A 22RE is the fuel injected version of Toyota's venerable 22R engine. The first 22RE was produced in 1982. Different forms of the engine were available through 1995. Although specifications vary with year and model, the basic ignition timing procedure is the same. Specifications are located on the Vehicle Emission Control Information label in the engine compartment. The use of a timing light with either a jumper lead or an inductive-type pickup is recommended.
Locate the timing plate on the front of the engine, just above the crankshaft pulley. Clean the plate with a rag if necessary so you can clearly see the marks.
Turn the crankshaft pulley with a socket wrench until the timing notch in the pulley is visible. Clean the notch and mark it with a dot of white paint.
Bring the engine up to operating temperature. Attach a tachometer according to the meter instructions and adjust the idle to the correct rpm. Turn the engine off.
Consult the VECI label in the engine compartment for timing procedures. Remove and plug the necessary vacuum hoses if required. Attach a jumper wire between terminals TE1 and E1 on the check plug if necessary. Make note of the timing mark specification, normally 5 degrees BTDC.
Connect the timing light power cables to the battery and the pickup cable to the number one cylinder spark plug wire. Check the engine compartment to make sure all the cables, wires and loose hoses are out of the way of the engine fan.
Start the engine. Press the accelerator three or four times, then allow the engine to idle for a minute. Point the timing light at the crankshaft pulley to illuminate the timing marks. The white dot on the pulley should align with the proper mark on the timing plate.
Adjust the timing if necessary by loosening the distributor hold down clamp and turning the distributor body until the marks align. Tighten the clamp. Check the engine rpm and adjust. Remove the test equipment and reconnect all hoses and wires. Test-drive the vehicle.
