Setting timing on Intrepid

First I'll start off by saying, I did an extensive search on setting
the timing on my car with no results. This leads me to believe it's
computer contolled. So, I have two questions:

1995 Intrepid, 3.3L (not flex fuel), 215,000 miles.... and I might add
I've maintained it very well since I got the car at 133k miles......
and I have a fair knowledge concerning auto repair/maintenance. I have
and have had a O2 sensor fault for some time. A new sensor didn't fix
it.


How can I adjust the timing on my Intrepid?


The reason I ask it I have picked up a little detonation when I load
the engine in 3rd & 4th gear, like climbing a steep hill. Wires,
Champions plugs with the correct gap, distributor cap and rotor have
all been changed within about 10-15k miles. The engine and tranny seem
to be in excellent condition, oil has always been Valvoline 10w30
every 3k-4k miles (since I bought it).

Where do I go from here? I thought about using a colder plug, higher
octane gas doesn't seem to help much if at all.... Maybe a cooler
thermostat? although it doesn't seem to matter the temp outside winter/
summer.

Suggestions?

 

The first thing I would try would be to pull the Champion plugs and
replace them with something else. I haven't had much luck at all with
Champion for the last few years...

Steve B.

 

Assemble the engine, hook up the sensors, and its timed. No adjustment
whatsoever. As I posted in another thread (true for 1st-gen Intrepids
and I assume for 2nd gen too) you can't even alter the ignition timing
if you put the timing belt on a few teeth off. The cam position tells
teh computer "cylinder #3 is coming up next" but it is the CRANK trigger
that tells the computer exactly when to fire. The computer then inserts
whatever delay is needed to achieve the correct timing for the current
load and RPM.

Check the EGR valve. An EGR valve that doesn't open, or if the EGR
passages are completely plugged, will increase detonation under part
load. EGR is used as an anti-detonation tool as well as an emission
control by the engine control computer.