• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

how to set timing on 96 4.0l explorer


89blacklx

89blacklx

New Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Messages
40
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
46
Location
Wilmington Ohio
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Automatic
I am trying to set the timing on my 96 explorer, I pulled the pill or plug whatever you want to call it, and not a thing changed I moved the cam sensor all around and it will not affect the motor at all. How do I do this???? Thanks for any and all help.
 


AllanD

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 1, 2001
Messages
7,897
Reaction score
134
Points
63
Age
62
Location
East-Central Pennsylvania
Vehicle Year
1987... sorta
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
'93 4.0
Transmission
Manual
The cam sensor has no effect on ignition timing.

The cam sensor is simply for telling the computer WHICH of the two revolutions the engine is on for INJECTOR timing.

Ignition timing is NOT adjustable.

The sensor on the passenger side of the timing cover that reads off
the back of the vibration damper is "pinned" there is no adjustment.

AD
 
89blacklx

89blacklx

New Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Messages
40
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
46
Location
Wilmington Ohio
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Automatic
What is the little pill for ?. My mustang has on and you have to remove it to set the timing. Maybe it is because it still has a distributor, gotta love the new distributorless ignition systems of today...
 

MAKG

New Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
4,634
Reaction score
19
Points
0
Location
California central coast
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Manual
What's wrong with it? There is no way for it to get loose and whack out. There is no way for DIYers to screw it up. It's not easy (at all) for the system to screw up in such a way that it's wrong (though it can lose all advance through an open circuit, as can distributor systems). There is no NEED for an adjustment. Were it there, it would be a screw-up control. It's more than a little stupid to put in a knob that you can only use incorrectly. Basic interface principle.

If you pulled the CORRECT pill (there are two on some 4.0Ls) and the timing didn't change AND it's at 10 deg BTDC, you have an open circuit. That's all it's for. If it's not at 10 deg BTDC, the most likely reason is you pulled the wrong pill.
 

AllanD

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 1, 2001
Messages
7,897
Reaction score
134
Points
63
Age
62
Location
East-Central Pennsylvania
Vehicle Year
1987... sorta
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
'93 4.0
Transmission
Manual
One "pill" is purely to disable the computer's ability to adjust the timing

The OTHER pill is an "octane adjust" that leaves the ability of the computer to adjust timing intact, but changes the base timing by several degrees.

Frankly I don't recall which is which because I never mess with either one.

AD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Members online

Total: 816 (members: 4, guests: 812)

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Shran
April Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

Latest Album Photos

Medicine and health
Hunters
20240409_190831.jpg
20240409_190818.jpg
20240409_180824.jpg
20240409_182648.jpg
20240409_181010.jpg
20240408_175026.jpg
99 Ranger
20200706_161414.jpg
20240207_155117.jpg
20240207_155111.jpg

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top