Only vac adv changes rotor phasing so if it's not functioning then yes the rotor will not move when "frozen" with the light. iirc the passenger side port is ported. How close to straight on was the rotor to the cap terminal? EDIT pull & cap the vac adv hose & see where the rotor points to in the at rest/no vacuum position. Adding the vac adv can will shift the rotor clockwise (on a BB) from that original at rest/no vacuum position however under power (WOT) the rotor will be at the original no vac/at rest position and this is when the required voltage is the greatest so the rotor especially needs to be within range at that point