P5 Timing Advance

[ex-MX5]

Has anyone tried notching the crank angle sensor mount to advance the timing on a P5? This works on an M2 Miata.

Also is there any trick to accurately measuring the timing. On all Miatas you have to jumper the 10 and gnd connections on the diagnostic plug. Is there a similar procedure for the P5?

 

[Traveler]

There is a way to check timing, but I'd have to look in the Mazda shop manual again. It's only used to check if it's in the correct place or not since it's totally non-adjustable. If it's off when you jumper a connector (I forget which), then it means the computer is not working correctly or the crank sensor is not functioning. Either one should through a CEL.

As for adjusting the timing by moving the cranks sensor, we have a cam sensor also. The cam sensor is non-adjustable so if you move the crank sensor more than a couple degrees, you'll through a CEL also. Best to just do it electronically. I'm putting my E-manage in Monday and that's the first thing I'm going to adjust with the software. I'm going to start adding timing at around 1500 RPM (2 degrees) and then keep adding to a maximum of 6 degrees at 5500 or so.

 

[Don]

On a Miata, you jumper the 10 and ground pins to take control of the timing away from the ECU, so that you can adjust the base timing with the CAS.

Don't think you can do either on the P5 - Sure wish I could figure out how to pull it off, as there's no doubt in my mind that my P5 could use another few degrees of timing. My Miata sure "came alive" when I bumped it form 10 to 14 degrees.

Don