Vacuum Advancer Never Installed Correctly?

[PottedMeat]

My dad and I were trying to fix a timing issue with his car ( 88 Corolla FX ) and took a look at the integrated ignition assembly - the timing wouldnt go from 5 deg w/o the advancer to 13 deg w/ advancer. It turns out the vacuum advancer arm was never connected - looks like it's been that way since the car was manufactured. What would this do to the car over 19 years?

(we're using the Toyota service manual for all the info)

 

[Pacfanweb]

Probably make it not have as much power as it should. Timing curve would have been off.

I suppose you could get really technical and say the car has probably been putting out too much in the way of emissions, too, but really the only thing you might have noticed is the power.

 

[woodie1]

If I understand what you said you would have burned more gas and gotten less power. Doubt that any harm came to the motor though.

 

[PottedMeat]

Yay - what a difference the advancer made. Tons more power ( at least for a old corolla ), steady idle, and the timing is actually correct now.

I think he's always said it got good gas mileage but the performance was always pretty spotty. Sometimes it would run well, other times it could nearly stall. I guess thats from the pickup/rotor constantly shifting places instead of being attached to the advancer.

I kinda want to send it though emissions ( it's always passed ). But it's just been inspected and that would be another $38 bucks.