Do you have to time your engine after putting a new distributor on

RYAN HYDE

MEMBER
1994 HONDA CIVIC
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

I have the LX model and I went to replace the distributor cap and saw it had oil in it. So I was told I needed to replace the whole distributor. I have not put the new distributor on yet but I have already taken the old one off. Now my question is when I go to put my new distributor on do I need to time my engine or will it just start right up?

Monday, April 24th, 2017 AT 5:54 PM

1 Reply

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
51,571 POSTS

Hello Ryan,

Yes you will need to time the engine. You will need a timing light and connect it to the #1 cylinder and to the battery. You can get it pretty close if you look at where the adjustment was on the old distributor and just install it in the same place and the engine will fire up. There should be a sticker under the hood letting you know where the timing should be.

Here is a diagram on where the marks are and where to set it (red mark).

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken

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