[ClutchKimball]

Is the Spout pill for the SVOs in a different location or a different style plug from a normal 2.3?

I looked all around the distributer for the little pill to pull to set base timing. Can anybody help me out? I feel dumb, as this is my 4th 2.3T car

[dakine858]

Originally Posted by ClutchKimball

Is the Spout pill for the SVOs in a different location or a different style plug from a normal 2.3?

I looked all around the distributer for the little pill to pull to set base timing. Can anybody help me out? I feel dumb, as this is my 4th 2.3T car

Just as a little FYI "spout" is actually an acronym for "SPark OUTput". To set the base timing on your SVO, pull the vacuum line off of the distributor and plug it with something, that's all. Since the timing advance is vacuum advanced, removing the line from the distributor will assure you that there is nothing extra acting on your spark timing. Once your base timing is set, pop the vacuum line back on and you're done.

[pa stang nut]

On my 84 SVO, there is an electrical connector similar in shape to what you would find on an O2 sensor. It is part of a yellow wire that goes with the TFI module connector on the distributor. I think you just pull the connector apart to set base timing, but not 100 percent sure. There is no vacuum line hooked to my distributor.

[NavySVO]

Originally Posted by dakine858

To set the base timing on your SVO, pull the vacuum line off of the distributor and plug it with something, that's all. Since the timing advance is vacuum advanced, removing the line from the distributor will assure you that there is nothing extra acting on your spark timing. Once your base timing is set, pop the vacuum line back on and you're done.

This is incorrect. The timing is advanced by the EEC.
There is NO, repeat, NO vacuum line to the distributor. That is old technology.

Originally Posted by pa stang nut

On my 84 SVO, there is an electrical connector similar in shape to what you would find on an O2 sensor. It is part of a yellow wire that goes with the TFI module connector on the distributor. I think you just pull the connector apart to set base timing, but not 100 percent sure. There is no vacuum line hooked to my distributor.

Yep, yellow wire (if still factory condition).
Unplug it, set it to 10*, shut off the car and replug it. The SPOUT takes the signal to the EEC out of the picture, To quantify if the SPOUT connection is getting a signal to the EEC, look at the timing again after it is plugged in. It should be more advanced now at around 25-30*.