Failed emissions due to timing? Can it be?

[Dave Haupt]

Subject vehicle is a 1989 200 turbo quattro sedan,
early MC engine with single knock sensor.

The youngster at the smog station claimed "the timing
measures 10 degrees BTDC and it should be 15 degrees".
 The Bentley confirms it should be 15 degrees, however
it also claims it's not adjustable.

The basic timing setup is to set the engine for TDC on
cylinder #1 (timing mark on flywheel, viewed through
transmission housing, I think), then align the
distributor so that the rotor points to an alignment
mark on the housing.  Done.  After that, the ECU makes
adjustments to the timing, based on lots of factors. 
Therefore, I don't think one can legitimately measure
the timing and declare "good" or "bad".

However, the smog station's computer spits out a
number, and the tech "measures" it.

Anybody else run into this, and how do you deal with
it?  My mechanic basically said, "There is no
adjustment.  I don't know how to help with uneducated
smog technicians."

This is one "repair" that has to be done via careful
education and tact!

Dave
Santa Rosa, CA


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