Topic: Timing belt issue, I seek wisdom of the many.

[Legato]

So I just rolled 118K, which means it will be time for me to do my timing belt yet again before I know it.  But when Sam did my belt kit the first time, he discovered that my timing came from the factory advanced a tooth.  This basically means that I've got a permanent CEL glowing on my dash at all times, but the car runs great.  The cam position sensor is what's causing the CEL, because the ECU cant retard the timing quite enough to compensate for it's current setting. 

My question is this...

When I (ok, more like Sam or Stefan really...) do my timing belt at 120K, should I go back to my normal setting and set the cams back to where they should be?  Or do I keep it where it's at, continue to enjoy what has been a healthy motor for all this time only to continue to stare at the CEL from here until eternity? 

If I do change it, I run the risk of loosing some low end power, but gaining some up top. 

Thoughts?

[ShadowRuleZ]

Wait until the secondary air pump goes out.  You'll have a CEL for eternity anyways 

[Jarett Hoffman]

if your drive by wire you can just add some timing with lemmi

[ChiMaster]

I think it depends on what you want to do with the car for the next 60K miles.
f you are going big turbo then set it back to stock - if not I'd leave it where it is - the car has been running well thus far.

Did the CEL come on immediately after the timing belt change or did it develop over time?
I don't think it was on before the belt change so its possible the sensor itself is at fault or that it's advanced further since the last change.

[Ingostamus Maximus]

Back to stock. Then chip it 

[Legato]

Sam.  The CEL came on and stayed over time.  I even later replaced the cam position sensor while it was still under warranty.  Ideally I'd like to put on that K04 that I've got sitting on a table lookin all lonely with nothing to boost, but I dont want to put that on until I get my hands on at least an exhaust for it. 

Poopy.  It needs to RETARD timing to sort it self out, and it cant retard enough.  THAT'S the problem.

Igno.  It's been chipped for quite some time.

[Ingostamus Maximus]

In that case I think you'll find that with the belt set up properly (not advanced a tooth), that the chip will work far better as it can adjust the timing appropriately.  I would remove the ECU fuse(s) and replace 15 minutes later so that it relearns faster, though.

[Castle]

I'd advance it one more and see what happens 

[Ingostamus Maximus]

I'd advance it one more and see what happens 

He, he.  Yeah, MORE is always BETTER.    Lol 

P.S. Castle, you buying him a new cylinder head?

[Castle]

I'd advance it one more and see what happens 

He, he.  Yeah, MORE is always BETTER.    Lol 

P.S. Castle, you buying him a new cylinder head?

as long as piston doesn't meet valve we are all good.  Think of the power opportunities here.  Is the 1.8t motor an interference motor cause I think I'm on to something

[ken]

You bet the 1.8T is an interference motor!   

Your Miata's not though.

[Legato]

YES

[Ingostamus Maximus]

Interference?  What interference?


Uh...oh...


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[Jarett Hoffman]

Poopy.  It needs to RETARD timing to sort it self out, and it cant retard enough.  THAT'S the problem.

sorry i should have said put it back to stock and lemmi your car if you want more timing

[ChiMaster]

1. You're considering the K04
2. You're already chipped
3. You replaced the sensor
4. JM tells me its got high oil temps at the track

Based on the above I'd say back to stock, if its pulling timing (and can't pull enough) then chances are you're running at the edge of detonation.