Why this step matters
The Elite fires each spark at an angle measured from a reference it works out from the trigger. If that reference is off by a few degrees, every value in your ignition table is off by the same amount. A map that looks safe on the laptop could be running far more advance than you think. Calibrating timing locks the software's number to what's actually happening at the crank.
This happens during first power-up, after you've checked the crank and cam signals and while the injectors are still disabled.
Before you connect the coils
- Go back through your ignition settings in ESP one more time: ignition mode, dwell, output count and edge. Wrong settings here can overheat coils or ignition modules.
- With the settings confirmed, turn off ignition power and only then connect the ignition system to the ECU. See ignition wiring if you haven't done this yet.
- On a freshly wired system, feel the coils periodically during the first cranking tests. If one gets hot, kill ignition power immediately and recheck the wiring and settings.
Calibrating the timing
- Lock the timing. Enable the ignition timing lock and set it to a value that matches a clear mark on your crank pulley or timing cover. It should also be a value the engine will happily start at. Many engines have a clear 10 degrees BTDC mark, which works well for both.
- Crank with a timing light. With injectors still disabled, have a helper crank the engine while you watch the marks with a timing light. First confirm the light flashes steadily, then note where the spark lands.
- Adjust the TDC Offset Angle. Change the offset until the light shows the same timing you locked in. The number is usually somewhere in the 50-100 degree range, but anything from 0 to 720 is valid depending on the trigger layout.
- Check every cylinder. Move the timing light's pickup to each plug lead in turn and confirm each one is firing.
- Unlock the timing. Turn the ignition timing lock off when you're done. Leaving it on is a common reason a freshly started car idles badly and won't respond to the ignition table.
Cranking speed can make the timing appear slightly different from a running engine. Once the engine idles, lock timing again and recheck with the light. Our TDC offset angle tech tip covers the details.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Usually |
|---|---|
| Timing mark jumps around | Trigger noise, a loose pulley or an incorrect trigger setup |
| Timing moves when you change RPM with timing locked | Trigger edge or sensor type settings not correct yet |
| A cylinder doesn't flash | Wiring to that coil, the wrong output assignment or firing order |
| A coil gets hot while cranking | Dwell or ignition mode wrong, or the coil wired incorrectly |
Next step: enabling the injectors for the first start.
