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Idle Speed & Ignition Timing

  1. Ensure vehicle is at operating temperature, all accessories are off and transmission is in Park or Neutral. Vehicle front wheels must be in straight-ahead position and curb idle speed set to specification. If vehicle is equipped with a dual diaphragm distributor, go to next step. If vehicle is equipped with an ignition timing adjustment connector, go to step 3).
  2. Disconnect vacuum hose farthest from distributor. Plug vacuum hose. Check ignition basic timing. Connect vacuum hose to distributor. Check ignition actual timing. Refer to IGNITION TIMING table in this article.
  3. Ground ignition timing adjustment connector. Timing adjustment connector is a Yellow/Red wire at left of center, on firewall. Check ignition basic timing.
  4. Disconnect ground wire on ignition timing adjustment connector. Check ignition actual timing. Refer to IGNITION TIMING table.
IGNITION TIMING (Degrees BTDC @ RPM)

Application (1) Basic (2)(3) Actual
1.5L
Colt, Colt 200 & Summit 5 @ 600-800 10 @ 600-800
Colt Wagon 5 @ 600-800 15 @ 600-800
1.6L Colt & Colt 200 & Summit 5 @ 650-850 8 @ 650-850
1.8L Colt Wagon 5 @ 600-800 15 @ 600-800
2.0L Colt Vista 5 @ 650-850 10 @ 650-850
2.4L Ram-50 5 @ 650-850 8 @ 650-850
3.0L Ram-50 8 @ 600-800 15 @ 600-800
(1) With ignition timing adjustment connector grounded or vacuum hose (farthest from distributor) disconnected.
(2) With ignition timing adjustment connector ungrounded or vacuum hose (farthest from distributor) connected. Ignition timing may fluctuate.
(3) If vehicle altitude is more than 2300 ft. above sea level, actual timing may be advanced.
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