1984 honda crx 1.3 (calif) 5sp.- can the timing be retarded and run better? When my timing is set according to factory specs (red mark) it pings. I use chevron regular(87) owners manual says the car should get 91.. have tried that with no difference. When it is retarded it does not ping on acceration but I have no power. (I know it is only 60 horses) I have been adjusting the idle as well. a little at a time. A mechanic told me my pcv hose is flattened and I just ordered a new hose and valve. will this make a difference too? Thanks.

The timing mark is on the torque converter or flywheel. It's under a rubber plug just below the starter, right where the transmission bolts to the engine. It's about the only place you can see the joint between the engine and the transmission on the front facing side of the engine. Almost all Honda's are marked this way. Some also have the drilled hole right next to it as for using a computer type timing probe. That's how it's set at the factory and the common man doesn't have the magnetic probe that works that way. After 89 there's no mark as the computer controls all timing functions and the timing can be seen with a computer scanner. even the cheap ones that bluetooth to your modern phone will show timing too. It's not settable so it's of little use to know what it is. See spark retard with different fuels and to detect spark knock and retard do to excessive carbon build up in engines that idle a lot. If the computer turns the timing higher the faster the engine goes it's a good timing pattern. If it retards a lot under load fuels bad or carbon build up is involved.

Hi. Thanks for your question. There are following steps you can follow.

1. Remove the rubber cap from the inspection window of the cylinder block.
Service Check Connector Location.
2. Start the engine and allow it to warm up (cooling fan comes on).
3. Connect the ORN/RED and GRN/WHT terminals of the service connector (BLU) with a jumper wire.
4. Connect a timing light to the No. 1 ignition wire; while the engine idles, point the light toward the pointer on the flywheel (for M/T), or on the drive plate (for A/T).
Timing Marks
5. Adjust ignition timing to: 15°+/- 2°BTDC
Distributor Adjusting Bolts
6. Adjust as necessary by loosening the distributor adjusting bolts, and turn the distributor housing counterclockwise to advance the timing or clockwise to retard timing.
7. Tighten the adjusting bolts and recheck the timing.
8. Remove the jumper from the service connector and replace the rubber cap to the inspection window.
You can also visit https://www.reliable-store.com and download the entire workshop manual for better understanding. It has all the information along with the diagrams which are really helpful. Good day!

all here:
http://honda-tech.com/honda-crx-ef-civic-1988-1991-3/%5Bfaq%5D-d-series-torque-specs-everyone-1169414/

no engine option stated, so , impossible.
the dizzy timing is way off, if in fact its a dizzy car. (distributor)
if not dizzy the cam CMP sensor is loose or some one fiddled it blind.
timing way to far advanced
so use a stroble light and set the timing to spec reading how to do that
in the FSM. (open hood lookup there is the static timiing spec, right there on all usa cars 1998.
to set timing the book shows the timing freeze jumper.
EFI needs that.
dont drive an pinging engine, or the pistons will shatter.
i warned you !-

The RED mark is the timing mark and the WHITE mark is for Top Dead Center for #1 piston.

hope this helps!

If the timing is off you need to go back and reinstall the timing belt properly. If you trust the job done check your catalytic converter and make sure its not pluged up it will cause loss of power and acceleration. Hope this helps you.

well you didn't specify the year, make, and model of the truck you are asking about so this is the best answer I can come up with. Below is a list I found that says what vehicles are interference motors...

INTERFERENCE ENGINES WITH TIMING BELTS
ACURA
1986-89 1.6L Integra
1991-95 1.7L Integra
1990-95 1.8L Integra
1986-89 2.5L Legend
1992-94 2.5L Vigor
1986-89 2.7L Legend
1990 2.7L Legend
1991-95 3.0L NSX
1991-95 3.2L Legend
AUDI
1970-93 All Except 1970-77
1.9L & 1970-73 1.8L
BMW
1987-95 2.5L 325I 525I
1994-95 4.0L 740I
CHRYSLER
1993-95 1.5L Colt
1987-88 1.5L Colt
1992-95 1.5L Eagle Summit
1987-88 1.6L Colt
1989-92 1.6L Eagle Summit
1994-98 2.0L Neon Stratus
1990-95 2.0L Eagle Talon
DAIHATSU
1988-92 1.0L Charade
1988-92 1.3L Charade
1990-92 1.6L Rocky
FIAT
1974-79 1.3L 128 Series
1979-82 1.5L Stranda
1974-78 1.6L 124 Series
1974-78 1.8L 124 Series
1974-78 1.8L 131 Series, Brava
1979-82 2.0L Brava, Spider
FORD
1981-85 1.6L Escort, EXP
1981-83 1.6L LN7, Lynx
1984-85 2.0L Escort, Tempo
1993-95 2.0L Probe
1986-88 2.0L Ranger
1984-87 2.0L Lynx, Topaz Diesel
1985 2.2L Ranger
1989-92 2.2L Probe
1986-88 2.3L Ranger
1986-87 2.3L Diesel Ranger
1991-98 4.6L Crown Victoria
GM
1986-95 1.0L Geo Metro
1989-91 1.0L Firefly (CANADA)
1985-88 1.5L Sunburst (CANADA)
1985-89 1.5L Spectrum
1990-93 1.6L Prizm, Storm
1981-84 1.8L Diesel (CANADA)
1982-86 1.8L Buick Skyhawk
1990-98 1.9L Saturn
1987-88 2.0L Buick Skyhawk
1988-95 2.3L Quad Four
1985-87 3.0L Buick
1979-95 3.8L Buick
HONDA
1986-87 1.0L Prelude
1973-78 1.2L All
1973-78 1.3L All
1980-84 1.3L All
1973-78 1.5L All
1985-89 1.5L Civic
1988-95 1.5L Civic, CRX
1993-95 1.5L Civic Del Sol
1979-84 1.5L All
1985-87 1.5L CRX
1993-95 1.6L Civic Del Sol
1973-78 1.6L All
1980-82 1.6L All
1988-95 1.6L Civic, CRX
1984-87 1.8L Prelude, Accord
1979-83 1.8L All
1986-91 2.0L Prelude
1990-91 2.1L Prelude
1990-95 2.2L Prelude, Accord
1992-95 2.2L Prelude
1995 2.7L Accord
HYUNDAI
1984-95 1.5L Excel Scoupe
1995-98 1.5L Accent
1992-95 1.6L Elantra
1993-95 1.8L Elantra
1992-95 2.0L Sonata
1989-91 2.4L Sonata
1990-95 3.0L Sonata
INFINITI
1990-92 3.0L M30
ISUZU
1987-89 1.5L I-Mark
1990-93 1.6L Stylus Impulse
1987-89 2.0L Impulse
1981-87 2.2L Diesel Truck
1986-95 2.3L Truck Trooper
1988-95 2.6L Truck Rodeo Amigo
1991-96 3.2L Trooper Rodeo Amigo
KIA
1995 2.0L Sportage
MAZDA
1984-85 2.0L 626
1988-92 2.2L 626 MX6
1989-93 2.2L Pickup
1988-95 3.0L 929 MPV
MITSUBISHI
1985-95 1.5L Mirage Precise
1990-92 1.6L Mirage
1989-95 2.0L Galant Eclipse
1983-86 2.3L Diesel Pickup
1994-95 2.4L Galant
NISSAN
1982 1.5L Centra
1983-88 1.6L Sentra Pulsar
1987-89 1.8L Pulsar
1982-89 2.0L Stanza 300ZX
1984-95 3.0L Maxima 300ZX Pathfinder
PORSCHE
1976-83 2.0L 924
1976-89 2.5L 944 Series
1989 2.7L 944 Series
1989-91 3.0L 944 Series
1976-83 4.5L 928
1984 4.7L 928
1985-91 5.0L 928
1992-95 5.4L 928
SUZUKI
1985-94 1.3L Samurai Sidekick
1989-94 1.3L Swift
TOYOTA
1986-95 1.5L Tercel
1981-83 2.2L Pickup
1984-87 2.4L Pickup
1982-88 2.8L Celica Cressida
1987-94 3.0L 4-Runner
VOLKSWAGEN
1976-91 All Except 1.9 2.1L Engine
1990-92 1.6L Golf (CANADA) Jetta
1990-95 2.0L GTI Jetta GLI Passat
VOLVO
1991 2.3L Coupe 940
1986-94 2.3L 240 740 940

If you haven't had the distributor out then turn the cam so the rotor points to No.1. Then yiou should see some marks either lining up or close to it.
If you have had the distributor out, set the cam and then worry about the distributor.
Some engines have more than one possible location for the cam gear. I'm not 100% about Hondas so I can't comment either way. Sorry.

the timing marks on 86-89 accords are on the flywheel. there is a 1" x 1/2" hole in the block about 1/2 way down on the front where the engine and trans bolt together. its tough to see because there is a p/s hose bracket in the way. there are marks for tdc and the spec.