Just checked and adjusted the timing on my car - EA 4.0l MPFI

while the car is idling the timing mark jumps around -+ 10mm.
when i increase revs it stabilises around 2000rpm+

does this mean my distributer is stuffed ? any other reasons ?

did ya bridge the terminals to put the computer in the mode to adjust timming, not sure how its done on the ea but the eb and el its the top left and bottom left pins in the diganostic port

my ea does the same thing,,its got a 4 litre as well.

Yeah i think i put it in diag mode - my ea has the eb2+ plug under the dash
just hanging there - wasn't 100% sure which way was up - i shorted pin1 and the one under it.

at 2000rpm it should be stable at idle it will jump around shes all sweet mate, but ea with a 4l i didnt think they existed ??? thought they were all 3.9 or 3.2

engine swap.

O.k heres my story i got AN EA 3.9 MPFI fairmont GHIA. To time this thing i take a crocodile style clip and earth it (eg. Suspension Bolts) and feed the other end to the " Red:white " wire above the MASTER CYLINDER and the engine will increase engine speed to 1500 RPM, and it will stay there for 30 seconds. Just enough time for you to time and idle the girl. But your story seems suspicious. push down a liitle bit more on the Distributor to see if its well fed in.

Hmm it must not be in diag mode then.
cause revs didn't increase - i run a high idle 900rpm as any lower and it would want to stall (but wouldn't)

Is this Red:white wire above the master cylinder part of a plug ? should something be plugged into it or is it empty ?

i was able to change the timing - car has alot more power down low.
if i am not in diag mode what happens if i change the timing ?
is it just not a true representation of the engine timing ?

which side of the TDC mark should i have my timing adjusted to ?
i have a wade 1636 cam extractors k&n filter what timing should i run ?

before i changed the timing it was around 30mm to the left of the TDC mark - how far advanced/retarded would that be ?