Timing the A4
I have posted this before but you might find it useful.TIMING THE A4If you have spark and gas and, presumably, air then the only other possibility is that the timing is off and the spark is not arriving at the proper time. To check the timing remove the spark plugs from all four cylinders. Place your finger over the spark plug hole of the number one cylinder (the front plug unless you have a V drive) and turn the engine by hand until the number one piston is coming up on the compression stroke. You will feel it pushing air out through the spark plug hole under your finger. Turn the engine over until the crank pin on the shaft sticking out of the flywheel at the front of the engine is vertically in line with the timing mark on the flywheel cover. If you go past top dead center (TDC) go on two full turns back to TDC (going one turn will get you to TDC on the exhaust stroke the rotor will point the wrong way and you won’t feel the air pressing on your finger). The points in the distributor should then be just opening. To check, undo the two screws in the distributor cap, remove it and observe the points. Loosen the cap screw in the hold down clamp at the base of the distributor. Slowly turn the distributor until the points are just beginning to open. There is an easy-to-make tool for this which consists of a small, two-wire, 12 volt bulb in a socket with alligator clamps soldered onto each wire coming out of the socket. Attach the clips to the points assembly on opposite sides of the points then turn on the ignition and as you move the distributor the points will open, turning on the light, then close, turning it off. You can make one for a couple of bucks and it will make life a lot easier. You can also use a volt meter the same way. With the points just opening at TDC tighten the cap screw on the hold down clamp. Now rotate the engine until the points are fully open and measure the gap with a feeler gage. If it is right, proceed. If it is off, losen the screw holding the points base plate to the distributor and move the stationary side in or out until the gap is correct. Recheck and adjust the TDC setting as above. Changing the gap will alter the timing.At this time look at the rotor on the top of the distributor shaft and mentally note where it is pointing. Put the cap back on and make sure that the wire at which the rotor is pointing is the wire to the number one spark plug. The firing order is 1-2-4-3. Both the rotor and the wide protrusion in the side of the distributor points plate (which fits into a slot in the distributor cap to align it) should point at 9 o'clock (looking down on the top of the distributor while facing the flywheel). Make sure that the plug wire for #1 cylinder goes in the 9 o'clock position, #2 plug wire goes in the 12 o'clock position, #4 plug wire goes in the 3 o'clock position, and #3 plug wire goes in the 6 o'clock position. Check to make sure that all of the wires are firmly stuck into the distributor cap and the coil. It is very easy to get a plug wire (or four) misplaced if you have taken them off for any reason. If you have a Cat 27 as I did, God bless as it is a contortionist's nightmare to get at the distributor and everything has to be done one handed. Please be very careful if you can smell gas during this exercise. This is a great way to blow your boat up and you with it. Turn the blower on and leave it on when cranking. Good luck.