I have just tried starting my Pinto after re-building about a year ago, I have checked when crank at TDC and Cam at TDC that the rotor arm is pointing at No.1. The engine will start but not idle until I advance it significantly about 40 BTDC.
There is a heavy smell of petrol from the exhaust, and when I check the plugs after only 1 minute of idling they are completly covered in black soot. I do not have any way of adjusting the mixture as this is controlled through ECU....any help appreciated

far too much fuel by the sounds of it, is there a water temperature sensor for the ECU so it can vary the cold start amount? I'd check that works first. Don't think its anything to do with timing, this injection probably doesn't even have a lambda sensor, so doesn't realize it's drowning the engine.



[Edited on 18/9/08 by Mr Whippy]

Should have said it is a carb with stepper motor, and yes it does have a water temperature sensor

hmm not sure about this one, having seen the carb, I'd not have fitted it in the first place. Think you'll just have to check all the sensors work perfectly before going further.
Rescued attachment carb.JPG

If it ran normally before the re-build then I would suspect a sensor or bad or wrong connection so check all the wiring and sensors.

If its a carb as in the photo then the fueling isn't controled through the ECU. That looks like a weber 2v and if so there's a mixture screw. In that photo you've no connector to to clold start/choke (round thing with centre connector), is the choke fitted? If so that should have 12v to it when running. Idle is controled by the ECU via stepper motor; make sure the push rod end is clean as they need to earth through that to know when the throttle is shut.

Long time since I've seen one of them so I might be talking bullocks!

adrian