Hello Folks,

Can anybody explain how to set the ignition advance, in simple terms? Haynes
manual is mostly useless on the subject and  I don't yet have the Bentley.
Mine is an '84 1.9 gas, Cali

Do I have this right?

1) Idle speed stabiliser should be bypassed by connecting the two leads.
2) Set idle w/o stabiliser to +- 850 rpm.
3) leave all vacuum hoses CONNECTED to distributor, etc.
4) Set the timing mark (V-mark ground in on pulley, to the left of the TDC
mark, not the U-mark) to exactly where the crankcase halves meet.)

I know the collective wisdom here dictates an ideal setting of 5* BTDC (not
sure what octane level this would refer to, though). If I set the V-notch to
the case split line, isn't this 5* BTDC?

Engine won't run worth a darn with timing mark to the one o'clock side of
the case split. Idle speeds up when timing mark is to the left, runs smooth,
but doesn't have a lot of power and pings under load.

Thanks for taking the time with this very basic question...

Geza