robert Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Subject: Re: '85, 1.9 timing questions

Walter wrote=20
Hello Vanagoneers:


I timed my 85GL the other day based on the info the guy at the shop gave =
me.  He showed me a picture in his Bentley which is actually backwards =
from my GL.  The manual shows 5 degrees being to the right of TDC and on =
my pulley it's to the left.  Can anyone explain the difference?  Is it a =
typo?



I find it runs better at TDC than at 5 degrees.  I tried to set the =
timing mark even with the place where the crank case comes together.  =
However if I move it a little too much past that, the idle goes way up =
and the mark moves way to the left.  Can anyone tell me why this =
happens?



I read another post where someone mentioned TDC as being a better =
setting for a little extra power.  How will this effect things like, =
emission controls, etc, for those of us living in a state with Smog =
Controls and Smog tests?



By the way, I did remember to unplug the temp sensor before setting the =
timing.


Walter=20

the missing piece to the 5 degrees question is that the 2.1 engine has =
the timing set to 5 before top dead cente5r and the 1.9 is 5 after top =
dead center. as for the emissions I saw no differace underload you might =
see some at idle set it to stock when you go in for a sticker. The =
messages below are posts from the list a few weeks ago

 hope this helps=20

                          B. Bob  =20



Chuck Mathis wrote=20
>About a year ago, I measured carefully and added a notch to my pulley =
for
>what should be 5 degrees BTDC on my '85 with about 50K miles at the =
time.
 >>