The 1988 Honda Civic EX featured a 1.5L or a 1.6L four-cylinder engine. Both engines have an ignition timing of 18 degrees before top dead center (BTDC). You should routinely adjust the ignition timing of your engine to keep up with your car's maintenance. The ignition timing controls when the spark occurs in the internal combustion engine. You should adjust the ignition timing with caution to not damage any parts of your engine.
Put your key in the ignition of your Honda Civic EX and turn the car on. Turn all car accessories off, including the radio and air conditioning/heat.
Put your transmission in drive and engage the emergency brake. Bring the engine to an idle speed of 725 rpm.
Connect the timing light or tachometer to your Civic's battery, No. 1 spark plug, and the main crank pulley.
Check where the timing mark on the pulley falls compared to the standard 18 degrees it should be. You don't have to adjust the ignition timing if it already reads 18 degrees.
Loosen the distributor lockdown bolt with your wrench. The lockdown bolt should be located by the base of the distributor housing.
Disconnect and plug the distributor vacuum hose into the distributor housing.
Rotate the distributor with your hand until the timing mark drifts into 18 degrees BTDC.
Tighten the distributor lockdown bolt with your wrench once you have set the timing to 18 degrees BTDC. Unplug and connect the distributor vacuum hose. Remove the timing light or tachometer.
