Hey Doc, could a bullydog gt tuner preset change the ignition timing? Cause I have that installed on my Nissan Frontier. I haven’t changed much besides the idle speed +75 so the engine wouldn’t shake at idle. But then I lowered it back to +0 to see if the delayed ignition timing was just trying to slow down my idle speed, but sadly it didn’t change. Could the tuner be causing the problem?

What could be stretched? And I have no clue which bank.

Pretty sure he meant to say ‘could be stretched’.

Okay thank you!

Sorry about that should always proof read.. the timing chains could be stretched although if off on both banks it would lead me to believe the chain jumped a tooth possibly at the crank

Hey R4nier do you think my sensor could be bad? Like is it possible for ignition timing to be negative ALL the time and NEVER go positive? Cause that’s what’s mines doing. It’s ALWAYS staying negative for ignition timing, it’s never ran positive ONCE. Do you think my sensor could be bad? Instead of the timing chain being stretched?

That’s less likely because the sensors will either pick up a signal or they won’t. That sensor uses a pick wheel on the flex plate for crank timing so it would cause a hard start but should also trigger a code for the sensor at fault. Is the truck setting any codes? Does it start at all?

See that’s the crazy thing. When I drive it, it runs super smooth at high speeds and low speeds. Though when I come to a stop it shakes at idle. The cabin shakes and the steering wheel. But other than that, it runs like a champ

yeah sounds like the timing chain. When the engines at higher speeds it runs better bc the extra slop in the chain is basically unnoticeable. If this is an interference engine do the job very soon. Otherwise you could have a valve hit a piston and then the engine is toast. whats the range it bounces? approx high and low number

Yeah I thought the same thing, but it’s ranger is not high. It mostly remains at -36 degrees.. so it ranges at idle for ignition timing between -36 +-2 so it sometimes at idle goes to -38 degrees and sometimes -34 degrees

So it makes me think, that it isn’t the timing chain? Because if it was wouldn’t it’s range be very wide?

Though if your asking while I’m driving what it ranges from, it ranges from -12//-42 anywhere in between that range, while in motion.

so when youre driving that sounds like the correct range. It depends on engine speed & load while driving. I've only analyzed timing maps for my specific engine GM 3.8, and that thing has about the same range (~10-45) & idles I think in the low min 20's. So you'll have to look up that exact engines timing and see what it should be around idle. I dont know what would be causing it to just be high. no check engine light right?

Yes sir, there is no check engine light. That’s why I’m a bit confused… cause a timing that far off? You would think would trip a misfire code. But I have no codes. And my range is in the negatives not the positives, it stays negative 12 to negative 41, it’s not positive. I didn’t know if I explained that right to you or not. It’s just I would think it would trip a code… if it was that far off

Yes, I’m planning to remove the Tuner software and see.

Is there any other thing it could be? Just curious because I don’t want to exactly hop into a 1000$ timing chain replacement, if it could be something else. Is there anything else you think it could be?