Classic VW Ignition Timing Service

[MrEndz00]

I have little question i couldn't find any video of it on you tube

My super beetles (1973) ignition coils are all burnt it touched each other and i don't know what goes where now that i removed them to change them.

any help would be great

thanks

[catdow]

Really clear video, Neil. Thanks! I'm hoping to apply the same principles to a 1968 Wolseley Hornet. Just need to get me a test light now ;)

[BigStu1972UK]

Top video, you may have just saved my remaining shred of sanity.

will be in the garage at weekend trying this to sort out the timing on my trike

[TheSteamPoweredDude]

Your the Man!!! We just made a motor out of one half of two ceased engines and an old scrapped but good case. Couldn't get her to fire up, just burping flames last night. Now...... Thumbs Up!!! High Five my friend!

[63reynoso]

Hi Neil

Here is my problem Rebuild Engine & carbureator starts but it turns off when it gets hot. Where du I start.

[gmd1417]

This is pretty useless. Way too vague, basically an over-view for people who don't know anything about VWs. Why don't you post some more informative, in-depth information?

[viggoM35]

Interesting, but when I tried it (on a 76 converted from FI to carb) my test tight is always on. I'd tried it on both the positive & negative terminal and various ground points on the engine. What am I doing wrong?

[Aubergineberger]

Neil, good video. Im timing my 68 ghia 1.5 engine with just a test light. The U.S bentley says that post 67 vw's in the u.s. have exhaust emission control carbs and time at 0 degrees TDC instead of 7.5, but i dont hear much about it. Maybe im misreading it- seems like an awful lot of cars. Have you heard this? Thx, make more vids

[09corita]

Nice video but will this also work on a 1985 GTI? I have been having problems with the timing and now the car doesnt even wants to turn on.

[Neiloakleycares]

@bohlmanvw Whilst i see your point this is meant to get people going when there stuck! i'm sure we could all poke holes in every vid out there even yours if you have bothered inbetween slating other peoples work

[Neiloakleycares]

@romeomoon2 so your ok then!!!!

[Neiloakleycares]

@romeomoon2 so your ok then!!!

[rsWarriorxz8]

Howd you find out romeomood2 did u learn how 2 off this video?

[Neiloakleycares]

@rsWarriorxz8 who is romeomood2? and no i didnt learn it from him! ive done it like this for about 20 years!

Neil

[hp11208]

cool

[JeffDeWitt]

FYI: An "earth point" is UK English for what the rest of us think of as a ground. Pretty much any clean metal point on the engine should be a good ground, although I wouldn't use the carburetor!

[jackpontiac52]

@JeffDeWitt I actually find the words 'Earth Point' amusing, considering that the car is sitting on 4 rubber tyres that insulate from 'Earth' (ground)

[theartofsinking]

Great Video, works great and keeps my bug timed. I hooked up the light to the Alternator and the clip to the negative to the coil, turn you ignition "key" to on, and there you go, simple and pretty accurate.

[moonknight9]

WOW, thanks, a great tip!

Great vid!

Got a 66 baja I am going to use that on TODAY!!!

Thanks agian,

Cheers

[jimmy5555q]

i need to know what an earth point is please. also, when i try to set the light up, it stays on, regardless of how much i twist the engine or the distributor, someone please help? 1974 superbeetle

[The77pgl]

NICE !!!!!!

[ZONER4201]

i have copufire ignition and a 40,000 volt coil were do i place my timing also what gap should my plugs be. Bosch supers thanks

[calderondean]

will this work for a electronic ignition or do I have to use a timing light ?

[calderondean]

clip the test light to the neg side of the coil and the other side where ? what is a earth point lol sorry ? and is that the same for the all vw engine's ? I have a 1600

[TACVWDRIVER]

@calderondean I got confused with that part too :(

[ungersvideo]

Do the heat exchangers just get the hot air to the interior of the car, and away from the engine, or does the engine need part of this system to run properly? Could I run the heat exchangers and the engine exhaust out the same (larger pipe)?Any Idea's anyone?

[SpeedyCheeze]

the heat exchangers surround the exhaust but heated air an exhaust never mix. Heaterboxes and heaterhoses are necessary to keep the engine cool. If you dont want heaterboxes, replace them with "J tubes" and plug the holes in the shroud.

[risek]

if i was going to try this with motor off the car how can i get power to the dist??????

[1861CSA]

really ingenious way of doing so auther.. ive seen and heard of every trick in the garage, this is the best of them all!!!!!!!!!!!!! explain what all power is on please !

[maximeguichard]

Hi, please tell me how you set your test light. I have hard time understandin. Does the batery have to be pluged? The negative on the coil goies to negative on light? Positive go where? thank You

[jorologo]

One side of your test light to the negative (-15) of the coil the other side to the chassis. Doesn't matter which side of test light your put to coils (-).The ignition has to be turned on when you turn the engine over slowly. After seeing this video I found it is easy to set timing. If you convert your distributor to electronic you then need to use the strobe to set timing at 30-32 degress BTDC at 3000rpm.

[keithincork1]

Hi Neil,

Great video, but could you tell me what i'm doing wrong as i followed all you said but the light is staying on all the time when it touchs an earth.

Many Thanks,

Keith

[xxturkxx]

Are you sure you have it on the right side of the coil?

[keithincork1]

@xxturkxx

Sorry brother, just logged on and saw your mail,got it sorted and it is running great now.

Cheers

[hatefuel66]

awesome video, keep them coming, just wondering and I'm sure i will find out in a few moments lol, will this method work on a straight 6? have a 66 mustang I'm working on. cheers

[allihjelm]

Hi Neil,

Regarding the light tool that you use to find where the spark will fire. I obviously don't have such a tool but plan to make a crude home-made version of one. Now, my question is then what kind of light bulb I should use for this. My car is a 6V 1300 67 Beetle.

[Kepi00001]

Excellent video Neil. I'm running a VW trike with 1285 engine, Been having some timing problems recently and you very informative explanation has cured the problems just in time for me to go back out and scare a few more road users :) thanks

[Neiloakleycares]

Hi Kepi

Thanls for the feed back!

Glad i could help go and have fun ; )

Neil

[airhorton]

How do i set timing on a type 4 -1800cc engine? need to do it with distibuter(electronic)

[Neiloakleycares]

Hi you need a timing light (strobe) to set your timing with the hall sender type distributor fitted to your vw

Regards

Neil

[DarrenForbes]

HI, do you mean put the wire lead on the positive (+) terminal of the coil and ground the light (-)?

Great VW videos!

[Neiloakleycares]

Hi Darren, put your test light on the - terminal and on a suitable earth point . the light will come on when the points open

[droon101]

can i use this method on my 009? but just set it to 30 degrees adv?

cheers dude very helpful vid.

[Neiloakleycares]

Hi No the 009 has to be set up with a timing light to your maximum advance whilst running, you cant do it staticlly

Regards

Neil

[TheRealHighonlife]

nice vid.. is 19mm BTDC you said set at = to 7.5 dec before tdc??

[Neiloakleycares]

Hi thanks for the feed back!

7.5 degrees is 19mm(3/4btdc

It is easier for the leyman to give a mesurement rather than a degree reading.

Thanks neil

[TheRealHighonlife]

oh I thought 11.5mm was 7.5 dec Btdc??

Trying to time a 009 dissy with a 34 pic 3 carb see. and got no advanced timing gun or cannot do RPM.

All help good cheers.

[Neiloakleycares]

Hi I would set a 009 to maximum advance for your engine rather than set it at idle or static!

Ask a local garage it should take no longer than 3 to 5 minuites.

Neil

[Teo1303]

@Neiloakleycares

Hi Neil can you please tell me how many mm are the 5 dec????(5 dec ATDC)

Thanks for your video

[henryt001]

Fantastic.. This Man knows his Dubs inside out

[jcvencer]

hello nice video.. it helps a lot.. i think maybe you have a video about setting the firing order in high extension wire going to spark plug.. i hve a 13 vw bettle.. thnnks

[Neiloakleycares]

Firing order is in the haynes manual it is easier to look at it rather than have it explained to you.

good luck

neil

[Neiloakleycares]

No problem thanks for the feed back!!

Check out my other videos

Regards Neil

[leighenfield303]

Excellent video, very helpful and very clear. Thanks for taking time to do this for folk like me.