S10 4.3L Firing Dis-Order

OldGuy

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Oct 4, 2013, 1:30:11 PM10/4/13

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1988 S10 V6 4.3L RWD Automatic

Years ago I replaced the ignition wiring by following the existing
wiring.

Now I want to change the ignition wiring again BUT I have come to a
confusion point.

For the sake of old age and not wanting to screw up the wiring, I
downloaded a firing order diagram only to find that it does NOT match
my S10. Yes I have had work done by mechanics since the first ignition
wire changeout by myself that could have changed the wireup (head
removed and machined with valve job).

The diagram shows as if the view was taken from the bottom of the
engine up.

So, is the diagram wrong?
Can an engine run with a flipped wire up?

Where do I find a proper diagram without spending money.

Do auto parts stores have diagrams?

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Steve W.

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Oct 4, 2013, 2:02:15 PM10/4/13

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Stand in front of the truck.
The cylinder bank on the drivers side is 1/3/5
Pass. side is 2/4/6

Looking down on the distributor cap you will have two screws. On engines
with adjustable timing the screws will set close to a 45 degree angle
compared to the crankshaft direction. The front screw will be toward the
drivers side.

With the distributor in correctly the front hole is #1, then 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

--
Steve W.

Retired

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Oct 4, 2013, 6:04:05 PM10/4/13

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Like the first drawing here:

http://www.justanswer.com/chevy/1o9vn-need-know-firing-order-1994-blazer-tahoe-4-3-liter-vortec.html

Stormin Mormon

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Oct 7, 2013, 10:13:18 AM10/7/13

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Good chance to buy a Haines or Chilton book.
I've never seen wiring diagram from below the
vehicle.

My experience with reversed wires, the engine
does not run well at all. I had a four cylinder
Ford Ranger that had two reversed when I got it.
I could really tell some thing was wrong.

.
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

OldGuy

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Oct 8, 2013, 11:41:11 AM10/8/13

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It happens that OldGuy formulated :

I finally found a diagram that matches my wiring.

Most diagrams I found were off by a one plug rotation of the
distributor cap. That threw me off. Most diagrams do not include all
the key orientation information.

Steve W.

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Oct 8, 2013, 2:44:34 PM10/8/13

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Then your distributor is installed two teeth out of correct location.

Doesn't matter on the 88 as that computer is very dumb compared to the
later ones. As long as #1 is on compression and the wire lines up with
the rotor tip you're OK.

--
Steve W.

OldGuy

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Oct 9, 2013, 12:30:30 PM10/9/13

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Steve W. laid this down on his screen :

Other than just looking at the distrib cap, how else could I tell if it
is rotated?

I just had a CA smog test that passed and the smog mechanic said that
the timing was dead on.

The only thing the smog tech said that might be negative was that the
exhaust smelled a little gassy at idle. At the designated RPMs for the
smog test it was well within limits.

Steve W.

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Oct 9, 2013, 2:49:37 PM10/9/13

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You would need to pull #1 plug. Bring it up on compression and see where
the rotor is in relation to the "factory location". It won't really
matter though on that engine. It actually doesn't matter much on any
distributer equipped engine (with a round cap design)where the plug
wires start as long as the firing order is correct and you make sure it
is firing on the proper stroke.

On the newer engines that have a cam sensor in the distributor you have
to pay closer attention. If those are installed wrong you cannot rotate
the dist. to correct the problem.

--
Steve W.