re: upshift indicator [4k/CGT]

[William Elliott <William.Elliott@mail.mei.com>]

 <<Does your upshift indicator light come on?  Mine never has.  I haven't 
thought much about it, until last night my friend told me he replaced his 
vacuum advance on his distributor because it was bad and his light started 
working (made his car faster of course too).>>

Unless something else was wrong, hooking up a vacuum 
advance should not make a car faster.  Cleaner and more
efficient, yes, but not faster. The advance only works at
times of high vacuum.... meaning closed throttle.

<<Now I wonder if my vacuum advance is not working.  I replaced all my 
vacuum hoses, so I shouldn't have a leak anywhere else.

I guess the simplest way to check for a failed vacuum advance would be to 
check the timing with it disconnected and compare that with the timing 
with it connected (while accelerating both times).>>

If you're concerned, use a timing light and check the difference at idle.  
When the hose is connected, you should get more advanced timing.

<<Is there a better way to fix the upshift light (another cause beside a 
failed vacuum advance)?  I doubt it's the bulb, ya think?>>

If I've owned the car, it's the bulb.  If you didn't buy the car new, 
it's possible (even probable) that a previous owner disabled the
"feature".  When a light on my dashboard comes on while I'm 
driving, I want it to be important.  

Just my $.02

Bill Elliott
Lake Mills, WI