Adjusting Your Ignition Timing!
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
-Inductive Timing Light
-A medium sized paper clip
-Last but not least, Half a brain

This is a very simple process so long as you have a timing light. If you go to an auto parts store they might let you borrow their timing light just to set yours. Or at the very least you can buy one of the inductive style timing lights for around $30-50. If you modify your probe and tear it apart often its not a bad idea to invest in this because it gets used on more than one occasion.

Step1) You need to put the car into diagnostic mode. It's way easier than it sounds. You just need to get a thick paper clip and bend it into a U shape. Then you pop the hood and open the small black diagnostic box located inside the drive side fender by the battery. The cap on the box is labeled and it gives the pin names. There is a pin called TEN and GND. You need to put one end of each pin into these 2 holes. You will know this is connected right if you turn the key to ignition (not starting the car) and the check engine light (CEL) will come on the dash and the engine fans will kick on as long as the key is on still.

Step2) Next step is to connect the timing light connectors to the car. Put the positive(+) red clip on the positive battery terminal and connect the black clip to something grounded on the car, you can also use the neg)-) battery terminal. Now you have to connect the sliding spark plug clip on the #1 plug wire. Looking at the motor from the front the cylinders are arranged in this order:
      1   3   5
      2   4   6

Step 3) Now you can start the car. It will not idle very smooth, the RPM's will drop and it will sound a bit rough. This also means the car is working correctly in diag. mode! There are markings on the timing belt cover. When I changed my water pump I painted the 10 degrees before top dead center marks so I could see it better, so it might be tough to see. With the car running aim the timing gun between the frame and the pass side of the engine, pointing toward the crankshaft pulley. You should be able to vaguely see the lines on the black plastic timing cover just below of the water pump pulley. The are 4 small lines between each longer line, the longer ones indicate 0* and 10* BTDC. Stock ignition timing is supposed to be 10* BTDC at idle, this is labeled on the cover so pay close attention. Your fuel injectors and TPS sensors combine with this ignition timing signal to effectively run the engine so having the timing at 10 BTDC is pretty important. If you are having trouble seeing the markings, I usually have to pull 2 big rubber power steering hoses away from the engine to squeeze the timing gun down into the right position to see everything.

Step 4) The only way to adjust the timing if its not already at 10* BTDC is to rotate the distributor. There are two 12mm head bolts holding the distributor in place. If you loosen these bolts it can be rotated to advance or retard the timing. Make small adjustments and recheck with the timing light to see if its closer.

I hope this helps you guys set your own timing now - Good Luck!