Evening guys and gals, I've got three problems I need help with. The first question is I've borrowed a timing light so I can set the timing in my van correctly but I cannot seem to get a reliable beam. I thought it was broken so I tried it on the falcon and its all good. I tried a different sent of leads with no luck. The second question is I've got the timing reasonably close where the van idles nicely but when I give it more than 1/3 throttle it back fires and runs poorly? It's a 1.6l with a new electronic dizzy, leads and coil. Finally the last question is that my hazard light switch is interfering with my indicators as in sometimes the indicators will not work until I flick on the hazards a few time then they seem to work. If anyone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated.
 
P.s. May have to stick on working on falcons, it seems like I have no dramas changing gearboxes and engines in them :(

Ok, those swap in electronic conversions that are all over e-bay at the moment for abut $50, is that what you have?  If so I'll bet it is doing what mine did, in that it fires unevenly and makes your car seem like the batteey is flat when you crank sometimes?  swap back to points you'll be better off, then get a Scorcher distributor from Ignition Developments / Performance Ignition 

I purchased the whole dizzy so I really dont want to buy another dizzy... The car idles fine its just when I give it a bit it will run rough and backfire... Maybe it is firing unevenly but it runs (at idle) as if nothing is wrong...
 

I had a similar problem with a pushrod Cortina a while back, turned out to be the low tension wire, it was a stock dizzy though....
Good luck with it Drewdog...............

if you got the whole distributor thats great, the drop in points replacement kits seem to give grief

Good advice from gtv6Capri: Original points type, in my 45 years of experience, always are much more reliable and productive than un-known EI add-ons from who knows where. Factory EI are the only reliable upgrade to points.
(But if you can fit factory original upgrade, always keep the old Kettering System, or spare EI bits in the boot in case of failure if going on a long trip) . My points System in my GTV6 Capri and my XY351 GT have NEVER let me down, as they don't when serviced every 10,000kms.
Re Timing: a Timing light will never beat DYNAMIC TIMING ON THE ROAD !........keep advancing Dizzy a "smidge" at a time till "pinging" is obvious in top gear at 50 kph with "pedal to the metal". Then retard dizzy a "smidge" or 2 until you barely hear "a ping" or two..... Stop car and tighten dizzy.
None of this should be done until you know all other tune-up items are right & d/checked.
Re Hazw..........if it's add-on after-market......remove and re-instate original wiring. If factory as on late Escorts, check ALL your Globes front and rear and make sure they ALL have their own "earth". If all ok. Haz sw is likely to be the culprit.
Bernie

If theres something you don't understand, ring Bernie at "4R Motors" on 03-97868187 after 3pm most weekdays, or email me at      agrademechanic@hotmail.com

If points were so good how come no car is made with them anymore plus virtually every factory car through the 80's went to electronic ignition.

Advancing a dissy till it pings then back off assumes the mechanical advance curve is correct for application. That is a big assumption.

Does the dissy have external wires to an ignition module? The backfiring sounds like the trigger is back to front.

The blinker cct goes through the hazzard light switch, good chance the hazzard switch is the cause.

spigot can i ask what is the trigger(the rotating ring or the stationary) and how can they be back to front?