Modern cars that are controlled by electronic ignitions don't need to have their timing adjusted, but old-style 4-stroke engines require that the timing be adjusted periodically to optimize the efficiency of the engine, making sure that the spark fires at the appropriate moment in the ignition cycle. If you hear telltale signs of the timing of your car not being quite right, such as pinging, backfiring, or if the car runs too rich or too lean, you will need to either take it to a mechanic or adjust the timing yourself. The four "strokes" in the 4-cycle engine refer to the process of intake, compression, power, and exhaust. The timing of the ignition refers to the point between the compression and the power strokes at which the spark plug fires, creating the combustion that results in your horsepower, forcing the piston down into the cylinder. When the piston comes up during the compression stroke, just before the piston gets to the top of its compression stroke (which is called "top dead center"),  the spark plug should fire. Over time, this tends to get misaligned somewhat, resulting in a less-than-optimum spark plug firing time. The distance before the "top dead" center is the ignition timing, and it's represented by a row of graded numbers on the balancer or flywheel through an access hole. Look for the ruler-style row of numbers on the front of the engine's harmonic balancer (or flywheel), which should have numbers above and below zero. Typically, when your car comes from the manufacturer, ignition base idle timing is set to a manufacture specification before top dead center. The timing advances as the engine's speed accelerates, however, resulting in a variable that will need to be periodically adjusted using a timing light. Numbers to the left of zero on the timing tape refer to the piston as it travels down, while numbers to the right of zero refer to the piston's upward motion. Moving the wheel right is called "advancing" the timing, while moving the wheel left is "moving back" the timing.

Summary: Learn if your car needs to be adjusted or not. Understand the ignition cycle. Learn the ignition timing number.


Click Add to favorites. If you don't see the ☆, click "Favorites" → "Add to favorites". You can also press Ctrl+D. You can change the title of the bookmark and choose a folder to save it in. Click New folder to make a new folder in the currently-selected folder. Click Add when you are satisfied with the bookmark. If you have a lot of bookmarks, you can use the bookmark manager to get them all in order. Click the "Favorites" menu and select "Organize favorites". If you don't see the Favorites menu, press Alt.  Click and drag bookmarks to move them into different folders. You can also drag folders into other folders. Right-click on a bookmark or folder and select "Delete" to delete it. All of the bookmarks in a deleted folder will be deleted as well.

Summary: Open the page that you want to bookmark. Click the ☆ in the upper-right corner. Edit the bookmark's details. Organize your bookmarks.


If your wheel covers did not come with the retention rings installed, remove them from the packaging and place them face down on a surface that won’t scuff or damage their finish.  You can place the wheel covers in grass or on a soft material like cloth or Styrofoam. Be sure you don’t move the wheel covers around as they lay face down to avoid scuffing or scratching them. The retention ring will have a bend in it designed to allow the valve stem to pass through it.  Line that bend up with the hole in the wheel cover that is also intended for the valve stem to pass through.  There will be only one bend in the ring, making it easy to identify the parts to line up. If the ring is not lined up properly, it will mount on the wheel cover, but will not be able to mount on the wheel itself. Use your thumbs to press the ring down onto the clips that will hold it in place.  Different wheel covers will have a different number of clips, but there are usually at least six.  Simply pressing down on the ring will snap the clips into place. Continue to press the ring into each snap all the way around the wheel cover. It may seem as though the ring is too large for the wheel cover as you get to the final few clips.  This is common, and likely does not indicate that there is any problem.  Bend the ring slightly in order to clip it into the final few clips.  Once the ring is in all of the clips it will redistribute the pressure and fit properly. If the ring is far too large to be clipped in, it may be the wrong ring for the size wheel cover.

Summary: Place the wheel cover face down. Line up the bend with the valve stem notch. Press the metal ring downward onto the first few clips. Bend the ring slightly to secure the last clips.


The easiest way to begin a conversation with someone you want to talk to is to ask a favor. You don’t know this person yet, so you don’t know what you have in common. Asking a favor is a neutral way to enter into conversation without boring them with something they don’t care about.  Make sure it’s a small favor that won’t put her out. For example, ask to borrow a pen or read their class notes to see something you missed. If you don’t have your textbook, ask to look on with her. That way, you can sit closer to her, too! Since you don’t know her very well yet, you might not know what she likes. The only thing you know for sure that you have in common is the class you’re in with her. Even if you understood the class lecture perfectly, ask her to clarify something the teacher said.  As opposed to asking a favor, which can result in a very quick interaction, asking someone to explain something to you will probably result in a longer conversation. Keep the conversation going by asking follow-up questions. If she didn’t understand either, show solidarity! Let her know that you’re in it together, and that you have something in common. Girls love guys with a sense of humor, so try to make her laugh. Make eye contact with her when somebody says something silly, or roll your eyes when the teacher assigns homework. Make sure you’re not disrupting class, though, or drawing the teacher’s attention. Getting in trouble will not impress her! You’re looking for anything that begins a speaking relationship with her, so make her feel like you want to know what she has to say. Ask her something related to class, like what she thinks is going to be on the next test, or how many hours she’s planning on putting into preparation for a presentation. Don’t talk over her when she gives her opinion. Let her talk for as long as she wants, and show interest in what she has to say. Giving compliments is a lot trickier than it sounds. You may think “who doesn’t like getting a compliment?” but you should always be respectful of girls when complimenting them. Always complimenting girls on how pretty they are sends the message that you only like them for their looks, and most girls don’t like to be made to feel that way. Compliment her on something she actually had to work for, rather than something she was born with. This might be related to her appearance or not.  Compliment her on her hairstyle on a particular day instead of her eyes. Compliment her on an outfit she put together. Tell her you liked her answer to a question in class. Congratulate her for doing well on a test if you see she got a good grade. Don't bother her with questions or favors if you see that she's concentrating on something or she's late and has to run to her next class. If you have a class with her, you're going to see her every day, so wait for a time when she seems relaxed and in a good mood to break the ice with her.
Summary: Ask a small favor. Ask a question about something the teacher said. Make her laugh. Ask for her opinion on something related to class. Give her a compliment. Choose the right time for your icebreaker.