Hi guys,

I'm new here and I've got a technical question I hope you can help me with. Let me know if I'm in the wrong section.

Now my engine has been running rough with low power so I go to check the timing on my brick (88 740 2.3L non-turbo) and with the engine warm and idling, I get a timing reading of 0 degrees. I am concerned. I did a search and found that the marks on the balancer can slip causing an erroneous timing reading. So, I took off the harmonic balancer and checked the alignment of the timing belt ( I do all my own work... don't trust anyone else), and everything is still aligned at 0 degrees.

So, my timing belt is ok, my balancer has not slipped, so this means my timing is being retarded by something. Figuring a bad knock sensor, I unplug its connector and redo the timing check... doesn't change at all. I install a new knock sensor... same thing, no change in timing.

I also read that a plugged cat can retard the timing (my cat is 1 year old), so I removed a port plug just in front of the cat to remove a little backpressure... no change in timing.

My next thought is that I have bad wiring from the knock sensor to the ignition computer... but I don't know where the ignition computer is located...

Am I on the right track here? Can anyone help me out?

BTW... all other Fuel injection components diagnose as OK... injectors, amm, the fuel pressure regulator is new and working, pumps, throttle position switch, etc.

I would really appreciate your thoughts on this.

THanks.