Fat_Joe

Earlier I posted that my car was lacking power when the timing was set to specs and would only run right at full advance. Well it turns out that when I set the timing, the idle microswitch was not being thrown. Now I fixed it and the ECU "knows" the car is at idle. So when I went to set the timing again I was shocked when I could only get 1 degree retarded when the distributer was turned to the max. I double checked my measurements and used a timing light with dial-in advance. So I am confused, a few people told me that the timing belt slipped on the intermediate shaft, but you would think that is would be noticable if it slipped. Any ideas?? All I know is that somthings not right...

4kq

The timing is set to spec or it isn't. If the valve timing is off in relation to the ignition timing then you are screwed (if it is getting up in miles then you are far better off changing the belt seals and water pump NOW). The microswitch makes no difference on the I-5. On a 4-cyl, the timing can be dragged back by the knock sensor.

Fat_Joe

Sorry, its the 1.8 liter 4cyl. What I find weird is that the engine performance is terrible at anything less than full advance. What would cause this?

4kq

In the I-5 at least you can quick check this by setting the flywheel mark at tdc and the dist mark at tdc and look to see if the cams are pointing in the right direction.