Engines up to 8/94 (except DOHC engine)
Ignition advance adjustment is required only if the ignition distributor was removed. For adjustment, a crankshaft speed meter, a stroboscope and, for some models, a STAR tester are used (FORD special tool).
Attention: For all DOHC engines, the ignition timing is controlled entirely by the engine control unit. Therefore, for these engines, checking and adjusting the ignition timing is not required.
Warm up the engine to operating temperature and turn it off.
Connect a crankshaft speed meter in accordance with the manufacturer's operating instructions.
Check the crankshaft speed when idling, see p. 64.
Switch off the engine and shift the gearbox to neutral. Use a suitable key to turn the crankshaft belt pulley at the central fastening bolt so that the marks for adjusting the ignition are visible. Using a felt-tip pen or marker, clearly mark the correct ignition timing mark.
Connect the stroboscope according to the manufacturer's operating instructions.
Carburetor engine: Disconnect the vacuum hose from the vacuum regulator of the ignition distributor and plug it with a suitable clean screw.
Depending on the engine (see table at the end of the chapter) connect the STAR tester and enable the self-diagnosis function, code 60.
Start the engine and let it idle. The control speed is given in the table us. 66.
Turn off all consumers of electricity (radio, rear window defroster, etc.) and air conditioning system.
Aim the flashing light of the strobe light at the alignment mark -A-.
The ignition is set correctly if, when the strobe flashes, the mark on the pulley -B- is stationary against the setting mark -A-. The ignition timing values are given in the table at the end of the chapter.
If the marks for adjusting the ignition timing do not match, stop the engine.
Loosen the mounting bolt and turn the ignition distributor to set the prescribed ignition timing.
Tighten the distributor bolt.
Start the engine and check the ignition timing again. If necessary, perform the ignition timing adjustment process again.
Attention: Since the engine is equipped with an electronic ignition system, do not turn the ignition distributor by hand while the engine is running.
Finally, mark the position of the ignition distributor with paint.
Carburetor engine: remove the plug from the vacuum hose and connect it to the vacuum regulator of the ignition distributor.
With the ignition off, turn off the gauges.
At the service station, the control force of the weights of the centrifugal regulator and the vacuum regulator of the ignition distributor can be additionally checked at different crankshaft speeds. But this is required only in case of a malfunction of the ignition system.
Check and, if necessary, adjust the idle speed, see p. 64.
Prescribed ignition timing
| Engine | Ignition advance angle, deg, up to TDC |
| ONS, carburetor, without catalytic converter | 10 |
| ONS, carburetor, with catalytic converter | 6 |
| ONS, with injection system, without catalytic converter | 12 |
| ONS, with injection system, with catalytic converter1) | 18 |
| with displacement 2.4-/2.9 l, without catalytic converter1) | 12 |
| with displacement 2.9 l, with catalytic converter1) | 15 |
| with a working volume of 2.8 l | 12 |
1) Connect the STAR tester and enable the self-diagnosis function, code 60.
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