throttle / timing ?????

[86RangerMan]

Hello, wanted to ask a question about my 1986 ranger with a 2.3 efi engine,
5 speed transmission.. I went to set the timing. set it at 10 btdc, plugged the switch back in , the timing jumped up to 20 btdc.. which i don't know if thats right or not.. but, i also noticed that the idle was to high.. i found the throttle screw, and adjusted it to idle lower.. seems to run okay, but, the question i have is..... how do you know what the truck is idling at if you don't have a tach,, and also since i adjusted the idle screw, will that throw the timing off..... because i adjusted the timing before i adjusted the idle?? any help will be greatly appreciated....

 

[Mark_88]

Well, from a recent similar thread 20*BTDC is the proper setting and if you try to adjust it otherwise the computer will compensate and reset it to where it should be...that is the way the EFI works from what I understand...

There should be a connector on the coil to attach a test tachometer (look at the clip and it should be embossed right on it) but you would need to obtain a test tach for that...you might be able to pick up a test tach, but you can usually tell by the sound of the motor if the revs are too high...or by putting it in first and popping the clutch...if it pulls away a bit fast then your idle is set too high...