How to set the timing accurately?

2001 FORD RANGER
263,456 MILES • 2.2L • 4 CYL • MANUAL
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SAMUEL BUTIKI KULA
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As I am not a mechanic, and my motor mechanic stays far away and left when we had a problem with a starter after he set the timing, and I had to get an auto-mechanic after the Christmas vacation to fix the starter and now the car is cranking and idling.

The motor mechanic once taught me that if the timing is set accurately the distributor must be at the center. But now to ignite the car the auto-electrician has put the distributor at the far end of clockwise corner if he brings it towards the center, it switches off. He said it requires a motor mechanic to fine tune the timing.

So, I want to fine tune the timing.

This is a Ford Ranger 2200 F2 Engine (petrol).
Jan 15, 2025 at 2:31 PM
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STRAILER
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There is no 2.2-liter engine for this truck, does it have a different engine? Can you please upload an image of the engine so I can confirm? There is a 2.3-liter engine, but it does not have an ignition distributor.
Jan 15, 2025 at 6:43 PM
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SAMUEL BUTIKI KULA
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Yes there is, it is 2200 (2.2) see attached photos.
Jan 15, 2025 at 11:53 PM
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STRAILER
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Yep, that is not a Ford engine, it looks like a Mazda. The timing can be correct even though the timing adjustment is not in the center, is this the only problem you are having?
Jan 16, 2025 at 9:44 AM
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SAMUEL BUTIKI KULA
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Yes, in the main but the car after it has stalled does not start. Say for example when I stop at the stop sign having applied foot brakes and clutch it stalls/switches engine off and when I try to ignite it does not idle (yet the battery is full, and the starter has been repaired). When I barely stop or yield at the stop sign using the hand brake and clutch it does not stall. So, I thought perhaps this also relates to the inaccurate setting of the timing.
Jan 17, 2025 at 4:17 AM
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STRAILER
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Yes, this might be. You will need a timing light to set the timing at 8 degrees TDC. Please go over this guide as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/stall-at-idle

Check out the images (below). Let us know what you find.
Jan 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
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SAMUEL BUTIKI KULA
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Noted with thanks I will have a look at it.
Jan 18, 2025 at 1:47 AM
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STRAILER
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Sounds good, have a nice weekend.
Jan 18, 2025 at 10:31 AM