Not all motorists think that the correct ignition of their cars significantly affects not only the dynamic properties, but also the engine life. In this article we will talk about installing the ignition on the classic Lada model, namely on the VAZ-2106 car (although this technique is easily suitable for other models of the VAZ family). As you know, the device of the ignition system of this car is of two types: contact and non-contact. If you have at least a basic understanding of the design of a non-contact ignition system for gasoline engines, you can safely proceed with the ignition installation procedure.
So, conditionally, the vehicle ignition installation consists of three parts: the installation of the UZSK (closed angle of the contacts of the interrupter-distributor), the lead angle and practical adjustment during the operation of the car. To adjust the UZSK, it is necessary to remove the cover of the distributor, visually inspect the condition of the contacts, if necessary, replace or simply clean the contacts. Next, turn the crankshaft in such a position that the movable contact of the contact group is on the cam of the chopper (distributor). Setting the ignition correctly without this procedure will be difficult, but you will need to be patient.
After all that has been done, it is necessary to unscrew the clamping screw of the contact group and set the distance between the contacts to 0.4 mm. This can be done using a special probe, and it should move between the contacts with little effort, but not in a free state. Next, tighten the screw, turn the crankshaft with a special key and re-check the gap between the contacts with the probe.
The clearance must be the same, since an incorrectly set ignition angle (in other words, a clearance) will inevitably lead to improper installation of the car ignition. With this, everything is clear, except that it’s worth adding that the crankshaft can be rotated without using a special key. For this purpose, you can simply engage the fourth (fifth) gear and slightly push the car to the desired value. Cranking the engine with a starter also does not make sense, since it is quite difficult to get on the cam of the distributor shaft.
Next, you need to set the ignition timing. What is this about? The thing is that the combustible mixture in the cylinder should not ignite when the piston approaches the top dead center, but a little earlier. This value is insignificant, but the correct installation of the ignition without this is practically impossible (the engine will work, but its efficiency will be slightly worse, fuel consumption is slightly larger, etc.). To do this, set the crankshaft in accordance with the marks that are in front of the car engine. It will be easy for even a beginner to understand them, so we will not dwell on this step.
Now we turn to practical tests, that is, to the results of our work on adjusting the ignition. To do this, you need to drive a car in various modes, that is, a slow set of speed, a quick set of speed, driving with acceleration, etc. Of course, the engine must be warmed up to normal operating temperature and it should not have any malfunctions with the fuel system. Otherwise, you will not be able to know for sure the correct ignition setting. So, if you feel that the ignition installation did not give results, then you need to turn the distributor a bit. You need to turn it counterclockwise or vice versa, depending on the specific situation. Most importantly, do not turn the distributor significantly. Since you have knocked down all the settings, and you will have to do the above procedures again!