Setting Distributor timing on a 1.8 ABS Engine mk3 golf?

**BugsyMalone666** · 10-09-2007,10:29 PM

I been having a bit of an issue with the way my golfs been set up, when i got my golf it ran like a dream after 6 months I did the cambelt and everything thats required for a 60k service for piece of mind. In a slight moment of absense while the cam and crank pulleys were aligned the idler which runs the dizzy became 2 teeth out ( i think ) i noticed the car running like a heap.

so i get out my Haynes manual, which says line the crank and cam marks to there points, then with the Dizzy cap off line the centre of the rotor arm up with a mark on the distributor body. this done it runs mildly better but still lacks power, so i then have another look at the book which says the timing is 4-8 deg BTDC and is non adjustable (which doesnt make sense as you can turn the dizzy!) so i adjust the timing with a strobe gun against the crank mark so its sparking at approx 4deg BTDC and the cars a million times better.

Two Years Pass...

Still unhappy with the fuel economy(used to be high 30s and as high as 42mpg but only manage to get about 35mpg max even taking it steady) and the cam belt tensioner sounding a little noisy, i decided on the 2 year service to do the cambelt/tensioner again and take alot more time doing it and making sure the marks all line up properly, this done, i set the dizzy so the rotor arm dead centre with the mark on the dizzy body. Once again it runs like its lacking power, adjusted it again with the strobe gun to about 4-6 deg BTDC on the crank mark, runs great, power through the whole rev range although i havent tested the MPG yet.

So the question is, exactly how do you time up the dizzy? am i actually doing it right? or could there be something wrong with the car?

**Crasher** · 10-09-2007,10:31 PM

You have to put the ECU in basic adjustment mode using something like VAG-COM.

**BugsyMalone666** · 10-09-2007,11:06 PM

Guy at works got an OBDII cable for VAG-COM which hes supposed to bringing in tomorow and i think i had the software here for it.

question is exactly what do i do?

how does putting it in basic adjustment mode help set it up?

just want to try and get as many answers as possible before i go killing the car.

Cheers

**Crasher** · 11-09-2007,11:21 AM

Remove the 27-mm hex green plastic plug from the gearbox. Turn the engine over by hand (with the ignition OFF!) using a 19-mm 12 sided socket or deep spanner on the front pulley, until you can see the timing mark like in the illustration. If it is dull, clean it up or highlight it with paint but let the paint dry. Put the timing light on and start the car. Open the VAG-COM program and select engine 01. Check the fault codes to see none are stored. Let the engine warm up until the fan has cycled in and out once. Select the option basic setting 04, then sub group 000 and now you are in basic adjustment mode so you can check and then, if necessary, adjust the timing which is 6 degrees before top dead centre. Doing this with VAG-COM assumes you have a fully functioning version as share ware versions will not allow the use of basic settings.

**shedful** · 14-03-2008,10:22 PM

Hi, Just found this thread through Google search; what is the firing order on the Mark 3golf 1.8 (8v) GL...

Cheers

Ian

**Crasher** · 14-03-2008,10:25 PM

1, 3, 4, 2.

**emtee** · 05-04-2008,05:22 PM

I've got a Vagcom cable on the way but can't seem to find my OBD connector.

It's a 1993 Golf with ABS engine. Need to be able to do the above routine to set the timing.

I can't find it behind the ashtray or behind the blanks by the heater controls

**emtee** · 05-04-2008,05:56 PM

Sorry, didn't mean for that to sound rude!

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

**BugsyMalone666** · 05-04-2008,06:10 PM

Ok, take your ashtray out(as in press the little button on the front and take it right out) the panel to the left of the ashtray you can now slide into the gap where the ash tray was, and hey presto theres the ODB socket.

basically setting the timing you do with a timing gun using the mark on the main pulley as 0 degrees and then you work out 6deg BTDC from that and mark with something white so you can see it with the timing gun.

now once you have done that and it runs ok, you can use VAGCOM to give you readouts of what the engine is doing.

I set mine up a bit like this and now it runs fineon idle VAGCOM indicates 5-7deg BTDC which is right. However things which I have found that were killing my fuel economy off were the thermostat was failing and basically sticking open more than it should at a lower temp and also the lambda sensor seems to have started to die.

Test results show now averaging 70mph I can get 37mpg on 200 mile runs mixed driving im seeing 35+mpg all the time as opposed to 32<mpg

**Crasher** · 05-04-2008,08:22 PM

On the 93 the diagnostic connectors are the 2x2 (one white, one black) connectors and these are on a bracket behind the blanks above the heater controls. If they are missing, this is quite common. The bracket they are on falls off as people push too hard on the plugs and this forces the screws back out of the slots. Occasionally it is necessary to remove the ashtray unit to retrieve the connectors. Unless you have ordered the adapter, the 16 pin ODBII style connector will not connect to these sockets.