EL Falcon - Ford Forums

groberts03 · 06-20-2005, 18:32

Firstly I appoligise for the question as you have probably had it 1000 times before , but was unable to find it in the maintance section, and the answers werent specific to what i was looking for.

I have a 1997 GLI EL falcon (common green one)
I want to tune it , now i have done it before and had a gregorys service manual and it was taken when our car got stolen last christmas.

there are two rows of pins inside the fuse box area , and to advance or retard the timming you have to bridge these two pins out so then you can tune it .
The problem I have is I cant remeber which two pins they were
It looks something like below
* = pins ^ = a empty pin space

*** ****^ ^^*
***** ****

can someone tell me which pins are the two you bridge out .

thaks in advance

BIGDOG · 06-20-2005, 23:55

2 Pins on left side of plug
1 Upper
1 Lower
You get 2 minutes to adj the timming
Good luck
BIGDOG

groberts03 · 06-21-2005, 00:06

Big dog
thats the first too pins i take it (upper and lower) i will give that a try .
Thanks very much for your reply

regards
Glen

fordboy98 · 06-21-2005, 20:18

A small qualification. Bridging the terminals (which have been correctly identified by BIGDOG) locks the ECU to base timing mode, ie it will not dynamically adjust the timing whilst the engine is running.

The clue that you've correctly entered this mode is this. Bridge the terminals and start the engine. If you are in base timing mode, the egine revs will increase briefly up to about 1300 rpm, and then drop back to around 700. Then head for the crankshaft pulley with your timing light!

Also, get set up before you start the engine. Connect the timing light, and get a spanner (13mm skt plus extension) ready on the dissy pinch bolt so you can complete the process inside the 2 minute wimdow. If you can't, just turn off the ignition and start again.

groberts03 · 06-21-2005, 21:04

Fordboy98
Thankyou for your advise and input .
It is much appreciated .

madmelon · 06-21-2005, 21:56

Does someone want to further explain how to do this? Whats this pinch bolt business? and what happens with the dizzy? How do you advance/retard the timing? Is it easy?
Thanks

FordPrefect · 02-24-2006, 01:31

nothing is easy when it comes to the ignition on this model!!

The distributer is secured by a clamping plate, held by a single bolt, located approx 1 inch from the rear of distributer. It can be got at using a socket extension and manouvering down the gap in the inlet manifold between cylinders 2 & 3.
Once un clamped the distributer can be rotated. I recommend getting a feel for rotating the distributer with the engine off. Adjust the clamp to give enough freedom to provide the balance between too loose & too tight, so you can get a good adjustment.
I have found that rotating the dizy with my left hand reaching from the front of the engine works best. It is however periously close to the drive belts, so I wear thick leather welding gloves that protect the upper arm.
Right hand wields the timing light. Also leave the socket extention on the clamp bolt, so you can quickly tighten it when you have found the correct postion (hold dizy with left hand, tighten with right).
- Cheers