Ignition
Timing
Ignition
timing can describe two different processes.
1. The crank angle relative to top dead-center at which a
spark passes in a spark-ignition engine.
2. The process of setting the timing that a spark will occur
relative to piston position and crankshaft angular velocity.
The timing of the spark is critical. It is normally timed
to occur just before the piston reaches the top of the cylinder on the compression stroke. If it arrived too
early, it results in a problem called "pinking," which can
lead to engine damage, and if too late it causes loss of power
and overheating.
In modern cars the timing is handled by electronic ignition systems which have offer
little scope for amateur maintenance. Diagnosing faults requires
special equipment and is usually best left to the professional.
In the case of older cars with mechanical ignition systems it is relatively easy to adjust
the timing with the help of a timing light and a wrench to
loose the distributor. When a mark on the rotating crankshaft
pulley aligns with a mark on the stationary engine block, the ignition is in time. Sometimes,
to achieve improved engine performance, the timing may be
advanced.
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