Need to buy Ignition timing light

How could you use a timing light on the VK? It uses coil packs and no ignition wires correct? I thought that you could only use a timing light on cars w/ distributors and standard plug wires. The timing on the FX can be modified through the ECU (ie the +2 mod).
 
The best scan tool for the FX (even Consult III) can only advance or retard the ignition timing, but can not confirm if it is at the correct settings - see blue text in the screen shot below, the only way to do so is to physically check with timing light, so you will need both tools basically.

Yes you need a timing light to adjust the timing on the FX, if you visit the FSM (EC section), you will see this:


qu6u7e9e.jpg


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---------- Post added at 11:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 PM ----------

Basically you need to advance or retard your timing with your scan tool while checking every time with a timing light, until the timing mark on the crank shaft pulley is @ 12 degree (+/- 5) before top dead center BTDC.

I basically messed around with my timing, I was checking what Autoenginiuty scan tool can do, so I advanced my timing and then retarded it several times, (the engine sound changes everytime this is done), i tried to put it back but I lost track and now I need to confirm if it is at the right settings.

Well, autoenginiuty works, but now my timing is messed up.

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---------- Post added 06-01-2013 at 12:02 AM ---------- Previous post was 05-31-2013 at 11:59 PM ----------

Pages EC-671 and EC-672 from the FSM explain how to use the timing light on the FX45.


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So after a little research, I decided to buy Equus 3551 Xenon Inductive Timing Light off Amazon. I already did.

Based on findings so far, this timing light should work using the loop wire that is already existing in our FX's for this very purpose, even though on the very few subjects discussed on other forums some folks said they got no signal from these loop wires on their vehicles (not Nissan or Infiniti), and they had to go to plan B which is using a "suitable" high tension wire between spark plug # 1 and coil pack # 1, the problem is that "suitable" was tailor made every time, meaning it is more homework than it sounds. I hope I won't need to.

Both methods above (loop wire and high tension lead) are detailed with drawings in the FX service manual, see below:

a9use9ed.jpg

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So the unit has arrived, a week ago actually but I only had the time to do this today, here is how it looks like:

ydyneva4.jpg

I got off to work and removed the engine cover:

yhubu7uj.jpg

The loop wire was very easy to locate:

ve6uhuhe.jpg

Here is how the inductive pickup should be hooked up, note that to get a good signal, push the loop wire all the way towards the jaws side as shown:

aqe9y6yj.jpg

To be able to apply the timing light, inlet air duct must be removed, the picture below is taken while engine is off, showing the markings on the crank shaft pulley and the indicator:

a9uqaby7.jpg

I hooked up the timing light to the battery terminals, started my engine and hooked up my scan tool, my timing was @ 10 deg from TDC, so I had only to advance it by 2 degrees and was then exactly at 12 deg.

And that is all!!

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This is great information.. My fx feels like it's running really sluggish but I don't know why.. I def need to rule out something's including timing so up check that out
 
Chances that your ignition timing is off are very slim, my car has been severely messed with and was completely out of tune before I buy it, this was one out of many problems, so for me it was not a surprised at all. But you could check just in case.

While i have been reading about this, some sites on the internet suggest that tuning the ignition timing also improves mpg and increases hp, I have not yet observed any of this.


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Ok guys, now I know why this thread sounded strange!, I was checking today my father's in law 2001 BMW 530!, unlike our FX's, see what its manual says:

u4y9yhan.jpg

Our FX's were not the most advanced at that time.


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---------- Post added at 11:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:18 PM ----------

The bimmers have a crank shaft speed sensor, which I guess the FX does not have, that is how the ECM finds out the physical angle BTDC and then adjusts the ignition timing according to the 3D map.


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An update: the fx does have a crank shaft speed sensor, but it only measures the engine's speed, the bimmer's one does that and also determines the crank shaft angular position from the TDC "top dead center", which we "FX owners" have to do with the timing light.


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