I have a timing light from decades ago when cars had points. Is a timing light needed anymore for cars with an ECM?
Timing light
- Thread starter Donald
- Start date
Generally, no. Cars today use the crank (and often cam) position sensors to determine when to fire the injectors and the plugs. Nothing to adjust. Nothing to set.
I keep one - but I have a car with points.
I keep one - but I have a car with points.
Donald, I have one too as well as a old fashion Dwell meter. I have found that most people under the age of 30 have no idea how to set points or how to use either tool. Next door neighbor who is older than I bought a 73 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with the 351 Cleveland. It has a dual point distributor. He changed the points but had no idea on how to set them with the dwell meter. You have to do one set at time with part of business card in the one side you are not adjusting.......really old mechanic's trick.
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- Jun 2, 2002
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I would say that unless you deal with older vehicles then the timing light is just taking up space in your tool box. You can adjust the ignition timing on some 1990's era vehicles that had electronic ignition and adjustable distributors but that's about it. I don't know of anything made in the 21st century that would need it.
Today I am going to dig my timing light out, wrap it in plastic, and put it into storage. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
** EDIT ** Holy Cannoli! While digging out my timing light from the bottom drawer of my old tool box I came across this fossil. This is an old BMW Inspection/oil reset tool from back in the Messerschmitt days before the OBD port communications. I actually still use this thing on my 1999 Model E46 to reset the oil and inspection light on the dashboard. I jumper pins 17 and 20 in the underhood 20-pin plug to give me full module access with a modern scan tool at the OBD port. Fascinating stuff.
Now back to the timing light disposal.
Today I am going to dig my timing light out, wrap it in plastic, and put it into storage. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
** EDIT ** Holy Cannoli! While digging out my timing light from the bottom drawer of my old tool box I came across this fossil. This is an old BMW Inspection/oil reset tool from back in the Messerschmitt days before the OBD port communications. I actually still use this thing on my 1999 Model E46 to reset the oil and inspection light on the dashboard. I jumper pins 17 and 20 in the underhood 20-pin plug to give me full module access with a modern scan tool at the OBD port. Fascinating stuff.
Now back to the timing light disposal.
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AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
I don’t think it’s a necessity unless working on old stuff with points. I’ve got a couple I’ve gotten from estate sales that will work well on my Beetle when I get it road ready and that I’ve used for friends old stuff. Other than that I can’t say I’ve used one. I don’t even have one at work mine are at home.
A timing light has more uses than just checking the timing, it can be used for checking for sticking valves, slipping A/C compressor clutch and other belt driven parts.
Ha, my dear uncle (RIP) thought points just "dropped in" without adjustment, after removing the old ones.
It was a hasty rescue run out to Brooklyn as he disabled his '66 Newport while it was parked on the street and it had to be moved.
I arrived with a borrowed timing light. After saving the day (no applause, please), he began buying me car stuff.
I never felt guilt or the need to ask him to stop.
It was a hasty rescue run out to Brooklyn as he disabled his '66 Newport while it was parked on the street and it had to be moved.
I arrived with a borrowed timing light. After saving the day (no applause, please), he began buying me car stuff.
I never felt guilt or the need to ask him to stop.
I forgot to mention that a light with an inductive clamp can be used to check plug wires and some coil issues, put the clamp on each cable, if the light has a nice steady flash, no issues but if no flash it has a bad wire or something else before the wire is amiss. On distributor engines this could be a bad cap pole for example.
I bought a brand new fancy Innova light for $100 two years ago for my 86 Volvo after the '80's Craftsman I haven't used in years wouldn't work. Points have nothing to do with it. Anything with a distributor can make use of a timing light, and even without that, if it has plug wires, they can still be used to check the timing even though you can't adjust it.
I have a Sears Penske tining light and Tach Dwell Meter, and a SO Advance Light. I like timing tapes for recurving distributors. Today's fuels are crap for my 60's high compression, iron headed engines. Basically gotta limit vacuum advance a low load and limit total lead. Don't bring it in too fast!
Maybe try E85?
Please. I have to live with CA 91* wannabe "Premium". Gimme some TetraEthyl!
E85 is over 100 octane.
30? Try 50!
The later GM designs trigger spark timing from a crank sensor. Rotating the distributor doesn't change the timing at all. It only needs to be approximately set to get the spark to the correct cylinder.
A timing light will be useful for phasing the distributor using an old cap with a hole drilled just inside one of the wire posts.
50? Try 60! LOL. I've never set points. I've seen my neighbor use a timing light back in the 70s when he was working on a car from the 60s but I never had the need to learn to use one.
Ever filed points on the side of the road with your gal's fingernail file or set them with a matchbook cover? Ever set base timing with a vacuum gauge? Only way to fly...
I've set them with a folded business card.
