Installing the ignition of a VAZ-2109 carburetor by marks, light bulb or strobe light: step-by-step setup instructions, methods of testing the system and advice from motorists

The performance of the car engine as a whole depends on the proper operation of all components of the ignition system. Especially when it comes to domestically produced cars. Sooner or later, every car owner will be faced with the need to adjust the ignition timing (IAF), which we will discuss in this article. Below you can find out how to adjust the ignition of a VAZ 2109 carburetor.

Adjusting the electronic ignition on the injector

What to do if there is no spark at the spark plugs, what is the switch connection diagram, what to do if the ignition does not turn on and what are the signs of too early OZ? We offer you to learn in more detail how to configure and how to check the module on an engine with an injector or carburetor. In the case of injection power units, the procedure for setting up the SPD is carried out by reprogramming the control unit; this requires special software. Accordingly, it is better to perform such a procedure under the supervision of specialists at a service station.

Adjustment with strobe light

How to configure and adjust the OZ on a VAZ 2109 or 21099 using a strobe? Anyone can cope with this task, but you need to take into account that if there are malfunctions in the operation of the module, then most likely the adjustment will not solve the problem. When adjusting, engine speed should be in the region of 820-900 rpm. The method of adjusting the SOP using a strobe is considered one of the most accurate.

How to set the ignition on a VAZ 2109 with a carburetor and injection engine with your own hands

In order to understand how to set the ignition on a VAZ 2109, you need to understand how the ignition system works and what it affects.
The ignition system is responsible for creating a spark in the cylinder at a certain moment - the ignition moment, also called the ignition angle. It often happens that the owners of these cars, when the engine is running poorly, rush to repair the carburetor, while the problem may lie in something completely different, namely in setting up the ignition system.

In order to more accurately diagnose the problem of engine operation, consider the symptoms that appear when the ignition is incorrectly set:

not smooth operation of the engine at idle;
thick black smoke from the exhaust pipe after starting the engine and while driving (indicates poor combustion of the fuel-air mixture). Poor combustion of the mixture is preceded by too early ignition;
dips in speed when pressing the gas pedal while driving;
a noticeable decrease in engine power and throttle response.

There are two ways to set the ignition correctly, both using special equipment and improvised means:

using a strobe light;
using a regular light bulb.

Of course, using a strobe, it will be much easier to adjust the ignition angle; the cost of this equipment is low.

In any case, regardless of the chosen adjustment method, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work, namely, warm up the car to operating temperature (80-90 degrees) and set the speed to 800 per minute using the fuel regulator on the carburetor body.

The first thing to do is make sure the flywheel is visible. To do this, you will need to remove the protective rubber from the gearbox housing;
Instead of the high-voltage wire of the first cylinder on the camshaft cover, we connect a strobe sensor;
Connect the strobe to the battery;
Start the engine.

Next, you need to unscrew the distributor mount.

The strobe light must be directed through the window at the flywheel; a mark on the flywheel should appear in time with the strobe light. We change its position by smoothly turning the distributor.

As soon as the mark is equal to the mark, this means that the ignition is set correctly.

Without a strobe, you can set the ignition correctly using a light bulb; consider the algorithm of actions:

We disconnect the wire going to the ignition coil from the distributor. You need to connect a wire from a light bulb (for example, a carrier) to it. The other wire from the lamp must be connected to the ground of the car (body);
similar to the adjustment with a strobe light, unscrew the distributor mount;
turn on the ignition - the light should light up. Next, you need to smoothly rotate the distributor until the lamp goes out. After the lamp has gone out, we also smoothly turn the distributor in the opposite direction and as soon as the lamp lights up again, you can tighten the distributor fastening.

Of course, this method will not allow you to adjust the ignition with great precision, as with a strobe, but you can still achieve good and correct engine operation.

The question of how to set the ignition on a VAZ 2109 worries many car enthusiasts.
Indeed, owners of these car brands from time to time encounter problems associated with unstable operation of the power unit.
A common symptom is normal engine starting and incorrect idle speed.

What is the reason for this phenomenon? Are there ways to solve it?

According to experienced craftsmen, you need to pay attention to the ignition system - it is the main cause of such a malfunction.

Moreover, in 90% of cases the problem can be solved independently.

Theoretical basis

The ignition system, not only of the VAZ 2109, but also of other cars, is a chain of interconnected devices and components that ensure the appearance of a spark on the spark plugs and the subsequent ignition of the air-fuel mixture in the internal combustion engine.

The system includes:

switch;
switch;
coil;
distributor;
spark plug.

All these elements are switched using low and high voltage wires.

One of the main components is the ignition distributor, which performs two main functions - it sets the moment of spark supply (depending on the speed of the power unit) and supplies the spark to the cylinders.

The correct operation of the devices mentioned above determines the ignition timing, that is, the time when a spark is supplied to the spark plugs to ignite the air-fuel mixture.

Incorrect setting of the torque can cause malfunctions in the engine, problems with starting it and “floating” rotation of the crankshaft at idle speed.

To fix this, you need to know several nuances, which will be discussed in the article.

Difficulties in starting the power unit, strange color of exhaust gases, incorrect operation of the engine at idle speed - all this can be the cause of incorrectly adjusted ignition timing.

At the same time, many car enthusiasts blame the carburetor and spend a lot of time cleaning or repairing it. As a result, money and time are wasted, but there is no result.

On the other hand, if the ignition system does not produce a spark, and the spark plugs are regularly filled, then the problem may lie elsewhere.

It is not difficult to recognize the problem. The main symptom is an uncharacteristic ringing sound that is heard when you press the accelerator pedal.

This malfunction is a common occurrence among motorists who do not properly monitor the condition of their vehicle.
The cause of detonation is early ignition timing, which not only reduces the comfort of driving a car, but can also lead to deformation of the pistons.
Alternatively, the rings may be defective, which in this case will inevitably have to be replaced.

2. The appearance of smoke from the exhaust pipe after starting the power unit, black smoke comes out of the exhaust pipe. This problem is a clear indication of pre-ignition.

3. Motor power decreases.

This is especially noticeable when the vehicle picks up speed.

There may be a delay of several seconds between pressing the gas pedal and the car starting to accelerate. If the car starts to accelerate, it happens jerkily.

4. Fuel consumption increases.

One of the main consequences of incorrect system configuration. This and the problem described above are evidence of late ignition.

This is explained by the fact that when the piston reaches the top point, the fuel mixture does not burn completely and continues to burn even when the piston moves back.

5. Uneven idle.

An incorrectly set ignition immediately manifests itself as engine malfunctions at idle.

In such a situation, experts recommend setting up the system first, and only then starting to check other systems.

Ignition problems are increasingly appearing in older versions of cars equipped with a carburetor engine.

If you have just such a VAZ-2109, then work on adjusting the torque requires the following equipment and tools:

strobe (not necessary, but its presence will allow you to more accurately set the desired angle);
tachometer. As a rule, such a device is part of a car tester, so there will be no problems with the search;
screwdriver (for making adjustments);
key to “ten” (you can use the open-end or ring version).

As practice shows, when setting the moment you can do without a strobe.

But if you plan to service the car yourself, then having such a device in the garage is only a plus.

Before starting work on setting the ignition angle, perform the following preparatory work:

place the key in the ignition and start the engine;
wait until the power unit reaches a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius and increase the speed to 800 (monitor the indicator using a tachometer). There are two ways to increase the crankshaft rotation speed - ask your partner to press the gas pedal in the car or pull the regulator handle on the carburetor housing;
As soon as the engine has warmed up to the desired temperature, remove the tube through which the vacuum is generated from the fitting. The adjustment knob can be found on the ignition system distributor panel (distributor). Press the disconnected end of the discarded tube with your finger to make sure there is a vacuum. If there is one, then it is necessary to increase the speed until the vacuum disappears;
turn off the motor and bend the tube completely. Please ensure that there is no gap left in the opening of the product. Take the wrench and slightly unscrew the nuts that secure the distributor;
remove the plug and clean the inspection hatch with a special scale (located on the gearbox housing) of dirt. In this hatch, find the strips necessary for correct ignition setting. These are the ones we need to look at in more detail.

Installation by marks:

take a slotted screwdriver and turn the flywheel until you reach the long bar on the scale. When setting the ignition, make sure that the long strip is opposite the triangular cutout on the product scale. This position corresponds to the zero position of the angle. When setting this parameter, the 1st and 4th cylinders of the VAZ-2109 engine are located in the TDC position;
If the scale is difficult to see or you are not sure that the required strip is really long, then make sure that its position on the camshaft pulley is correct. To do this job, remove the timing belt cover. In this case, the desired mark should coincide with the line on the back of the belt casing.

The strobe test is performed as follows:

touch the positive contact of the coil with the red wire;
Throw the dark conductor over the body;
connect the mount to the wires located on the 4th cylinder.

Once the preparations are confirmed, you can begin to accurately set the ignition timing.

This is done according to the following algorithm:

start the engine and reduce the speed to a minimum (up to 800, no more). For measurements, use a previously prepared tachometer;
direct the strobe beam into a special viewing window;
the longest mark of the flywheel is set at zero (measured in degrees). Set the mark that is typical for the fuel you are using.

The angle should be adjusted by starting from the “zero” of the long line, that is, from the central part of the triangle.

Setting with a light bulb

If you do not have a strobe, then the torque can be adjusted using a conventional control lamp; in particular, you will need a 12-volt lighting source.

How to set the SOP torque using a control light:

To correctly adjust the torque of the RCD in the Nine with a carburetor engine, you will need to crank the crankshaft until the marks coincide. To turn the crankshaft you will need a special wrench. If the key is missing, you can set the lever on the gearbox to fourth speed, and then manually turn the shaft until the marks match.
To make the adjustment, you will need to connect the test light to the wire and switchgear with the coil. The second contact from the light source is connected to ground, that is, the vehicle body.
Next, on the switchgear housing you will need to slightly loosen the bolts that secure it. Then you will need to turn the key in the ignition. If everything is working correctly, the light should light up.
After completing these steps, you will need to turn the housing of the distribution mechanism; it turns until the light stops burning. After this happens, the distributor housing will need to be turned in the opposite direction. The adjustment procedure stops the moment the lamp starts to light again. When this happens, the distributor no longer needs to be touched; it will be necessary to tighten the bolts that secure it (the author of the video about the implementation of this method is Nail Poroshin).

Setting the ignition using a strobe

Checking and subsequent adjustment of the VAZ-2109 ignition (carburetor) can be considered correct only if the engine is warmed up to its operating temperature (in the range from 80 to 90 degrees). All further actions must be performed in accordance with the instructions below:

Start the engine and set the crankshaft speed to 800–900 rpm.
Remove the vacuum hose from the ignition timing vacuum corrector fitting and, turning off the engine, close the gap in the hose.
Using a “10” wrench, unscrew the three nuts that secure the breaker-distributor.
There is an inspection window on the gearbox housing, closed with a plug, after removing which the flywheel ring gear is revealed. Rotate the flywheel until you see the alignment mark, which, when placed opposite the center mark on the scale located at the edge of the inspection window, will place the first and fourth pistons at top dead center. It would be useful to check the correct location of this mark - to do this, find the same mark on the crankshaft pulley and make sure that it is aligned with the mark on the timing cover.

Make sure the marks match

Now you need to connect the strobe by connecting one wire to the camshaft instead of the central high-voltage wire, and the second to the negative terminal of the battery.
Restart the engine and recheck that the crankshaft rotates at the required idle speed.
Direct the strobe beam into the viewing window - the pulses of the device correspond to the moment the flywheel mark appears.
Now you need to turn the distributor until you set the desired advance angle. According to the passport data, for A-92 gasoline this angle is 1 ± 1 degrees, and for A-95 gasoline - 4 ± 1 degrees. Ensure that the mark is placed opposite the desired mark, and the installation of the VAZ-2109 ignition (carburetor) can be considered completed.

Adjustment by tachometer

In the event that you do not have a strobe light or a control light, then, in principle, even without this it will be possible to solve the problem of setting up the OZ. To perform this task, you will need a regular car tachometer, which is designed to read crankshaft revolutions. In this case, to complete the task you will need the help of a partner, since one of you will be driving the car, and the second will be rotating the distributor housing at the same time.

How to set the OZ using a tachometer:

First of all, you will need to activate the ignition and start the power unit, while paying attention to the movement of the arrow on the device. Not all carburetor “nines” have a tachometer, so the adjustment procedure will be relevant only for those cars that have this device.
Once the engine is running, you or your assistant should remove the bolts that secure the timing case. After this, the distributor itself will need to be turned.
After the key in the lock is turned, the arrow on the dial of the device may jerk sharply, and then return to value 0. This is normal and there is no need to worry, we set the distributor until this happens. When the needle on the tachometer moves, that is, it just starts to deviate, the distributor body will need to stop rotating and securely fasten. Please note that this method requires attentiveness and patience, as well as concentration, so doing it for the first time does not guarantee that you will be able to do everything correctly. Adjustment will take time, please keep this in mind.

Photo gallery “Adjusting the OZ using the tachometer”

How to test the ignition yourself

This fairly simple method of checking the operation of the ignition system can be used both for cars of the “ninth” family and for other passenger vehicles equipped with a carburetor engine. However, it should be noted right away that some experience is required here, since the test is carried out by ear.

So, first you need to accelerate the car to a speed of 50 km/h and engage fourth gear. Now press the gas pedal all the way and listen to the engine. If at this moment quiet detonation sounds appear, it means that the VAZ-2109 ignition timing is set correctly. The late timing is indicated by the absence of sounds during acceleration. In the case when the detonation sounds are too loud, one should conclude that the ignition is early. In both the first and second cases, your car’s engine requires re-adjusting the ignition timing.

The engine ignition system is responsible for igniting the mixture in the combustion chamber at the right time at the end of the compression stroke. The mixture ignites when a spark forms between the electrodes of the spark plug. Consequently, adjusting the ignition timing of a VAZ is the choice of the timing of the spark in relation to the location of the piston in relation to its top dead center (TDC).

How to check the correctness of the work performed?

If you adjusted the OZ yourself, then you will also need to check the correctness of the actions performed.

To perform the check you will need to do the following:

Start the engine, diagnostics are carried out while driving, for this you will need to drive onto a flat road.
To obtain more accurate test results, you will need to accelerate the car to approximately 50 km/h.
After this speed has been reached, you will need to engage fourth gear and then press the gas sharply. When you press the pedal, you may hear detonation, that is, a metallic knock, coming from under the hood of the vehicle. However, the sounds themselves may be short-lived. If this is the case, then you have completed all the setup steps correctly and the distributor is installed correctly. If the sounds are protracted and prolonged, this will indicate that the OZ is set too early, and the detonation will be quite loud. If there are no sounds from under the hood, we can conclude that the OZ is set too late.

How to set the ignition on a VAZ-2109 (carburetor)

It takes some time for the mixture to burn in the cylinder.

If the mixture ignites while the piston is at TDC, then it will burn after the piston passes TDC, catching up with it, that is, during the expansion stroke of the combustion chamber and exhaust gases.

This will create insufficient pressure on the piston, as a result of which efficiency will be noticeably reduced and fuel consumption will increase (ignition is delayed).

When the mixture is ignited long before the piston passes TDC, a significant part of the energy will be spent on overcoming the pressure by the piston during the process of explosive combustion of the mixture.

In this case, detonation occurs (early ignition).

In addition, if the VAZ ignition is set incorrectly, the engine will overheat due to the increased absorption by the cylinder walls of the heat released during combustion of the mixture.

That is why the optimal ignition timing is considered to be one at which the mixture ignites shortly before the piston passes TDC, so that the combustion of the mixture coincides as much as possible in time with the piston passing TDC. In this case, the VAZ ignition timing provides the best operating mode.

In order to control the ignition of the VAZ 2109, divisions are applied in the clutch housing hatch shaft, and a mark is installed on the flywheel. When the point on the flywheel coincides with the central mark in the hatch, the pistons in the first and fourth cylinders are set to top dead center (TDC).

The way to control the VAZ ignition installation “on the move” is as follows: moving at a speed of 40-50 km/h on a flat section of the road with fourth gear engaged, you need to press the gas pedal to the floor.

If, while accelerating, a slight detonation is heard, which disappears almost immediately, the ignition is set correctly. The absence of detonation indicates late ignition.

Excessive detonation is a sign of early ignition of the combustible mixture.

When adjusting the ignition of a VAZ 2108-09-099 with a contactless ignition system, a strobe light is used. The sequence of actions is as follows:

The vacuum corrector tube is disconnected, the strobe wires, observing polarity, are connected to the battery, the sensor is connected to the high-voltage wire of cylinder No. 1.
After this, the sensor with the wire must be placed in the hole in the distributor cover, start the power unit and install the strobe light opposite the hatch with the scale, having previously removed the hatch cover. If the ignition setting of the VAZ 2109 is correct, the point on the flywheel will not reach the center mark of the scale, plus or minus one mark. Optimally, it will be located strictly opposite the central mark. If this is not the case, the ignition on the VAZ 2109 needs to be adjusted.
To correctly set the ignition on a VAZ 2108 (2109, 21099), you need to turn off the power unit, release the distributor and move it clockwise, looking from the front left wheel, to increase the ignition timing of the mixture (earlier), and counterclockwise to decrease it angle (later ignition).
After changing the angle, you should secure the distributor, put the vacuum tube on the vacuum corrector and check the torque again. If there is a repeated discrepancy with the optimal parameters, repeat the adjustment operation.
Cylinder No. 1 is set to TDC on the compression stroke. You can verify this by removing the spark plug from cylinder No. 1 and tightly closing the threaded hole with a rolled paper ball or pressing it with your finger. Paper flying out or air escaping from under the finger when cranking the crankshaft manually will indicate the TDC of the piston at the end of the compression stroke. In this case, the mark on the crankshaft pulley must be aligned with the larger of the three marks on the cylinder block cover or, due to belt stretching, located behind it.
The distributor is set to the zero position of the octane corrector. The contacts of the ignition distributor breaker should open at TDC of the first cylinder. A 12V test lamp with pieces of wire and clamps will help confirm this. The “positive” clamp is connected to the “positive” contact of the ignition coil, the “negative” - to the “ground” of the car.
After this, you need to turn on the ignition. If the breaker contacts are open, the lamp will light up. If it does not light up, it is necessary to loosen the locking plate of the ignition distributor and slowly turn the distributor body in one direction and (or) the other until the control light comes on. The position of the distributor at which the lamp lights up (or goes out) will be the optimal ignition moment.

After finding it, you need to secure the locking plate without changing the position of the ignition distributor. If after adjusting the ignition the engine speed increases, it should be reduced to 800-900 rpm. Having completed the described steps, you need to make sure how the ignition on the VAZ is set when the car is moving using the method described above.

As practice shows, VAZ-2109 owners sometimes encounter improper operation of the power unit, caused precisely by problems with the ignition being set incorrectly.

The most common symptom here is the engine starting easily when it is not functioning correctly at idle.

According to experts, in 9 out of 10 cases, repairs, replacements and adjustments can be made directly on site. That is, having dealt with the nuances, any car owner will save a lot of money by refusing to visit a car service center.

If the unit in question is adjusted incorrectly, the following alarming symptoms are almost always observed:

starting difficulties;
black or gray exhaust color;
instability of the engine at idle.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of car owners spend energy on carburetor prevention, mistakenly believing that this is where the cause lies.
Naturally, their work is wasted.
If the angle adjustment was made incorrectly, then the following are observed:

too strong detonation of the fuel-air mixture;
thick smoke from the exhaust pipe;
loss of power;
high fuel consumption;
uneven work at XX.

All this leads to rapid wear of the engine as a whole.

How to regulate

To perform the setup you will need the following tools:

Screwdriver Set;
strobe light (you can basically do without it, but with its help you can set the angle more accurately);
10mm wrench (suitable for both socket and socket wrenches);
tachometer (it is available in almost any car multimeter).

Preparation

As previously noted, you can do without such a device as a strobe light, but if you want to set up the ignition yourself, then there is still a reason to purchase it.

Before you start setting the angle, do the following:

start the engine;
heat it up to 90 degrees;
increase the speed to 800;
remove the pipe used to discharge the fitting;
the dismantled tube is clamped with a finger - this will allow you to find out whether vacuum is actually occurring;
if it is present, the speed is increased until it disappears;
then the engine is turned off and the pipe is bent so that there is no gap left in it;
use a wrench to unscrew the nuts securing the distributor;
clean the inspection hole from dirt (it is located in the crater of the gearbox and is closed with a plug).

There is a special scale with which the set angle is determined. This should be discussed in more detail, since you need to set the ignition according to the marks. For this:

Use a flat screwdriver to turn the flywheel until a long strip appears;
in the future, during adjustment, you need to ensure that it remains clearly in the triangular cutout (this is the zero angle, that is, the starting point of adjustment).

If everything is done correctly, then cylinders 1 and 4 move to the TDC position.
When the scale is poorly visible and you are not sure that you have found the necessary feature, then you can verify the correctness of the position in another way.

There are pulleys on the camshaft gears. They must coincide with the mark on the wall of the timing belt protective housing.

Settings

The strobe is used like this:

the red wire is applied to the “plus” on the coil;
black – to the body;
the clamp is connected to the veins installed on cylinder number 4.

After this, the actual adjustment begins.
The work is carried out in the following order:

start the engine, bring its speed up to 800 and no more (measurements are made with a tachometer);
the beam from the strobe is aimed at the inspection hatch;
the long line is placed in the zero position (scale in degrees).

The angle is adjusted by rotating to the right - this increases the angle, respectively, movement in the opposite direction decreases it.

It is not difficult to find out the exact direction - it is indicated by the scale marked on the distributor (there is an o and a “plus” there). Each division corresponds to 8 degrees. For this reason, adjustment is slow. After finding the desired position, the distributor is secured.

Checking with a light bulb

The procedure is as follows:

one contact from the light bulb is connected to the wire running from the coil to the distributor;
the second is applied to the mass;
the central (high-voltage) short-circuit cable is installed there;
start the engine and loosen the bolts on the distributor;
the housing must be rotated to the right until the lamp goes out;
then it is turned slowly to the left - when the light flashes, the distributor is fixed.

Many car owners, as soon as the first problems with the engine appear, due to lack of experience, decide that the cause of everything is a carburetor failure.

In reality, the problem often lies in incorrectly adjusted ignition timing and can be eliminated if you know how to set the ignition on a VAZ-2109 (carburetor) using a simple set of tools.

Based on what signs can we conclude that the ignition timing on your car does not correspond to the recommendations stated by the manufacturer? In such cases, the following “symptoms” most often appear:

Difficulty starting the engine;
unstable idling and uneven operation of the power unit as a whole;
a noticeable decrease in engine power, as well as its throttle response;
increased fuel consumption;
the appearance of dips in speed when accelerating the car;
the presence of thick black smoke in the exhaust gases when starting the engine and while driving (indicates that the timing is too early and, as a result, poor fuel combustion).