So i put a new dizzy on my 2000 si and am now trying to get the timing right. When I start the car it seems fine but after about a minute the idle seems to go up and down, until the car finally dies. What should I do? I have a timing light and I don't think the engine is warm enough to get an accurate reading. Should I maybe advance or retard the timing a little for a better idle once it warms up? That way I should be able to get a more accurate reading and better tune the timing. I'd appreciate any help so I don't turn this into an all day project. THANKS

 

short SCS, also when it is giong up and down is it like a rolling up and down idle?

 

whats scs? it will kinda bog down and try to recover and keep doing it until it finally dies. not really a smooth roll up and down.

 

As for the distributor setting, just center it until you can check the timing.
Shorting the service connector like Civic2Scooby suggested will keep the ECU from messing with the timing, might help your issue and is necessary anyway for when you adjust and set the timing with the dist. It's what you jump to read any stored codes off the CEL, you need to jump/short it in the same way when you adjust and set the ignition timing.

I'd also reset the ECU just in case before you give it another try.

 

yeah i had the scs jumped. i'm almost leaning towards a bad plug wire. the car ran fine before i did this project so i'm stumped. my buddy is bringing over his distributor and wires. were gonna try swapping some things to find the culprit. thanks fo the input.