1. Ignition advance should be checked for compliance with the service schedule or if the ignition distributor is replaced.
2. Apply the parking brake. Turn on "neutral" (and mechanical transmission) or "parking" (in automatic transmission).
3. Locate the VECI label under the hood. which gives advance information for your engine. If there is no such label, refer to your Owner's Manual for the vehicle or Technical data at the beginning of this chapter.
4. Start the engine and warm it up to operating temperature (until the cooling fan turns on). Stop the engine.
5. To set the lead, some special tools and devices will be required (pic. 23.5).
6. Connect the tachometer and stroboscope according to their manufacturers' instructions. Connect the stroboscope induction sensor to the high voltage wire of spark plug #1.
7. Locate the timing dial on the timing belt cover next to the crankshaft pulley. For better visibility, wash the dirt off the scale.
8. Make sure that the tachometer and strobe wires are at a sufficient distance from the rotating parts of the engine.
9. On all Ford models with 4-cylinder engine and on Mazda models with 4-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, remove the jumper from the SPOUT connector located between the battery and the data connector.
10. On Mazda models with a 4-cylinder engine and a manual transmission, as well as models with a V-engine, bridge the TEN and GND pins of the data connector (pic. 23.10).
11. Start the engine and check the idle speed (see paragraph 22) If RPM is not correct, adjust RPM before adjusting advance.
12. Aim the strobe beam at the crankshaft pulley. If the yellow pointer on the pulley does not match the desired division of the angular scale, loosen the clamping bolt of the ignition distributor and turn the distributor on the desired side until the marks match.
13. Fix position of the distributor a bolt. Check idle speed and advance again.
14. At the end of the adjustments, stop the engine and disconnect the tachometer and stroboscope from it. Remove the jumper from the data connector or insert a jumper into the SPOUT connector.