Innova 5568 Pro Digital Timing Light Review

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Innova 5568 Pro Digital Timing Light Review

Incorrect ignition timing can cause hard starts, rough idle, weak acceleration, engine knock, or poor fuel use. The Innova 5568 Pro Digital Timing Light helps you check timing while also displaying engine speed, advance, dwell, and battery voltage.

Its digital functions and replaceable 6-foot leads make it more capable than a basic strobe light. However, it is not the right tool for every ignition system, especially MSD multi-spark setups or engines without an accessible secondary ignition signal.

This review covers its verified specifications, compatibility, setup process, practical limitations, and overall value so you can decide whether it suits your garage work.

Key Specifications

Key Takeaways

• The Innova 5568 Pro combines timing, digital advance, tachometer, dwell, and voltage functions in one handheld tool.
• Its tachometer covers 249 to 9,990 RPM, while the digital advance setting covers 0° to 90°.
• The 6-foot detachable leads are user-replaceable and provide useful reach across larger engine bays.
• The backlit LCD and rotating barrel help when timing marks sit low or visibility is limited.
• The tool requires a suitable spark-ignition signal and standard connection to a 12V negative-ground battery.
• It does not support MSD or other multi-spark ignition systems, and it does not work on diesel engines.

What Is the Innova 5568 Pro Digital Timing Light?

The Innova 5568 Pro is a professional-style inductive timing light for checking ignition timing on compatible spark-ignition engines. It connects to the vehicle battery for power and reads the firing signal through an inductive pickup placed around the number one spark plug wire.

Unlike a basic fixed-strobe timing light, the 5568 Pro has a digital LCD that displays engine speed, advance, dwell, and voltage. You can use its 0° to 90° digital advance control to bring a timing mark back to zero and read the calculated advance from the display.

Innova sells the current version as the 5568A. The manufacturer states that the 5568 and 5568A operate the same way, with the color being the stated difference between them.

Who Should Buy It?

Digital Timing and Advance Performance

The 5568 Pro’s main advantage is its 0° to 90° digital advance range. This function helps you check base timing, mechanical advance, vacuum advance, or total advance without needing a fully marked harmonic balancer.

You aim the strobe at the timing marks and adjust the advance controls until the reference mark aligns with zero. The display then shows the amount of advance being measured. You still need the correct timing specification and procedure from the vehicle’s service manual.

A clean timing mark makes a major difference. Dirt, rust, poor lighting, an unstable idle, or a jumping ignition signal can make any timing light harder to interpret. Cleaning and marking the correct reference before starting the engine can save time.

Tachometer, Dwell, and Voltage Functions

Digital Tachometer

The tachometer reads from 249 to 9,990 RPM. That range covers typical idle-speed checks, distributor adjustments, mechanical-advance testing, and many higher-RPM timing checks on cars and light trucks.

The digital RPM display is helpful when your vehicle lacks an accurate dashboard tachometer. It also lets you compare timing at the engine speeds specified by the service manual.

Dwell Meter

The dwell function covers 0° to 180° for engines with 2 to 12 cylinders. This mode is most useful on older breaker-point ignition systems, where dwell angle affects coil charging time and ignition performance.

The green lead is used when measuring dwell and connects to the negative side of the ignition coil. You should follow Innova’s instructions and the vehicle service manual because coil terminals and ignition layouts vary.

Voltage Reading

The voltage mode displays 10 to 16 volts DC. It gives you a quick reference while the timing light is connected to the battery, which can help reveal an obviously low or unusually high system reading.

This function does not replace a dedicated multimeter or a complete battery and charging-system test. Treat it as a convenient supporting measurement rather than a full electrical diagnosis.

Build Quality and Usability

The body uses ABS/polycarbonate construction with rubber-molded boots. Innova describes the housing as shock-resistant and designed for repeated use in garage and shop environments.

The built-in hand guard adds separation between your hand and the front of the tool. The slim rotating barrel also lets you change the aiming angle when timing marks sit behind hoses, accessories, or other engine-bay components.

The 6-foot leads detach from the timing light and are designed to be user-replaceable. Detachable leads simplify storage and provide a practical repair path if the cable assembly becomes damaged.

The molded case keeps the light, inductive pickup, battery connections, and other leads together. This is useful because a timing light may spend long periods in storage between tune-ups.

Compatibility and Safety

The standard setup requires a 12V negative-ground electrical system. Connect the red clip to the positive battery terminal and the black clip to the negative terminal or an approved chassis ground.

Innova warns that the timing light does not work directly on positive-ground systems. Some vehicles produced before the 1960s used positive ground, so check the service manual instead of assuming the electrical layout.

The inductive pickup must receive a clean signal from the number one spark plug cable. Place the clamp fully around the wire with the arrow pointing toward the spark plug. Dirty pickup surfaces, reversed placement, damaged ignition wires, or the wrong plug wire can prevent a stable flash.

Keep every lead away from cooling fans, belts, pulleys, exhaust manifolds, and other moving or hot parts. The hand guard and rubber boots improve protection, but safe cable routing remains your responsibility.

Diesel engines do not use conventional spark plugs or distributors, so this timing light is not suitable for diesel injection-timing work.

Setup Tips Before First Use

1. Read the service procedure: Find the correct timing specification, required engine temperature, idle speed, and instructions for vacuum or electronic advance controls.
2. Locate the timing marks: Identify the harmonic-balancer, crankshaft-pulley, flywheel, or flexplate marks before starting the engine.
3. Clean the reference area: Remove dirt and use a suitable visible mark if the factory line is difficult to see.
4. Route the leads safely: Plan a path that stays clear of fans, belts, pulleys, and exhaust components.
5. Connect battery power: Attach red to positive and black to negative on a suitable 12V negative-ground system.
6. Attach the inductive pickup: Clamp it around the number one spark plug wire with the arrow pointing toward the spark plug.
7. Select the correct settings: Choose the proper cycle, cylinder, and display mode before recording a reading.
8. Compare with the service specification: Do not adjust the distributor or ignition settings based on a generic timing figure.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Connecting the battery clips with reversed polarity.
• Placing the inductive pickup on a wire other than the number one spark plug wire.
• Installing the pickup with its arrow facing away from the spark plug.
• Letting a lead hang near a fan, belt, pulley, or hot exhaust component.
• Using the wrong 2-cycle or 4-cycle setting.
• Checking timing before the engine reaches the condition specified by the service manual.
• Leaving a vacuum-advance hose or electronic timing connector active when the service procedure says to disconnect it.

How It Performs in Real Use

On Classic Cars and Distributor Ignitions

The Innova 5568 Pro is best suited to engines with accessible spark plug wires and adjustable distributor timing. The digital advance function helps when you need to compare base timing with mechanical or total advance at a specified RPM.

The tachometer and dwell modes add value on older engines because you can check several related ignition measurements with one tool. This reduces the need to switch between a basic timing light, external tachometer, and separate dwell meter.

On Carbureted and Fuel-Injected Engines

The fuel-delivery system is not the deciding compatibility factor. The tool can work on carbureted or fuel-injected spark-ignition engines when the ignition layout provides a compatible signal and the service procedure calls for a timing-light check.

Some modern fuel-injected vehicles control timing through the engine computer and offer no normal mechanical adjustment. The light may still display timing, but that does not mean the vehicle allows or requires a distributor-style adjustment.

On DIS and Coil-On-Plug Engines

Innova lists compatible distributorless ignition systems among the supported applications. However, DIS and coil-on-plug layouts vary widely, and some do not provide an exposed plug wire for the standard inductive pickup.

Do not force the pickup around a coil, pierce insulation, or create an improvised connection. Use only a manufacturer-approved signal-access method, suitable adapter, or diagnostic procedure for your engine.

On 2-Cycle Engines and Small Engines

The 5568 supports both 2-cycle and 4-cycle operation. It can therefore suit some motorcycles, powersports engines, and small spark-ignition engines when they provide a compatible ignition signal.

You still need a safe 12V power source and adequate access to the ignition lead. Check the engine manual before connecting the timing light because smaller engines may use different electrical systems and timing procedures.

For Rough Idle and Advance Checks

A jumping timing mark or unstable RPM reading may help confirm that the ignition signal is not steady. However, a timing light alone cannot identify every cause of rough running.

Vacuum leaks, fuel-delivery faults, worn ignition parts, sensor problems, weak compression, or mechanical issues can produce similar symptoms. Use the timing readings as part of a wider diagnostic process.

Pros and Cons

Is It Worth the Price?

The Innova 5568 Pro sits above a basic inductive timing light because it combines four digital functions with replaceable leads, a protective case, and a heavier-duty body. It offers strong value for the price when you regularly tune older engines or need RPM, dwell, and voltage readings alongside ignition timing.

You receive less value if you only check fixed base timing once every few years. A simpler analog model can handle that limited job with fewer controls and a lower purchase cost.

Compatibility also determines value. The 5568 Pro is a smart buy for everyday garage use on supported ignition systems, but it is not worth considering for an MSD multi-spark setup or a diesel engine.

How It Compares to Alternatives

The Innova 3555 is a simpler alternative with an analog advance dial, detachable leads, and a rotating barrel. It makes more sense when you need basic timing and advance adjustment but do not need a digital tachometer, dwell display, or voltage mode.

The Innova 3568 adds a digital display and advance functions but does not provide the complete tachometer, dwell, and voltage feature set found on the 5568 Pro. It may suit buyers who want digital timing control without every diagnostic mode.

The MSD 8992 Timing Pro is the stronger comparison for performance or specialized ignition work. MSD markets it for broad ignition compatibility and stable readings up to 10,000 RPM, while the Innova 5568 Pro is better for buyers who prioritize its digital RPM, dwell, voltage, and advance readouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

The Innova 5568 Pro earns an 8/10 for combining digital advance, RPM, dwell, and voltage readings with replaceable 6-foot leads and garage-ready construction. It is a strong choice for classic cars, older trucks, and other compatible spark-ignition engines with an accessible pickup signal.

You should skip it when you need MSD multi-spark support, diesel timing equipment, or guaranteed plug-and-play use on every coil-on-plug engine. For the right ignition system, it provides more useful diagnostic information than a basic timing light without becoming overly difficult to operate.