How to time distributor without a timing gun on a 93 Ford ranger 3.0l v6

I thought I sent you pictures of the pick-up coil this morning, you set the timing by the distributor what is wrong now

The ignition system engine controller uses a distributor sensor with a sector wheel to provide the ignition timing. This distributor pick up coil provides the (CKP) sensor function.


Hope this helps?

You shouldn't necessarily have to change the timing with a new distributor -- just note where the rotor is pointing on the old one before taking it out, and make sure the new one is pointed the same way when you install it.
Regarding the procedure for checking the timing: you do have a repair manual, right? If not, you can probably find a used one for less than $10, which I guarantee can prevent at least $10 worth of mistakes. I like Haynes manuals better than Chilton's.

If you have and know how to use a timing gun first of all to first check the timing with the timing gun to see how much it is off. The distributor cap is part of the timing so you can take off the distributor cap and move it just little at a time but make sure that when you move the distributor cap just a little that the car is not running and then check the timing with timing gun again. Its a trial and error is how I learned by my father this way and its safe just make sure to move the distributor cap just little bit at a time maybe close to an hair or so. I know this might take some time but you will get the handle of it easy once you learn the trick.

Turn your motor by hand to bring up TDC #1 fire. Set your distributor in place. Remember it will turn with the direction of the cam gear approx 1/2 post when it seats so you need to compensate for this. Set your cap on and follow down #1 post and mark your housing. Remove cap and turn dist until rotor centers on mark. Start and time (remember to remove timing plug) with timing light. Did you remember to use new head bolts?

Yep - if you were to clean the harmonic damper (the big thick disk on the front of the engine) you'd find a series of timing marks on it. If you connect a timing light to #1 and point it at the timing indicator, you'd be able to read the engine's timing.

you have to loosen the tension bolt on the distributor and turn it left or right a few degrees while using a timing gun. stop adjusting after the line on the harmonic balancer lines up with the 0 peg. On a side note, being you have a 95 the ecm may control the timing on your vehicle, if it does and your timing is still off your ecm could be bad.

Hello;
The Ford motors are pretty good. I had 280K on a 2.9 V-8 that only needed the oil changed every 3K. Unless you have fluctuatuation in the timing then you should be ok.
These engines use a chain rather than a belt and have excellent life.
Thanks;
Rich RPM Northwest

The timing marks are on your timing belt cover. There is a little circle on the bottom right of the cover near the harmonic balancer that you can pop out to see if your distributor accesory gear is in the correct position. The camshaft has a triangle on the inside of the gear that you can line up with this accesory gear. The bottom of the timing belt cover has your timing tick marks and you may have to clean off this rectangular piece that is sticking out on the cover to see the marks. A good timing gun and remembering where the number 1 cylinder on your distributor is a good start to timing your motor. Refer to a Haynes Manual and it will give you a good guide line on how to time your motor with TDC. I hope you have good luck with this!

distributor is placed wrong for timing
take cap off unbolt distributor lift enough to turn rotor place back dont bolt litely just enough to hold distributor down without it poping up on you
place cap back on
now you need manual start and kill switch up in engine compartment turn vehicle over with manual starter switch if runs rough turn distributor till sounds good now time it with radar gun tighten bolts the rest of the way

now for what i described this has a margin of error going 1 to 3 notches to time in either direction from front to back or back to front turning of the distributor rotar
i hope i had made some sense here
or counter clockwise the lifting distributor and turning rotor one tooth to engine crank this is timeing