I just went in to get a smog check for my 1994 4cyl 22re base model pickup and found out that my timing was 31 degrees BTDC. The smog tech and I adjusted it back to 5 BTDC. Anyway the truck failed the smog on CO reading and when I drove it away from the smog test it was majorly under powered and felt like I was driving with the parking brake on.

So I set the timing back to 12 BTDC unjumped and it drives fine with plenty of power. The smog tech told me that he can't do the test unless the timing is set per the manufacture recommendations.

I'm really at a loss and hope somebody can weigh in here with some suggestions on how to fix this.

Thanks in advance! Todd

 

is the dampener good? vaccum advance not on the wrong port?

 

Thanks! I'm going to check those later today and will report my findings.

 

I don't think theres' a vacuum advance on 22re.

Check the TPS and its adjustment.

It is impossible to set idle timing correctly if the TPS is not correctly reporting throttle closed.

 

Correct, no vacuum advance on "recent" models.

The harmonic damper is the part with the timing mark. The annular rubber ring has been known to fail, allowing the timing mark to twist around to the "wrong" point. The easiest way to check this is to remove the plug from Cylinder 1, and using a plastic straw feel for when it is at TDC. (Why not, oh, a screwdriver? If you slip you can scar the heck out of the piston and plug-hole.)

 

Hey guys just wanted to post the findings on this issue. It turned out to be a bad TPS that prevented me from setting base timing. The Idl E2 was bad it was registering 5.98 instead of <2.3.

By the way it lasted 424,000 miles.