Civic, CRX & Prelude

To view timing marks on Prelude, remove rubber cap from inspection window on cylinder block by bellhousing. On Civic and CRX, timing marks are on timing belt cover and crankshaft pulley. Start and warm engine to normal operating temperature (cooling fan comes on). Connect timing light.
Remove Yellow rubber cap from ignition timing check connector located under dash on Civic and CRX, or behind ignition coil on Prelude. Connect jumper wire between Brown and Green/White wire terminal connectors. See Fig 1 and Fig 2 .
Check ignition timing and adjust to specification, if necessary. See IGNITION TIMING table. To adjust, loosen distributor hold-down bolts and turn distributor housing counterclockwise to advance or clockwise to retard timing.

Tighten distributor hold-down bolts to specification after adjustment. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS at the end of this article. Recheck timing. Remove jumper wire from ignition timing check connector. Replace rubber cap in inspection window on Prelude.

Fig 1: Locating Ignition Timing Check Connector (Civic & CRX)

Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

Fig 2: Locating Ignition Timing Check Connector (Prelude Fuel Injected)

Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

Fig 3: Locating Ignition Timing Marks (Civic)

Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

IGNITION TIMING (Degrees BTDC @ RPM)

Application

Setting

Accord

13-17 @ 700-800

Civic

⁽¹⁾ 16-20 @ 700-800

CRX

12-16 @ 550-650

16-20 @ 700-800

Std.

16-20 @ 675-775

Prelude

Carbureted

Initial Setting

Automatic Transmission

4 @ 700-800

Manual Transmission

4 @ 750-850

Final Setting

Automatic Transmission

⁽²⁾⁽³⁾ 13-17 @ 700-800

Manual Transmission

⁽⁴⁾ 18-22 @ 750-850

Fuel Injected

13-17 @ 700-800

⁽¹⁾	Red mark on crankshaft pulley. See Fig 3 .

⁽²⁾	8-12 degrees BTDC on California vehicles.

⁽³⁾	Automatic transmission in Neutral.

⁽⁴⁾	13-17 degrees BTDC on California vehicles.