Ignition Timing Check

Check the ignition timing before you buy an older car with a distributor. Ask the seller to show the correct equipment while parked, using the instructions for this vehicle.

I reviewed How a Car Works static timing guide for this November 6, 2026 checklist. The example helps identify the relevant instruction, but your vehicle manual and accessory documentation control the actual fit and procedure. So, keep the inspection within a safe stationary demonstration and stop when damage or an uncertain part makes further testing inappropriate.

Know why timing matters on an older car

Check the ignition timing before you buy an older car with a distributor. The How a Car Works guide cited here says the timing makes the plug fire just before the piston reaches top dead centre on compression, and that the correct figure varies from car to car, so the handbook controls it.

Listen for pinking and poor running

A related How a Car Works guide on running-on says over-advanced timing often shows as pinking under hard acceleration. On the drive, listen for pinking, flat spots or hard hot starting. Ask the seller when the timing was last set and by whom.

Ask for a stroboscopic check

The static timing guide says a static check with the engine stopped does not allow for wear or backlash between parts, and the running-on guide says a strobe check with the engine running is far more accurate. Ask the inspector to check timing with a timing light and record the reading.

Ask about distributor changes

Ask whether the distributor has been removed, replaced or converted to electronic ignition, and whether the timing was reset afterwards. Keep invoices and any handbook figures with the purchase file, and price any needed work before you pay.

Put the missing item in the purchase agreement

Write down the ignition timing condition, the pieces missing and the supplier identification you still need. Ask whether the seller will provide the correct replacement or agree a price adjustment for you to obtain it. Keep any promised correction in the purchase agreement with a clear description of what must be supplied. A generic online price cannot establish that mounting parts or the correct fit are included, so ask the supplier for a current quote.

Keep the accessory check inside a wider inspection

The condition of one accessory cannot establish the state of the whole vehicle. Our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps specify the work an independent shop will undertake. NYC used-car guidance recommends that independent examination. Ask the inspector to record related damage and explain inaccessible areas. Look, a fake PDF or a polished seller checklist can conceal an unresolved problem.

Separate history records from equipment present today

A report may contain reported events without listing every accessory that has been lost or replaced. Our VIN verification guide helps match the car to its documents; our tire-replacement reporting guide shows the gap between records and current equipment. NMVTIS concerns U.S. title history rather than certifying this item. Keep condition and documents as separate findings.

Note who supplied the current item

Ask whether the ignition timing is the original part or a later replacement, and who supplied it. A dealer invoice or parts receipt helps confirm the right fit. If the seller bought a generic version online, check it against the instructions for this vehicle before relying on it. Record the part number where one is visible. That small detail saves time if you later need a matching piece or a warranty claim on the item.

Decide how much the gap matters to you

A missing or damaged ignition timing rarely decides a car purchase alone, but it tells you something about how the car was kept. Weigh it with the rest of the inspection. If several small items are missing, ask the seller for a written list of what is and is not included. Agree the price with that list in front of you rather than discovering gaps after you drive away. A short written note from the seller about known faults also helps if a dispute comes up later, because it shows what was disclosed before you paid.

Take your time with this check. If the seller hurries you past it, ask why. Small faults are easier to price in before you pay than to argue about after you drive away.

We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Wholesale reports cost a few dollars; confirm current coverage and the total at checkout. A quiet report can miss unreported repairs. Keep the independent inspection even if the seller sends an impressive PDF.

Sources

• How a Car Works static timing guide
• U.S. DOJ NMVTIS
• NYC used-car buying guidance