Club 80-90 Forums

As part of my preparations for Coney I wanted to check the ign. timing (mv digifant 1)

I am aware that it's not a simple job like the dj but cannot find the info on this site (inc. wiki)

Any help please? If the info is in Bentley I will bite the bullet and order from Amazon.(lot's of beer tokens)

Cheers Baz

I'll look in Bentley tomorrow and if its there I can scan for you. Andrew Simmons (AJSimmo) at Campershack did mine and talked me through it while I watched. I didn't have a clue what he was saying but my van ran like a dream (until other things went wrong and messed it all up - temp sender messing autochoke)

Go on the Vanagon site and download the Digifant training manual and solving driveability issues and print them out and carry in the vehicle
Bentley is a must for a syncro owner - pdf or paper or both
Timing is actually quite easy
engine hot running, disconnect temp 2 sender, rev to 2500rpm,timing mark nearest engine block is 5 degrees BTDC, helps to have some one to hold the throttle open, then reconnect temp 2 sender and rev engine and observe 20+degrees of advance occurs

Thanks for the info Guys

I have an adjustable strobe but no tacho so need to access one.

You're right Aidan I must invest in a Bentley, I guess it's more important than beer !!!

What a splendid day to check my timing I thought

Warmed the engine, pulled the temp. sender, it didn't like that!!! kept cutting out

I managed to keep it running long enough to set timing at 5 bdc @ 2500 rpm but it ran like a bag of spanners

Retarding to 5 at tickover runs sweet and ignition advances when sped up.


Sounds like ECU is shot ??? Should I risk Coney or will I mess something else up ??

if it won't run happily with temp 2 disconected then I think it's not getting enough air, probably needs the idle bypass adjusting, when you disconnect temp 2 it takes idle stabiliser out of the system, so it suggests yours will only idle with idle valve open a fair bit
timing at 2500 temp 2 off does end up producing 5 degrees pretty much at idle with it connected and scaling ok sounds fine, why think the ecu is shot ?
See you at Coney

Thanks for your reassuring words Aidan

I'm 'old school' and allergic to electronics

I do have a Snap on ethos but it's no use on the old mv

I have just ordered a Bentley so hope to make it to Coney, hope to see you there (fingers crossed)!!

Read this whole thread for more understanding of this topic:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This procedure can be easily adapted to any gasoline engine, but here's the short version for an MV with three-groove pulley :

Step 1: Pretend you never ever read or heard of the official timing procedure. You will not connect or disconnect anything except your strobe light.

Step 2: Make a mark on forward pulley rim 2" clockwise from the dished TDC mark. This mark indicates 35º BTDC for cyl. #1 or #3.

Step 3: On warmed up engine connect basic (non-advancing) strobe to read cyl. #1 plug wire.

Step 4: Rev engine to 3000rpm or higher, the 35º mark you made should be aligned with the case center seam. Adjust distributor position until it is.

Step 5: Test drive, add as much as 5º to 10º additional advance if performance improves while monitoring for pinging at less than 3000rpm, under full load and hot.

Re-checked timing referring to the 'Bible' it say's early ecu's disconnect no.2 temp sensor,later ecu's don't disconnect!! I guess as my van is a '92 it must be a later one?

Anyhow it's running fine and booked in for an mot next week after I dig out all the Coney mud