[SDRmk2]

I have had a few engine problems that I haven’t been able to fix since she first started. Ill try to be as clear as I can be, kind of hard to explain.

One of the problems that I have is that I have not been able to set the engines timing at 10* its either too advanced or too retarded and I know its not a tooth problem since I’ve played around with the distributor ever since. I also rebuilt the engine on another mk2 I have and on the first try set everything on mark and reads 10*. The only difference is that that mk2 was 5mge automatic and this one is 6mge 5spd. The only thing I can think of is something wrong with my cams. I have also heard about a crankshaft pulley problem but I’m not to kin on this so if some one can explain that would be greatly appreciated.

Another problem is that I can’t get the car to idle at 650rpms. Let me explain because this is related to the timing issue. As stated before the engines timing is not at 10* it actually some where near 20*. (Side-note) Currently the engine is idling between 700 to 800rpms. If I adjust the idling lower it doesn’t seem to run right car feels wired. Let me leave this at that since I am starting to confuse my own self.

The last problem that I have is that my car between 2000 to 3000rpms when running seems to hesitate and or surge kind of like kicking. This occurs when I accelerate normally. If I punch it somewhat, one cant really notice the kicking what is noticed is not a smooth acceleration since when the engine reaches 3000rpms it kind of kicks in, Seems more like a lag of some kind. This problem affects my engines performance, if I shift gears and the RPMs fall under 3000 it lags till it reaches 3000rpms.

I don’t want every one to get the wrong impression that my car runs like $hit. The way the car is set: 20* at near 800rpms runs fine. In fact I drive it to work and school just about every time about a 120mile round trip. I know its hard to understand belief me its hard to explain wish there was an easier way to explain. Thanks 4 your time


^About a week ago I changed the distributor on the car thinking this might solve the problem but to no avail. One thing that I did notice was that the closet I could get the timing was at 15* but the car did not seem to be running right so I set it back to 20* and it runs much better.
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[GreyFalcon]

The harmonic balancer is famous for slipping. You won't see it on the car, but there is about 3/16 of rubber visible between the inner and outer part of the pulley on my '86. They can rotate and throw your timing mark off. I haven't looked at any other year, but they are most likely very similar. Mine went off the scale when I changed the alternator. When they slip, you can't time it with a light. I ended up closing my eyes and timing by ear, after screwing it up with a timing light, and got another 1.5 MPG average, so I think mine was close but off before it slipped again. I've got another one on another motor that I am going to bead blast, and lay in some silicon glue over the rubber. I doubt it will keep this one from slipping, but the factory part is about $400.00, so I figure it won't hurt or affect the balance, and it might help.

 

[SilverMk2]

It would be extremely easy for you to verify if the crank pulley has slipped. Just remove the #1 plug and stick a long extension or other rod thru the hole on top of the piston. Now turn the engine over the 0 mark on the pulley should correspond with the highest point of the extension. I don't really know if this qualifies as a common problem though. If you do need a pulley for a 6M you'll need to get one off a 6M.

The 1st thing I'd check if I were you is the TPS. I'd get some wire and short the check connector. If the light doesn't blink repeatedly you have a code. I'd then take it for a drive with the connector shorted and see if you get any new codes. On my old red '85 I'd only get a code when driving around and only when I let off the throttle. Turns out the TPS idle switch was worn out. This would cause the timing to jump around. I would get 10 15 20 5 for timing. Also make sure you time it with the engine @650 RPM. The ECU will advance the timing by a large amount with increased RPMs.

You'll definetly have to fix the timing for the CA smog check also.

 

[Junkie]

Have you actually pulled the timing cover,and double checked the timing marks.Sounds and acts like 1 tooth off on the belt.My .02

 

[SDRmk2]

Thanks everyone.

One thing I forgot to mention is that when checking the timing one has to do the check engine light bypass and it has to blink well mind does not blink.

I’ve also checked and double-checked the timing belt countless of times but ill check again.

I have been thinking of taking the car to a mechanic and having them tone it. My question is how much would they charge.

 

[allmotor85supra]

problem solved best of luck with the motor

 

[SDRmk2]

Thanks allmotor85supra for your help man. The car is running so good. The problem was what u said only thing was that the TPS needed to bee moved counter-clockwise. THe lag that the engine had between 2000 - 3000rpms is no longer there. THe muff no longer backfires or what ever the hell that noise was. THe car lanches smothly. I set the timing at 15* rather than 10* . What i realy want to do it dyno the car and i have never dyno'd a car before. So my question is where should i go to dyno my car and how much would it cost.
my mods are.
6mge(rebuilt including head)
thorley headers
2 1/2in catback piping high flow muff
rabidchimp intake and open air.

once again thanks allmotor85supra

 

[allmotor85supra]

rock on

 

[razorider]

have you tryed pulling the vaccume ports off the egr valve and plugged them? ( egr kicks in at 25k-30k ) and will cause engine surges at lower rpms exp if its old or hasent been cleaned propperly other than that have you check for vaccume leaks.. my 82 had a bad prob with both

 

[razorider]

oops sorry dident see the problem solved issue.. good luck with the rest of it im searching around for stuff to help mine out dont mind me

 

[Tanya]

Good to see people using search, even if bumping a 5 year old thread,

 

[razorider]

meh im blind was looking for answers to my probs in others lol

 

[jtwhitehead]

but it sounds just like the issues with donkey2s car and helps comfirm my theory, now to get the values for an 83 tps on a 6mge, so for five years it still helps alittle.

 

[donkey2]

Yeah now I just need to get back, and get to work on my car. Hooray for 3 weeks in San Antonio, and oh by the way there is a Hurricane headed your way, have fun. I'll stop by JT, and I'll bring the green book when I get back, and we can play with the TPS, I'm just weirded out by that fix because it ran my 5M just fine, but who knows.

 

[jtwhitehead]

it might be fine but it wont hurt to check it out, by the way there have been a lot of posts on this topic. ill reread them i read somewhere it could be a couple things from a bad wire in the icv to tps. its just that the damn thing should run great. oooooh how these girls give ustrouble and we still love them. and good luck in texas, we got 5.5 inches of rain yesterday.