bouncing timing...is scanner just innacurate?

[RumpRanger98]

So I hooked up my new obd II scanner I got that also reads live data. I noticed when I first fired it up the timing was at 26* plus or minus 1. As it warmed up it dropped down to 17* and would bounce anywhere from 12* to22*. If I would rev it the timing would bounce to 26* and showed 30* a couple of times.

Is this normal? or is my cam synchro sensor going bad? 99 ranger 3.0 btw. I asked in the 3.0 forum and no one knows anything about timing

 

[scotts90ranger]

the engine calibration changes the timing as the RPM and intake manifold pressure changes, it's normal to be as low as 12 and as high as 30 wherever the engine "wanted" it to be that way, they probably change it for start/warmup too...

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

on my 94 you have to set the "base" timing by removing a SPOUT connector (in the same section of the harness as the ignition control module) and then setting the timing to the degrees listed on the emissions sticker on the core support. once timing is set you plug the SPOUT connector back in and the computer then advances and retards the timing according to the data being recieved by the sensors. im not sure if the 99 still has a distributor or not though as i havent seen one yet. hope this helps

 

[RumpRanger98]

its got the camshaft synchro. I guess I just wanted to clarify that the timing is normal to change under different operating conditions.

 

[racinranger]

The change is normal. your scanner "samples" at a rate much slower than the computer changes timing in the car. Hell the ford IDS i use at work doesnt read in real time. A labscope or oscilliscope would be needed to see "live" steaming data in real time.