According the MOTOR Emissions Application guide your Honda Civic is required to have its ignition timing set at 12 BTDC while at 700 RPM, and the timing jumper connected.
The White Timing Mark on the Crankshaft Pulley indicates Top Dead Center (TDC). The Red Mark indicated 12 BTDC.
IGNITION TIMING SETTING INSTRUCTIONS: Your Honda Civic has a service connecter located under the passenger side kick-panel. Using a short wire or paperclip, jump the connecter in order to place the ECU into Ignition Timing mode. Start the engine and slightly loosen the bolts on the ignition distributor. Wait for the vehicle to reach normal operating temperature, or at least until the radiator fan turns on and off. All engine accessories should be turned off.
Connect your ignition timing gun (ignition timing light) to the #1 spark plug wire. Point the timing gun at the timing belt cover toward the crankshaft. The timing belt cover should have a pointer. if this pointer is not visible, using a brush, clean away any oil debris which might be blocking it/.
Begin slightly turning the distributor toward the front of your Honda Civic. This will retard ignition timing. Adjusting the distributor toward your Honda Civic firewall (this is towards the rear of the vehicle) will advance the ignition timing. Our emission application guide indicates your Honda Civic should be set near 12 degrees (+/- 3 degrees), indicated by the red timing mark.
