You're right.
on 2.1 waterboxers with DigiFANT    EFI - the distributor has no centrifugal
or vacuum advane/retard mechanisms ..
the ignition  timing curve is fully done by the ecu.

----- Original Message -----
From: "pdooley" <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 8:10 PM
Subject: Re: Digifant timing/tuning help needed

> ?????
> I thought digifant controlled spark.
> Certainly does on Golf/Jetta.
> This pic doesn't show a vacuum canister thingamabob either.
> http://tinyurl.com/338wgwq]
>
> must be a Canadian thing eh?
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Dennis Haynes
> Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 10:15 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Digifant timing/tuning help needed
>
> On the Digifant, the ECU has absolutely nothing to do with spark advance.
> Problem is in the distributor. The distributor has mechanical
> (centrifugal),
> advance, and vacuum advance and retard.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Greg Potts
> Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 5:36 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Digifant timing/tuning help needed
>
> Hi Volks,
>
> My 1.9L digifant engine has been sluggish ever since I put it into the
> bus back in September. It doesn't seem to make much power unless I wind
> it out to 2.5K rpm or so. Fuel economy is nothing great either; I am
> only getting 14MPG on a typical tank.
>
> Compression is good. (Around 150 on all 4 cylinders last time I checked)
> Distributor is only 1 year old, as are wires, cap, rotor and plugs. If I
> pull a plug wire off the distributor the idle staggers no matter which
> plug wire I remove (ie, no weak link).
>
> Coolant temp sensor was replaced, it didn't help. O2 sensor is
> disconnected until I get a new one; It's pretty much undriveable with
> the O2 sensor connected. Throttle position sensor is working.
>
> So tonight I checked the timing. 5 degrees BTDC at 2K RPM with coolant
> sensor disconnected. It's spot on at 2K rpm but as the revs increase the
> timing stays rock steady at 5 degrees BTDC.
>
> According to http://www.oldvolkshome.com/ignition.htm the timing should
> advance to 35 BTDC at 3K RPM....
>
> I have tried swapping the ECU and AFM with good spare parts and it makes
> no difference whatsoever.
>
> Am I doing something wrong, is the ECU broken or am I reading more into
> the oldvolkshome specs than I should?
>
> Happy Trails,
>
> Greg Potts
> Toronto, Ontario Canada
> 197x Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
> 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
> www.pottsfamily.ca
>
> BUSES OF THE CORN - AUGUST 13-15th, 2010
> www.pottsfamily.ca\busesofthecorn