Honda accord 93: can't set ignition timing right

I started to hear detonation sound on warm engine. I checked ignitio
timing and it was about 15 degrees advance. Tried to set it right, bu
I moved distributor all the way to its limit and only could mov
ignition half way to where it should be. It is about 7-8 degree
advance now.
Detonation got much milder after that, but didn't go away completely.
The distributor was replaced 3 years ago and I don't think it is ba
again. What else could cause ignition timing shift?
serge

 

Take a good look at your crank pulley. If it's like all the Civics and
Integras I've seen, you should see two sets of notches in it:
1) There is a single notch all by itself. That's Top Dead Center.
2) Then there are three marks grouped together, somewhere to the left of
the single one. Those are your timing marks. You jump the gray connector
behind the passenger kick panel ( a paper clip is fine), then set the
timing so it's in the middle of the group of three.

Sounds like you're trying to set it to Top Dead Center.

 

when you're checking timing, you have to disable the cpu advance. the
shop manual tells you how.

after that, set the advance, also per the shop manual. if it's still
detonating after that, check the cam timing - the belt may have jumped a
tooth. also check the plugs are ok. sometimes melted plug electrodes
have strange effects on ignition.