Actron HQ441 Automobile Accessories User Manual
Contents
1. por C C American Motors Corporation Myriad 8835 General Drive Plymouth Township MI 48170 Chrysler Corporation Dyment Distribution Service Service Publication 20770 Westwood Drive Strongsville OH 44136 Ford Publications Department Helm Incorporated Post Office Box 07150 Detroit MI 48207 Buick Tuar Company Post Office Box 354 Flint MI 48501 Oldsmobile Lansing Lithographers Post Office Box 23188 Lansing MI 48909 Cadillac Chevrolet Pontiac Helm Incorporated Post Office Box 07130 Detroit MI 48207 Chilton Book Company Chilton Way Radnor PA 19089 Cordura Publications Mitchell Manuals Inc Post Office Box 26260 San Diego CA 92126 Motor s Auto Repair Manual Hearst Company 250 W 55th Street New York NY 10019 IMPORTANTE La siguiente es una lista de editores que publican manuales de servicio para veh culos espec ficos a por un precio nominal Escribirles para averiguar la disponibilidad y precios especificando la marca estilo y a o del modelo del veh culo 10 11 PARA IMPEDIR ACCIDENTES QUE PUEDAN CAUSAR GRAVES LESIONES Y O DA AR EL VEHICULO O EL EQUIPO DE PRUEBA SEGUIR ATENTAMENTE ESTAS REGLAS DE SEGURIDAD Y LOS PROCEDIMIENTOS DE PRUEBA REGLAS DE SEGURIDAD 12 13 Fig 1 Fig 3 Fig 4 Fig 5 TDC UDC 1 6 16N OP 1 6 O A 3 6 10 0 DC 10 10 Fig 2 LIMPIAR Y SE2. reset any idle speeds and reconnect any hoses or electrical connectors which may have been disconnected during the test procedure 8 9 FULL ONE 1 YEAR WARRANTY Actron Manufacturing Company 15825 Industrial Parkway Cleveland Ohio 44135 warrants to the user that this unit will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one 1 year from the date of original purchase Any unit that fails within this period will be repaired or replaced at Actron s option and without charge when returned to the Fac tory Actron requests that a copy of the original dated sales receipt be returned with the unit to determine if the warranty period is still in effect This warranty does not apply to damages caused by accident alterations or improper or unreasonable use Expendable items such as batteries fuses lamp bulbs flash tubes are also excluded from this warranty ACTRON MANUFACTURING COMPANY DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY FOR INCIDEN TAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF ANY WRITTEN WAR RANTY ON THE UNIT Some states do not allow the disclaimer of liability for incidental or consequential damages so the above disclaimer may or may not apply to you This warranty gives specific legal rights and you may also have rights which vary from state to state 15825 Industrial Parkway Cleveland Ohio 44135 Luz de regulaci n inductiva Luz de regulaci n inductiva del avance Luz de regulaci n accionada
3. spark plug wire This procedure is valid for the majority of engines in use today There are however some engines which are timed using the averaging method The most popu lar user of this method is General Motors where it is recommended for some of there smaller four 4 cylinder engines beginning in 1982 Your timing light has average timing capability The only change in hookup is that instead of connecting the spark plug pickup to the number one 1 spark plug wire it is con nected to the coil tower wire that is the wire between the ignition coil and the center of the distributor cap Consult your vehicle service manual for exact procedures When using an advance timing light note that average timing is used only for initial or base timing with the timing light s advance control set fully counterclockwise at 0 Timing ad vance measurements must be made with the inductive pickup clamped around the number one 1 spark plug wire Timing advance mea surements attempted with the inductive pickup clamped around the coil tower wire will not produce valid results LEAD CONNECTIONS 1 Figure 1 shows the typical hookup proce dure for most applications To insure safety follow the hookup sequence listed below 2 Make sure the engine is OFF and the ignition key is OFF 3 Inductive Pickup equipped timing light Clamp the inductive pickup around the num ber one 1 spark plug wire Do not allow the induct
4. 15825 Industrial Parkway Cleveland Ohio 44135 Inductive Timing Light Inductive Advance Timing Light D C Powered Timing Light 1 INSTRUCCIONES EN ESPA OL Vea la pag na 9 INTRODUCTION Precise ignition timing is essential to achieve maximum fuel economy and performance out of any spark ignited engine Your timing light provides a simple method for timing the en gines used in today s vehicles The advance timing light provides the additional capability of allowing the user to check timing advance curves of the vacuum mechanical or com puter controlled types Virtually all engines require that timing both initial and advance calibrations be set or checked at specific engine speeds or in some cases with a specific vacuum applied to the vacuum advance diaphragm on the distribu tor or on the vehicle s on board computer Your supplier offers a number of engine ana lyzers which are capable of measuring engine RPM and vacuum pumps for application of vacuum when required Contact him for further information on these instruments In the case of engines which are equipped with breaker point ignition systems it will be necessary to check and if necessary adjust point dwell before adjusting timing Make certain that the instrument that you have or intend to purchase has dwell measurement capability Metal cased timing lights are for use on twelve 12 volt negative ground systems only Plastic cased timing light
5. CAR AQU 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 degrees advance 0 25 20 15 10 5 5 PASO 8 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 degrees advance 0 25 20 15 10 5 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 degrees advance 0 25 20 15 10 5 5 PASO 7 PASO 6 PASOS 1 amp 2 14 15 2 2 4 4 0 xya xya Fig 6 Fig 8 Fig 7 Fig 9
6. GNITION AND EMISSION CONTROLS DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE A VEHICLE WITHOUT THE MANUFACTURER S INSTRUCTIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS 1996 ACTRON MANUFACTURING CO PRINTED IN U S A 0002 000 219201 Actron Manufacturing Company 15825 Industrial Parkway Cleveland Ohio 44135 garantiza al usuario que este equipo estar libre de defectos en los materiales y fabricaci n por un per odo de un 1 a o a partir de la fecha de compra original Cualquier equipo que llegue a fallar dentro de este per odo ser reparado o reemplazado a entera discreci n de ACTRON y sin cargo cuando sea devuelto a la f brica ACTRON solicita que junto con el equipo se env e una copia de la boleta de venta original fechada si el per odo de garant a todav a est en efecto Esta garant a no cubre los da os causados por accidente modificaciones o el uso inapropiado o irrazonable Los componentes de duraci n limitada por ej bater as fusibles bombillas de luces tubos destellantes quedan excluidos del amparo de esta garant a ACTRONS PRODUCTS NO SE RESPONSABILIZA POR DA OS FORTUITOS O EMERGENTES DEBIDO AL INCUMPLIMIENTO DE CUALQUIER GARANTIA ESCRITA SOBRE ESTE EQUIPO Algunos estados no aceptan el rechazo de responsabilidad por da os fortuitos o emergentes por lo tanto esta negaci n de responsabilidad puede no servir en el caso suyo Esta garant a otorga derechos legales espec ficos y tambi n pueden existir derecho
7. The carbon monoxide in exhaust gas is highly toxic To avoid asphyxiation always operate vehicle in a well ventilated area If vehicle is in an enclosed area exhaust should be routed directly to the outside via leakproof exhaust hose SETTING THE BRAKE Make sure that your car is in Park or Neutral and that the parking brake is firmly set NOTE Some vehicles have an automatic re lease on the parking brake when the gear shift lever is removed from the PARK position This feature must be disabled when it is necessary for testing to have the parking brake engaged when in the DRIVE position Refer to your vehicle service manual for more information HOT SURFACES Avoid contact with hot surfaces such as ex haust manifolds and pipes mufflers catalytic converters radiator and hoses Never re move the radiator cap while the engine is hot as escaping coolant under pressure may seri ously burn you SMOKING AND OPEN FLAMES Never smoke while working on your car Gaso line vapor is highly flammable and the gas formed in a charging battery is explosive BATTERY Do not lay tools or equipment on the battery Accidentally grounding the HOT battery ter minal can shock or burn you and damage wiring the battery or your tools and testers Be careful of contact with battery acid It can burn holes in your clothing and burn your skin or eyes When operating any test instrument from an auxiliary battery connect a jumper wire b
8. are gen eral and may be used on most pre emission controlled vehicles Note however that many vehicles have ignition and emission control sys tems which may permit timing advance only under certain operating conditions It is there fore important on these vehicles to check your vehicle service manual for specific instructions on how to perform advance system checks CENTRIFUGAL ADVANCE SYSTEM Operational Test 1 Set the advance knob on the timing light to the 0 degree position shown in Figure 7 2 With the distributor vacuum line discon nected and plugged Figure 5 and the engine at curb idle aim the timing light at the timing marks press the switch to oper ate the timing light and note the position of the timing mark as shown in Figures 2 and 7 The timing mark or pointer should ap pear to be opposite one of the numbers initial timing as shown 3 Gradually increase the engine speed to 2500 RPM while observing the timing mark position 4 As the engine speed increases the timing mark should appear to move smoothly in the opposite direction of engine rotation the spark advance direction See Figure 6 As engine speed is decreased the timing mark should appear to move smoothly back to the initial timing mark noted in Step 2 2 2 4 4 0 xya xya Fig 6 Spark Advance Timing TIMING MARK ROTATION diator hose is hot Adjust engine RPM to the value specified by the vehicle manufac
9. e tween the negative terminal of the auxiliary battery and ground on the vehicle under test When working in a garage or other enclosed area auxiliary battery should be located at least 18 inches above the floor to minimize the possibility of igniting gasoline vapors HIGH VOLTAGE High voltage 30 000 to 50 000 volts is present in the ignition coil distributor cap ignition wires and spark plugs When handling ignition wires while the engine is running use insulated pliers to avoid a shock While not lethal a shock may cause you to jerk involun tarily and hurt yourself JACK The jack supplied with the vehicle should be used only for changing wheels Never crawl under car or run engine while vehicle is on a jack missing consult the vehicle service manual or appropriate service literature for the engine under test It is important to note that prepara tion is specific to each engine TWELVE 12 VOLT POSITIVE GROUND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS Steps 4 and 5 of LEAD CONNECTIONS below are revised to read as follows 4 Connect the BLACK clip to the negative battery terminal 5 Connect the RED clip to a secure engine ground such as the alternator generator bracket or engine block For safety rea sons do not use the positive battery terminal or fuel system components as a ground connection point All other instructions remain as listed SIX 6 VOLT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS Follow the steps listed below to us
10. e your tim ing light on vehicles equipped with six 6 volt electrical systems A twelve 12 volt battery is required This can be any automotive or mo torcycle battery 1 Connect the RED clip from the timing light to the positive terminal of the twelve 12 volt battery 2 Connect the BLACK clip from the timing light to the negative terminal of the twelve 12 volt battery 3 Obtain a jumper wire minimum wire size l8 AWG 4 Connect one end of the jumper wire to the negative terminal of the twelve 12 volt battery 5 Connect the other end of the jumper wire to a clean secure ground on the vehicle un der test The jumper wire must go to ground on the vehicle regardless of whether the vehicle is a positive or negative ground system 6 Connection to the number one 1 spark plug and remaining procedures are the same as described later in this manual ENGINE PREPARATION FOR TIMING In order for any engine to be base initially timed correctly it is important to carefully fol low the instructions as shown on the Vehicle Emission Control label This label is located under the hood in the engine compartment Some typical locations are the underside of the hood the fender well a valve cover or in the area of the hood latch If the label is NOTE The procedures outlined below instruct the user to connect the spark plug pickup direct hookup or inductive clamp style to the number one 1
11. hould be smooth An uneven or erratic advance motion may in dicate a defective centrifugal advance sys tem which should then be serviced as nec essary according to the vehicle manufacturer s instructions NOTE Some manufacturers give advance speci fications in distributor degrees and dis tributor RPM Since the distributor rotates at one half of engine or crankshaft speed the distributor specifications should be one half of what is indicated on the advance timing light dial Vehicle test speed must also be doubled if test speed is listed for distributor RPM It is therefore important to know if the vehicle service manual is pre senting specifications in engine or dis tributor degrees and RPM 8 Continue to turn the control knob until the timing mark appears at the 0 degree TDC mark on the engine The reading reached number obtained in Step 2 This step does not apply to those engines whose initial timing is at or after Top Dead Center TDC 6 Operate the engine at 2500 RPM or as specified by the vehicle manufacturer for the centrifugal advance check The timing mark may appear to move off scale and beyond the highest number This may be normal for the RPM being used and par ticular vehicle under test 7 Direct the timing light at the timing mark and turn the control knob until the timing mark on the engine appears to return to the initial timing position as noted in Step 2 above The read
12. ing reached on the timing light dial now indicates the amount of cen trifugal advance in crankshaft or engine degrees Figure 9 Repeat the test as required for various speeds as specified in the vehicle service manual on the timing light dial now indicates the total advance that is the initial advance plus the centrifugal advance in degrees Figure 9 If initial timing specification is after TDC this must be added to the timing light dial reading to obtain total advance You may also rotate the control knob further to initial timing thus eliminating the need for calculation Total ad vance will then be shown Check the result with manufacturer s specifications Repeat the test as required for various speeds as speci fied in the vehicle service manual If the read ing does not meet the manufacturer s specifi cation it may indicate a problem with the centrifugal advance mechanism which should then be corrected by repair or replacement VACUUM ADVANCE SYSTEM CHECKS Accurately checking the calibration of the vacuum advance system requires not only the advance timing light but also a vacuum pump with gauge such as described in the INTRO DUCTION at the beginning of this manual Most vehicle service manuals will indicate spe cific advance in degrees for a given vacuum in inches of mercury See your vehicle service manual for specific procedures As with the centrifugal advance system checks note whether specificatio
13. ive pickup to touch the exhaust mani fold or surrounding parts as these areas become extremely hot and will damage the inductive clamp Direct connection equipped timing light Remove the number one 1 spark wire from either the spark plug end or the distributor end whichever is more conven ient but without compromising safety See the NOTE below 4 5 BLACK RED Fig 1 Hookup Diagram Connect the spring adaptor and spark plug lead between the spark plug or distributor cap and the removed wire as shown in Figure 1 Route the timing light s spark plug wire away from the exhaust manifold and surrounding hot areas to prevent damage 4 Connect the RED clip to the positive battery terminal 5 Connect the BLACK clip to a secure engine ground such as the alternator bracket or engine block For safety reasons do not use the negative battery terminal or fuel system components as a ground connec tion point NOTE On some engines the distributor may be mounted very close to the carburetor or fuel injection throttle body Since this is an area in which there may be gasoline vapors present it is adviseable on these engines to remove the number one 1 spark plug wire only at the spark plug end ENGINE TIMING CHECK Breaker point equipped engines only Check and if necessary adjust dwell to specifi cation before proceeding with timing check 1 Prepare the engine for timing as indicated above i
14. n ENGINE PREPARATION FOR TIMING 2 Clean and chalk if necessary both the rotating and stationary timing marks on the engine See Figure 2 3 Start the engine and allow it to warm to normal operating temperature upper ra diator hose is hot 4 Check and if necessary adjust RPM to specified timing speed 5 When using an advance timing light make certain that the advance control is set fully counterclockwise at 0 6 Aim the timing light at the crankshaft damper pulley or transmission bell housing de pending on the location of the timing marks on the engine under test See Figures 1 and 2 7 Pull the trigger switch on the timing light and observe the location of the rotating mark with respect to the stationary mark If timing is within the tolerance as specified by the manufacturer typically plus or mi nus 2 degrees no adjustment is necessary and the procedure is finished If it is not within specifications proceed directly to the INITIAL TIMING ADJUSTMENT section below If the timing light multiple flashes or flashes erratically on timing lights equipped with an inductive pickup see NOTE below Fig 2 Various Timing Light Configurations TDC UDC 1 6 16N OP 1 6 O A 3 6 10 0 DC 10 10 8 Shut off the engine Disconnect the timing light leads in the reverse order from which they were connected 9 Re connect any disconnected hoses or electrical connectors which were part
15. ns are in distributor or engine degrees 9 Perform Steps 1 8 for the centrifugal ad vance system if not done as yet l0 Stop the engine and connect your exter nal vacuum pump to the vacuum diaphragm on the distributor or the vehicle s on board computer READING DAMPER WHEEL ONLY INITIAL ADVANCE IDLE RPM VACUUM HOSE DISCONNECTED READING ADVANCE TIMING LIGHT DIAL INITIAL ADVANCE IDLE RPM VACUUM HOSE DISCONNECTED READING CENTRIFUGAL ADVANCE AND INITIAL ADVANCE CENTRIFUGAL ADVANCE 2500 RPM VACUUM HOSE DISCONNECTED 11 Set the timing light s advance control to 0 Restart the engine 12 Aim the timing light at the timing marks pull the trigger and note engine timing 13 Adjust engine RPM if necessary and apply vacuum levels to the vacuum advance dia phragm as indicated by the vehicle service manual If it is necessary to reset engine RPM via service manual instruction note engine timing again as indicated in Step12 14 Turn the timing light s advance control up scale until the timing mark on the engine returns to its starting point as noted in Step 12 15 Note the timing advance in degrees with each application of vacuum and compare the result with service manual values Fail ure to obtain the vacuum advance readings may indicate a leaky diaphragm sticky advance mechanism or lack of vacuum to drive the vacuum motor diaphragm 16 After all testing is complete make sure to
16. of the engine s preparation for timing Reset the engine s idle speed if necessary Timing Adjustments l Make certain that the engine has been prepared for timing as indicated above in ENGINE PREPARATION FOR TIMING LOOSEN HOLD DOWN BOLT REMOVE AND PLUG VACUUM HOSE IF REQUIRED Fig 3 Positioning the Inductive Pickup for Reliable Readings NOTE A defective ignition system may cause the timing light to multiple flash or flash errati cally Low output spark voltage or a defec tive ignition wire may be responsible You may be able to steady the flash by sliding the inductive pickup along the plug wire to a new location or reversing the inductive pickup as shown in Figure 3 This may also help even with polarity sensitive pick ups Solid copper ignition wires radiate large amounts of radio frequency noise through the air which may interfere with the proper operation of the timing light and other electronic equipment Replace solid copper ignition wire with resistance type wire if only for the tests described in this manual Erratic flashing of the timing light can also be caused by dirt or grease buildup on the mating surfaces of the inductive clamp To maintain proper operation of the clamp clean and dry the inside clamp sur faces with a soft cloth when necessary as shown in Figure 4 NOTE The following timing adjustment procedure can be used on the majority of spark ig nited engines in use today Both Gene
17. ral Motors and Ford Motor Company have introduced and used special versions of their common electronic ignition systems which sense ignition directly from the engine s crankshaft via a crankshaft sen sor These systems were introduced in the late1970 s and were typically used only on a few of the high line luxury passenger cars Timing is still checked with a timing light in the standard manner however timing adjustment is made at the crank shaft sensor not by turning the distributor as is normally done See your vehicle serv ice manual for exact adjustment proce dures on this type system 2 With the engine off loosen the distributor hold down bolt just enough so that the dis tributor can be turned freely Do not loosen the bolt beyond this point See Figure 5 3 Start the engine and allow it to warm to normal operating temperature upper ra CLEAN AND DRY HERE Fig 4 Cleaning the Inductive Pickup Fig 5 Loosening the Hold Down Clamp 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 degrees advance 0 25 20 15 10 5 5 STEP 8 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 degrees advance 0 25 20 15 10 5 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 degrees advance 0 25 20 15 10 5 5 STEP 7 STEP 6 STEPS 1 amp 2 6 7 TIMING ADVANCE The following instructions apply only to advance timing lights The following advance system checks
18. s may be used on six 6 or twelve 12 volt positive or negative ground systems by following the simple instructions in this manual American Motors Corporation Myriad 8835 General Drive Plymouth Township MI 48170 Chrysler Corporation Dyment Distribution Service Service Publication 20770 Westwood Drive Strongsville OH 44136 Ford Publications Department Helm Incorporated Post Office Box 07150 Detroit MI 48207 Buick Tuar Company Post Office Box 354 Flint MI 48501 Oldsmobile Lansing Lithographers Post Office Box 23188 Lansing MI 48909 Cadillac Chevrolet Pontiac Helm Incorporated Post Office Box 07130 Detroit MI 48207 OTHER SOURCES Nonfactory Domestic and Import Cars Chilton Book Company Chilton Way Radnor PA 19089 Cordura Publications Mitchell Manuals Inc Post Office Box 26260 San Diego CA 92126 Motor s Auto Repair Manual Hearst Company 250 W 55th Street New York NY 10019 VEHICLE MANUAL SOURCES FOR SERVICE INFORMATION The following is a list of publishers who have service manuals for your specific vehicle at nominal cost Write to them for availability and prices specifying the make style and model year of your vehicle IMPORTANT CONSULT THE VEHICLE SERVICE MANUAL FOR SPECIFIC TUNE UP INFORMATION AND TEST PROCEDURES ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER S SPECIFICATIONS AND TEST PROCEDURES FOR ADJUSTING DWELL ANGLE AND IDLE SPEED ESPECIALLY ON VEHICLES WITH MODERN ELECTRONIC I
19. s que var a de un estado a otro 16 SAFETY GUIDELINES TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY AND OR DAMAGE TO YOUR VEHICLE OR TEST EQUIPMENT CAREFULLY FOLLOW THESE SAFETY RULES AND TEST PROCEDURES 2 3 SAFETY EQUIPMENT Fire Extinguisher Never work on your car without having a suitable fire extinguisher handy A 5 lb or larger CO2 or dry chemical unit specified for gasoline chemical electrical fires is recom mended Fireproof Container Rags and flammable liquids should be stored only in fireproof closed metal containers A gasoline soaked rag should be allowed to dry thoroughly outdoors before being discarded Safety Goggles We recommend wearing safety goggles when working on your car to protect your eyes from battery acid gasoline and dust and dirt flying off moving engine parts NOTE Never look directly into the carburetor throat while the engine is cranking or running as sudden backfire can cause burns LOOSE CLOTHING AND LONG HAIR MOVING PARTS Be very careful not to get your hands hair or clothes near any moving parts such as fan blades belts and pulleys or throttle and trans mission linkages Never wear neckties or loose clothing when working on your car JEWELRY Never wear wrist watches rings or other jew elry when working on your car You ll avoid the possibility of catching on moving parts or causing an electrical short circuit which could shock or burn you VENTILATION
20. turer for timing purposes If no value is given set the engine to curb idle 4 Aim the timing light at the timing marks on the engine and pull the trigger switch 5 With the trigger switch pulled and while observing the timing marks rotate the dis tributor slowly clockwise or counterclock wise as necessary to bring the timing into factory specification On most engines a change in timing will change engine RPM If this happens reset the engine RPM as indicated in Step 3 above and repeat Steps 4 and 5 until timing and RPM are within factory specifications 6 Shut off the engine Tighten the distributor hold down bolt securely 7 Start the engine and recheck the timing If it drifted during the bolt tightening process readjust it as necessary 8 Shut off the engine Disconnect the timing light leads in the reverse order from which they were connected 9 Reconnect any disconnected vacuum hoses or electrical connectors which were discon nected as part of the engine s preparation for timing Reset the engine s idle speed if necessary Fig 8 Fig 7 Fig 9 Calibration Accuracy Test 5 Operate the engine at curb idle direct the timing light at the timing mark and turn the control knob upscale until the timing mark on the engine appears to be at 0 degrees See Figure 8 The number on the timing light dial indicates the initial advance in degrees and should correspond to the NOTE Advance motion s
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