I have a 2000 Nissan frontier that needs the timing checked/adjusted before I take to to be smogged. It's the 3.3L V6 engine.
How do I stop the PCM from adjusting the timing automatically so that I can set it manually with a timing light?
Cheers!
I had a similar issue with my Sentra. I think around 1999, Nissan may have found a way to prevent the consumer from doing timing and other adjustments anymore. The CPUs in Nissan vehicles from 1999 onward seem to be a bit harder to diagnose unless you use the $1000 Nissan diagnosing computer, the CONSULT, only available and used by the dealer.
In my car, I tried to adjust my timing to +10 degrees with a timing light. I dis-connected several sensors; the fans, tps, IACV etc. When adjusting the timing I would slowly move the distributor as the degrees went up: 3....5.....5....5...5......5....5...7-then immediately BAM! 30 degrees off the scale. Somehow the ECU picked up that I was adjusting timing and at seemed to just throw everything off. I tried several times. Same result.
What I did instead was then to play by feel. I set the distributor to one point and drove for a while. I try to give it a week each time in case the ECU needs time to adjust to the new setting. While not perfect, that has worked out ok for me.
CD
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