How do I find TDC on cylinder 1?

Tiny
TJMOWBRAY
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 153,000 MILES
How do I find TDC on cylinder 1 and where do timing marks look when aligned?
Monday, November 11th, 2024 AT 8:04 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,457 POSTS
Finding TDC is easy. Disconnect the battery. Remove the number one spark plug. Rotate the engine with something in the spark plug hole like a finger or similar that can block it off. Rotate the engine and you will feel it build pressure on the compression stroke. As it builds, remove the blockage and put something that will fit loosely in the plug hole, like a longer dowel. Now slowly rotate the engine and watch for that dowel to stop moving. Rotate the engine back until you just start to see the dowel barely drop. Mark the location of the balancer. Now rotate the engine forward again until it starts to drop. Mark the location, halfway between those marks will be TDC. Now if you are trying to do ignition timing there will be a TDC mark on the balancer that should be lined up at this point.
If you are trying to replace the timing chain, then there will be three marks to line up as shown in the attached image.
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Monday, November 11th, 2024 AT 11:25 PM

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