Setting ignition timing on '89 90Q without VW 1367

[John Cody Forbes]

Sorry no personal experiance with that exact model, but it is possible they 
used an ignition system simmilar to the turbo 5cyl cars where ignition 
timing is not effected by minor positioning of the distributor. If that is 
the case, as long as the rotor points to the cylinder #1 mark on the body of 
the distributor while the engine is on TDC you are good to go.

To test to see if this is the case you can watch your timing light and marks 
while rotating the distributor a small ammount, maybe 5-10 degrees (engine 
running at idle). If the timing does not change than you will know that the 
ECU doesn't care about minor distributor positioning. On a 10 valve turbo 
engine you can turn the distributor over a range of maybe 30 degrees (until 
the rotor is no longer lining up with the post of the cap) with no effect at 
all on the timing.

-Cody Forbes

J.B. Hebert wrote:
> I just replaced the distributor in an '89 90Q and I'm going to set the
> timing.  The service manual has a procedure for setting timing on '87
> and '88 cars using a timing light, but for the '89 it says, "Checking
> ignition timing using a strobe is NOT necessary".  Does this mean it
> cannot be done, or does it assume everyone has a VW 1367 tool at their
> disposal?
>
> Thanks in advance (heh).
>
> J.B.
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