89 F250 351W Timing Issue
 

My 89 Ford 250 sounds like it has a timing issue and I can not find how to set the timing on this truck. It has the fuel injected 351 Windsor motor in it. Anyone?

Also, the "check engine" light is on (could be affecting the timing). How would I find the code on this to find out what is wrong? It is obviously not OBDII.

Hook timing light to #1 plug wire , pull out the spout conector , set the timing at 10 deg BTDC, replace spout.....Lew

Ford Fuel Injection How To Run a Self-Test

From another forum How to properly set the timing on a 302 or 351

There is also a plenty of cheap code readers out there for cheap, like this one Equus Innova EPI 3145 OBD-1 Ford Scan Tool Code Reader at Gadgets Galore!

Also welcome to FTE... NEWBIE!

Thank you guys so much! You guys are great!

I need one of those readers! I get tired of counting flashes. Fortunately my '92 F350 is running like a champ right now.

i'm sure you can find them cheap 2nd hand to off craigslist (or crazedlist) and ebay...

you can also go to oreilieys and have it done for free too... they'll give you a print out of the results.

OK, so back to the timing...how do you go about actually setting the timing? Do you have to loosen a bolt on the distributor? Can this be done with the cap still on it? How do you read the light? The mechanic I took the truck to originally said that I could not set the timing on my truck because the computer sets it...meaning that the distributor could not move. Not sure of the validity of that statement, but I figured that most of the 351W's were pretty much the same. Im just not knowledgeable about cars to set the timing on my own without a little guidance. I dont know what to move and what to aim the light at or read the light for that fact. LOL

How to properly set the timing on a 302 or 351 <----clicky

Right, I get that...but the lingo is difficult for me to comprehend. Heck, I dont even know where the harmonic balancer is. LOL From the diagram, it looks as if it is attached to the distributor...which does not move on my truck.

Incorrect. The distributor does move on your truck. The base timing is set by removing the SPOUT connector, then moving the distributor. You use a timing light to verify the distributor is properly set. Once you do that, put the SPOUT back in. The computer does control the timing with that SPOUT plugged in.

Your mechanic is not helping you any by making misstatements like they have. Find another mechanic who knows something and/or buy a repair manual to help you understand what needs to be done.

Here is another link to a technical writeup for upgrading the ignition components and bumping the timing up from factory specifications. There are some more photos and captions to help you out: ignition upgrade and timing bump