The 1.9 is normally timed at 5 degrees AFTER TDC.  Running it at 10 BEFORE
will over advance causing detonation (pinging).  That fries valves and
piston tops.  No wonder it is mis-firing.

See my specs:

http://www.oldvolkshome.com/ignition.htm#V8384
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On 5/23/07, Geza Polony <gezapolony@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> Thanks Dennis. What would you define as "over advanced?" I try to run it
> at
> around 10* btdc.
>
>
> On Tue, 22 May 2007 23:17:40 -0400, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM
> >
> wrote:
>
> >All those readings scream bad cat. The Co indicates the O2 sensor is
> >working but no clean up to 0 there. The High HC may be what killed the
> >Cat. Look for a lean miss fire and/or over advanced ignition timing.
> >
> >The NOx is defiantly bad cat.
> >
> >Dennis
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> >Geza Polony
> >Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 9:26 PM
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Bummer, man--Gross Polluter
> >
> >Doesn't sound good.
> >
> >
> >Just had the '84 1.9 smogchecked and results were WAY out of line:
> >
> >15 mph     HC 148     CO .79     NO   2156
> >25 mph     HC 96      CO .66     NO   1828
> >
> >
> >The tester was trying to tell me it looked like a failed cat (mine's 6
> >months old but engine has been misfiring for that time, too...)
> >
> >New distributor, hall sender, wires, plugs, cap, rotor, hall control,
> coil
> >checks good. No vacuum leaks, AAR checks good, rebuilt AFM, all ECU pins
> >tests are good per Bentley.
> >
> >Compression is good at something like 140. Normal power, no oil burning,
> >rough idle.
> >
> >It helps the rough idle to disconnect the crankcase hose and plug the
> boot
> >hole up.
> >
> >Ideas? Looks like the state of California will shell out $500 to help fix
> >it, but what to fix? Could pinholes in the exhaust cause bad HC readings?