Don't believe everything you read and the Haynes manuals are not the best
for some details.

On the 1.9L engines the vacuum retard HAS TO BE CONNECTED in order to set
the timing. Test is function by disconnecting while the engine is idling and
with the timing light you should see the timing advance and the idle speed
increase.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of B
Feddish
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 5:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: More timing confusion

First I want to double check the hoses to the distributer. There is a line
coming out the front, closest to me, and that is plugged into the throttle
body housing in a T connected on the side of the TBH towards me. There is a
single line on the far side if the TBH and it connects to the rear of the
distributer. Is this correct?

Next, the Haynes says to connect the idle stabilizer together and pull out
the vacuum lines to the distributor. I then turned on the timing light and
the timing was set for the U notch towards me.  The Haynes says to set it
the V notch in the rear. I also says (HINT: put a mark between the 2 notches
for 10 deg BTDC and use that).  That does not make sense, if the U is 5
degrees ATDC how can half way be 10 degrees BTDC?

Anyway, I set the timing to the V notch, reconnected the idle stabilizer and
vacuum hoses and took it for a drive. It is now running much worse.
Suggestions?

Thanks,
Bryan