Heck...if you're a shade tree mechanic, you should know better than to have a timing light. Just throw it away and time it by ear. Well...maybe keep it around for your V-8 cars, but no need for it with a 4 banger. After about 6 years of Volvo ownership, I finally got a light...and every time I set it exactly to spec, it don't run right and I just pull over on the road and set it by ear until it runs right and doesn't ping. Ususally takes a couple days to get it just right.

The proper spec also depends (a little) on your altitude. Or so I've heard. But here at about 5000 feet above sea level, I've always been told that 10-12 degrees at idle (vaccuum disconnected) was proper. But mine has always run best at about 14-16 degrees. Some of my cars have knocked though, and had to be backed off a bit.

Furthurmore, with my older cars (pre F.I.) that had more of a knock&ping problem, I would set the timing differently in summer than in winter. No...that ain't right, but the car worked best that way.

-Matt