2002 Chevy S10 4.3L - How to index a distributor that's been improperly installed - PART 1

PART 2: Video of diagnosis of misfire (definitely not what I thought it was going to be!)    • 2002 Chevy S10 4.3 - Bad misfire, stalling...   Got called out to my buddy's shop to look at a 2002 Chevy S10 4.3L. He's more of a Toyota hybrid guy and not very experienced with older domestics. He was chasing down a misfire and opted to replace the entire distributor. But then the car would not start. That tells me it was not indexed properly. The normal way to reset a distributor that's been improperly installed is to remove it, rotate the engine over to #1 TDC compression, then re-install the distributor so that the rotor is pointing at the #1 spark plug wire. This isn't always an easy task. Sometimes vehicles are difficult to get access to turn them over by hand. Then you gotta make sure you're at #1TDC and not exhaust... etc, etc. I got the idea of using a labscope instead. I installed my pressure transducer in the #1 spark plug hole and put a secondary pickup around the #1 spark plug wire. The pressure transducer will tell me where TDC compression is and the secondary lead will tell me when spark is occurring. I can then count the number of teeth on the distributor and do some math to know EXACTLY how many teeth I'm out or I can just keep moving it over until they line up! If you go this route you'll definitely want to disable the fuel injectors. You don't want accidentally move the distributor to a point where it's sparking too early causing detonation... This method actually worked VERY well. Wayyyy easier than the manual method. If I weren't making a video it would have only taken 5-10 minutes! For this video I was just tasked with properly setting the distributor. It wasn't the fix for the car as the car still had a misfire. My buddy got me to take over the rest of the diagnosis so this is PART1. I'll be uploading the diagnosis as PART2. It turned out to not be what I was expecting! Disclaimer: The information, demonstration and any content contained in this video is for informational purposes only. The user and EUrbanAutoTech makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the effectiveness or safety of the contents of this video. In no way should the contents of the video, including the tools used, be repeated or tried by anyone. Viewers should only seek the help of a trained professional located at a licensed auto repair shop for any fix, modification, alteration, or any change to their vehicle. EUrbanAutoTech shall not be liable for any injury, damage, or loss to any person or property that may result from use of the tools, equipment, or any content contained in this video. In addition, there is no way to guarantee that the video is not altered or modified or is not in the final form submitted by EUrbanAutoTech and therefore, EUrbanAutoTech does not warrant that the video is unaltered or not modified. The links on this video to products are for informational purposes only and in no way are an endorsement of the safety or effectiveness of the particular product. Viewers understand that anything contained in this video or linked to or from this video is the sole responsibility of the viewer and in no way provides an express or implied warranty as to the safety or effectiveness of any linked tool, product, or video. Therefore, viewer agrees to release, waive, and discharge EUrbanAutoTech or anyone affiliated with EUrbanAutoTech, from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by the viewer, or to any property belonging to viewer, regardless of whether the loss is linked to the use of the contents of this video, or otherwise and regardless of whether such liability arises in tort, contract, strict liability, or otherwise, to the fullest extent allowed by law.