95 Civic Dx - need help replacing distributor rotor and adjusting timing.
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Joined: May 2002
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95 Civic Dx - need help replacing distributor rotor and adjusting timing.
My car is getting shitty mileage, 17 mpg city, 24 highway, so I did basic tune up. Well, more than basic;
changed plugs, set gaps to 1.1
changed wires
changed fuel filter
changed air filter
changed pcv
changed o2 sensor
changed distributor cap
Now, im still getting the same shitty mileage. My two last resorts are retarding timing (engine pings with regular fuel) and replacing distributor rotor. I can't figure out how to remove the old rotor and have no idea how to adjust timing, any of you wanna give me some instructions?
changed plugs, set gaps to 1.1
changed wires
changed fuel filter
changed air filter
changed pcv
changed o2 sensor
changed distributor cap
Now, im still getting the same shitty mileage. My two last resorts are retarding timing (engine pings with regular fuel) and replacing distributor rotor. I can't figure out how to remove the old rotor and have no idea how to adjust timing, any of you wanna give me some instructions?
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,994
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You'll need a timing light. They come with instructions, but it goes something like this...
Get the engine warmed up properly, like after you've just come back from driving around. I think your car has a service connector buried somewhere above your passenger's right foot. You have to short the 2 wires together with something like a paper clip. I hope someone comes up with the details for your car...
Clip the power leads onto the battery posts. Clamp the inductive lead around your #1 spark plug wire. Loosen the mounting bolts for the distributor. Start the engine.
Shine the timing light onto the crank pulley, it will freeze it's rotation so you can look for the little notches cut into the pulley. Twist the distributor so the red(?) one lines up with the pointer on the timing cover. Tighten the distributor & check it again.
Get the engine warmed up properly, like after you've just come back from driving around. I think your car has a service connector buried somewhere above your passenger's right foot. You have to short the 2 wires together with something like a paper clip. I hope someone comes up with the details for your car...
Clip the power leads onto the battery posts. Clamp the inductive lead around your #1 spark plug wire. Loosen the mounting bolts for the distributor. Start the engine.
Shine the timing light onto the crank pulley, it will freeze it's rotation so you can look for the little notches cut into the pulley. Twist the distributor so the red(?) one lines up with the pointer on the timing cover. Tighten the distributor & check it again.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Salem, OR
The distributor rotor has a philips screw in it. Turn the motor over via the crank shaft counter clockwise until you see the screw. The best access to the screw is kind of up toward the back of the car. If this is the first time it is being replaced be advised that it is tight from the factory so be careful don't strip it out. 
As for timing. The service pin connector is under the dash to the right side of the glove box. The wire colors are brown/black and green. Jump the two wires togther and the check engine light should come on. Use a timing light and check timing on the crank shaft pully against the timing belt cover. Ignition timing is 16 degrees before top dead center (the red mark on the crank shaft pulley) +/- 2 degress @ 750 RPM +/- 50 rpm (idle). All electric items should be off, like A/C, lights, radio. If the timing is off loosen the three bolts on the distributor and turn the distributor forward to retard and back to advance the timing so the red mark lines up with the indicator on the timing belt cover. Once the marks are lined up tighten the dist, check timing once more to make sure it didn't move when you tightened the dist. Remove timing light and jumper wire. You should be set.
As for timing. The service pin connector is under the dash to the right side of the glove box. The wire colors are brown/black and green. Jump the two wires togther and the check engine light should come on. Use a timing light and check timing on the crank shaft pully against the timing belt cover. Ignition timing is 16 degrees before top dead center (the red mark on the crank shaft pulley) +/- 2 degress @ 750 RPM +/- 50 rpm (idle). All electric items should be off, like A/C, lights, radio. If the timing is off loosen the three bolts on the distributor and turn the distributor forward to retard and back to advance the timing so the red mark lines up with the indicator on the timing belt cover. Once the marks are lined up tighten the dist, check timing once more to make sure it didn't move when you tightened the dist. Remove timing light and jumper wire. You should be set.