TIMING! QUESTION

[weasel]

what would cause my truck to go out of timing? I dont' mess with it and it goes out of timing on its own! What would cause this?? All possible causees and ways to check are welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way I got an 89 ranger with a 2.9 liter engine!

 

[MrShorty]

I don't really know, but here's what first came to me:

1) timing chain?
2) computer itself gone bad?
3) crankshaft position sensor or equivalent?

I know I've seen the manual talk about checking the timing, but my recollection is that there isn't a ready fix. If the timing is off something is broken.

 

[JDraper]

There are several things that can cause the timing to walk on it's own. It won't be the timing belt, as that controls the valve timing, not the engine timing. If you have a mechanically rotated distributor, it runs off of the crankshaft, so the belt is not part of the equation.

1) First and simplest is the distributor bolt is not tight enough.

2) Broken advance spring in distributor (if equipped with them. I'm not sure if it is with your motor)

3) Vacuum line leak or bad vacuum modulator on the distributor.

4) Worn or damaged distributor shaft bushing.

5) Worn or damaged distributor gear.

6) Loose damper ring on the harmonic balancer (if the timing marks are on the damper ring).

7) Bad timing gun (Been there, done that!!!) I chased a timing problem for a week before I figured out my gun was shot :fire: .

8) Bad electronic ignition module (If you have electronic ignition).

 

[Jon_Herr]

2.9L Distributor

I have seen two cases where the distributor on a 2.9L has come loose on it's own and altered timing.

These engines have a PIP connector that you are supposed to disconnect to set the timing. If it is removed or has a bad connection it will throw your timing off.

The distributor on this engine runs off of the camshaft, which could be affected by a loose or skipped timing chain. But...

The timing chain on this particular engine has a tensioner that generally keeps things in check.

Timing may be altered a little by a stretched chain but I really doubt that you'd notice it.

I have an '88 Ranger w/ 175,000 miles on it. The distributor came loose on it's own once. A friend of mine had it happed to his the other day @ 150K miles.

Jon