checked dampner it seems ok rubber is good and intack and nothing seems loose, doesn't look like it has slipped. pulled dist. cap off and turned engine over to tdc compression on #1 all seems ok

 

Rotor looks great! Just double checking... There are two marks on the dampener, are they positioned like this:

 

Yes both timing marks are lined up top and bottom

 

Time to check timing chain slack. You'll need an assistant for this one. Remove the distributor cap so you can see the rotor clearly. Manually, (socket & ratchet) line up the dampener marks to TDC, and the rotor with the "6". Very important to only rotate the crankshaft clockwise, (this keeps all chain slack on the passenger side). When you start getting close to TDC on the crank, rotate the crank slowly so you don't pass TDC.


Next step... Have your assistant watch the rotor carefully, while you slowly rotate the crankshaft counter clockwise. When the rotor just begins to move, stop rotating the crankshaft. Approximate how many degrees the crankshaft moved. If there is more than ~12 degrees, there is a problem. You'll be able to feel when the slack comes out of the chain, there will be noticeably more resistance to rotate the crank.

 

Is there a measurment tgat would egual to the 12 degrees like an inch measurment to make it more specific

 

yeah, about an inch I guess. Without index marks on the timing cover, like they USED to do, it makes it rather difficult to be exact, but it beats taking the cover off

 

It is nice and tight rotor moves immediately so even less than 1/8th inch of movment of timing mark

 

Good! That answers your question back in post #1, and confirms my reply in post #3


The fact that this thing fights the starter while cranking, and cranks ok with the ICM disconnected, means something isn't timed right. A timing light is an obsolete tool on this engine, but we need one for the next step! Connect it to #1 plug wire, (front plug, left side). Make sure everything is connected, put a crayon mark, (or similar) on the top line of the dampener, crank the starter and see if the top line on the dampener shows up anywhere in sight. Should be about an inch or so above the index.

 

Ok it will take me a few days to find a timing light

 

If the cam/crank correlation is off, (distributor is not timed correctly), P1345 will set and turn the SES light on. However, the PCM needs to see the engine run before it can set the DTC, which is a problem. The timing light will, in a primitive sort of way, tell us if #1 is firing "in the ball park". Ignition timing can be viewed on a scan tool, but that is what the PCM is applying, not necessarily what the spark plugs are seeing.