1982 CHEVROLET CAMARO Repair Guide

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 649

Fig. 4: Distributor and related com ponents with internal ignition coil

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 650
DISTRIBUTOR CAP
1. If removing the ignition wires at the cap, take a moment to label the spark
plug wire positioning for each cylinder, at each tower. This will avoid
improper wire placement during assembly.
2. Disconnect the ignition switch wir e from the distributor cap. Also
disconnect the tachometer wire, if so equipped.
3. Release the coil connec tors from the cap.
4. Remove the distributor cap by turn ing the four latches (the L4 distributor
has 2 latches) counterclockwise.
5. Remove the cap. Installation is the reverse of removal. Be sure you get
the ignition and tachometer wires c onnected to the correct terminals.

Fig. 5: Release the retainers on t he distributor cap by turning them
counterclockwise

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 651

Fig. 6: Removing the distri butor cap. Notice that all towers on cap are labeled
with the corresponding engine cylinder number.
ROTOR 1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the distributor cap.
3. Unscrew the two rotor attaching screws and then lift off the rotor.
4. For installation, make sure the roto r is positioned in the correct direction
and tighten the retaining screws.
CAPACITOR
The capacitor, if equipped, is part of the ignition coil wire harness assembly.
Since the capacitor is used only for radio noise suppres sion, it will seldom need
replacement.
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the distributor cap and rotor.
3. Remove the capacitor attaching screws and unplug the connector from
the module. Remove the module.
To install: 4. Plug the connector into the capacitor. Install the capacitor and secure in
place using the mounting screws. Be sure the ground lead is under the
screw.
5. Install the rotor and distributor cap.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 652
6. Connect the negative battery cable.
MODULE
It is not necessary to remove t he distributor from the vehicle.
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the distributor cap, rotor and pickup coil.
3. Remove the 2 module attaching screws and lift the module up. Remove
the leads from the module, observi ng the colors on each lead. These
leads can not be interchanged.
If the module is to be reused, do not wi pe the grease from the module or the
distributor base. If a new module is to be installed, a package of silicone grease
will be included with it. Spr ead the grease on the metal face of the module and
on the distributor base wher e the module seats. This grease is necessary for
module cooling.
To install: 4. Install the module, tighten the reta ining screws and connect the wiring.
5. Install the distributor rotor and distributor cap.
6. Connect the negative battery cable.

Fig. 7: Ignition coil module mounting - always coat the base with silicone
dielectric grease.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 653
PICKUP COIL

Fig. 8: Pickup coil and related component s - distributor with external coil
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the distributor cap and then the rotor.
3. Remove 3 screws from the magnetic shield. Remove the magnetic shield
and C-washer. Remove the magnet, pole piece and pickup coil.
4. Installation is the revers e of the removal procedure.
IGNITION TIMING DESCRIPTION
Ignition timing is the measurement, in de grees of crankshaft rotation, of the
point at which the spark plugs fire in eac h of the cylinders. It is measured in
degrees before or after Top Dead Center (TDC) of the compression stroke.
Because it takes a fraction of a second for the spark plug to ignite the mixture in
the cylinder, the spark plug must fire a little before the piston reaches TDC.
Otherwise, the mixture will not be complete ly ignited as the piston passes TDC
and the full power of the explosion will not be used by the engine.
The timing measurement is given in degr ees of crankshaft rotation before the
piston reaches TDC (BTDC). If the setting fo r the ignition timing is 5° BTDC, the

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 654
spark plug must fire 5° before each pist
on reaches TDC. This only holds true,
however, when the engine is at idle speed.
As the engine speed increases, the pist ons go faster. The spark plugs have to
ignite the fuel even sooner if it is to be completely ignited when the piston
reaches TDC.
If the ignition is set too far advanced (B TDC), the ignition and expansion of the
fuel in the cylinder will occu r too soon and try to force the piston down while it is
still traveling up. This causes engine ping. If the ignition spark is set too far
retarded, after TDC (ATDC), the pi ston will have already passed TDC and
started on its way down when the fuel is igni ted. This will cause the piston to be
forced down for only a portion of its trav el, resulting in poor engine performance
and lack of power.
When timing the engine, the Number 1 pl ug wire should be used to trigger the
timing light. On engines where timing is adjustable, the notch for the No. 1
cylinder is usually scribed across all th ree edges of the double sheaf pulley.
Another notch located 180° away from t he No. 1 cylinder notch is scribed only
across the center section of the pulley to make it distinguishable from the No. 1
cylinder notch.
There are two basic types of timing light s available. The first type of light
operates from the car's battery. Two al ligator clips connect to the battery
terminals, while a third wire connects to the spark plug with an adapter or to the
spark plug wire with an inductive pickup. This type of light is more expensive,
but the xenon bulb provides a nice bright flash which can even be seen in
sunlight. The second type replaces the battery source with 110-volt house
current. Some timing lights have other func tions built into them, such as dwell
meters, tachometers, or re mote starting switches. These are convenient, in that
they reduce the tangle of wires under t he hood, but may duplicate the functions
of tools you already have.
Because this car uses electronic ignition, you should use a timing light with an
inductive pickup. This pickup simply cl amps around the Number 1 spark plug
wire (in this case, the coil wire), elimin ating the adapter. It is not susceptible to
crossfiring or false triggering, which ma y occur with a conventional light due to
the greater voltages produc ed by these systems.
ADJUSTMENT
When adjusting the timing, refer to the instructions on the emission control
sticker inside the engine compartment. If th e instructions on the label disagree
with the procedure listed below, follo w the instructions on the label.
1982-87 VEHICLES 1. Locate the timing marks on the cran kshaft pulley and the front of the
engine.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 655
2. Clean off the marks and coat them wit
h white paint or chalk, if necessary,
so that they may be seen.
3. Run the engine until it reaches no rmal operating temperature, then shut
off the engine.
4. With the ignition OFF, connect a ta chometer to the distributor, and a
timing light with an inductive pickup lead to the No. 1 spark plug wire.
WARNING - Never pierce a secondary ignition wire in order to connect a timing
light. A pierced wire may lead to engine misfiring and driveability problems.
5. To properly set the ignition timing , the EST must be placed in the bypass
mode. a. On the 2.5L engine, refer to t he emission control label for the
procedure.
If the label is missing or unreadable, c ontact your Chevrolet dealer for a
replacement.
b. On 2.8L and 5.0L ca rbureted engines, disconnect the 4-wire EST
connector at the distributor. (Fault code 42 may be set in ECM memory,
and must be cleared once the procedur e is completed). Proceed to Step
7.
c. On 2.8L, 5.0L and 5.7L fuel inje cted engines, with the engine RUNNING
and all accessories off, use a jumper wire to connect diagnostic terminal
B and ground terminal A of the 12-terminal Assembly Line Diagnostic
Link (ALDL) usually located under t he left side of the instrument panel.
DO NOT disconnect the 4-wir e EST connector at the distributor. Aim the
timing light at the timing mark; the li ne on the balancer or pulley will line
up with the timing mark. Increase engine speed and check for timing
advance. If the timing still advances with engine speed, perform Step 6. If
timing does not advance with engi ne speed, proceed to Step 7.
If timing advances with engine speed, it will be necessary to disconnect the
single-wire Set Timing connector. (Faul t code 42 may be set in ECM memory,
and must be cleared once the procedure is completed).
6. Remove the jumper wire from t he ALDL, and shut off the ignition.
Disconnect the Set Timing connector, usually located under the plastic
cover above the heater unit, in the engi ne compartment. (The wire in this
connector is normally Tan/Black.)
7. With the engine running and all accessories off, aim the light at the timing
mark. The line on the balancer or pulle y will line up with the timing mark.
If a change in timing is necessary, loosen the hold-down clamp bolt at
the base of the distributor . While observing the timing mark, rotate the
distributor slightly unt il the line indicates the correct timing. Use the
timing specification on the emi ssion control label in the engine
compartment. If this label is missi ng or damaged, refer to the Tune-Up
Specifications chart in this Section.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 656
8. Once the timing is set to specific
ation, tighten the distributor hold-down
clamp. Recheck the timing to make su re it did not change while the bolt
was being tightened.
9. Remove the jumper wire from the ALDL connector, if applicable, with the
engine still running. (Usually, if this is performed before the engine is
shut off, no trouble codes will be stored.)
10. Turn the engine OFF, then remove the timing light and tachometer.
Reconnect the number 1 spark plug wire, if disconnected.
11. Attach the 4-wire EST connector at the distributor, or reconnect the Set
Timing connector, if applicable.
12. Check for fault code 42, and clear, if necessary, by disconnecting the
negative battery cable for at least 30 seconds.
To prevent ECM damage, the key must be in the OFF position when
disconnecting or reconnecting battery cables.
1988-90 VEHICLES
When adjusting the timing, refer to the instructions on the emission control
sticker inside the engine compartment. If th e instructions on the label disagree
with the procedure listed below, follo w the instructions on the label.
1. Locate the timing marks on the cran kshaft pulley and the front of the
engine.
2. Clean off the marks and coat them with white paint or chalk, so that they
may be easily seen.
3. Run the engine until it reaches no rmal operating temperature, then shut
off the engine.
4. With the ignition OFF, connect a ta chometer to the distributor, and a
timing light with an inductive pickup lead to the No. 1 spark plug wire.
WARNING - Never pierce a secondary ignition wire in order to connect a timing
light. A pierced wire may lead to engine misfiring and driveability problems.
5. Start the engine. With the engine running and all accessories off, use a
jumper wire to connect diagnostic terminal B and ground terminal A of
the 12-terminal Assembly Line Diagnostic Link (ALDL), located under the
instrument panel.
If jumping the ALDL terminals does not prevent timing advance, the EST
bypass wire will have to be disconnected instead.
6. Aim the timing light at the timing mark. The line on the balancer or pulley
will line up with the timing mark. If a change in timing is necessary,
loosen the hold-down clamp bolt at t he base of the distributor. While
observing the timing mark, rotate the distributor slightly until the line
indicates the correct timing. Use t he timing specification on the emission
control label in the engine compartm ent. If this label is missing or
damaged, refer to the Tune- Up Specifications chart in this Section.