OK, today we took the timing light to the thing. At idle, get this, it was 20 degrees ATDC. When accelarating the engine, it advanced to zero. Two conclusions:

(1) Vacuum is working, since timing is being adjusted
(2) EZL must be malfunctioning, because of the shot initial timing.

Awaiting another EZL from eBay... Wish me luck!

__________________
Henry Bofinger
1989 560 SEL (black/black)
2001 Audi TT Roadster (silver/grey)