Quick timing question

[gustavohuber]

I'm trying to figure out if my troubles are caused by poor timing, when i took off the covers, all three belt marks lined up six teeth off from the timing marks.. so I'm redoing the belt, have the cams lined up with the little cut in the belt cover, but on the crank, do I line up the little triangle with the timing mark (TDC) or do i use the timing mark?

[gustavohuber]

I'm going to go with the mark on the back of the crank cog.. so then what is all this stuff about putting the #1 piston in the TDC position that chilton's talks about?

[skid542]

Use the mark on the back of the crank cog and line it up with the mark on the block, right infront/under the crank sensor. And then line up the cams like you are doing and you should be in good shape.

Don't worry about that #1 TDC stuff, just make sure you're marks are right and you'll be fine.

[entirelyturbo]

Do not use the little triangle.

From what I was told, that has nothing to do with timing. It's to keep you from bending valves when you're changing the belt (and yes, I know, we can't bend our valves ... it was for the later interference 2.2's I guess).

When the triangle is pointing to the left (driver's) side of the engine, the pistons on the right side (passenger's) are far back enough in the block that you can turn the right side cam anyway you want without hitting anything. That entire thing vice versa as well.

At least that's what I was told.

[gustavohuber]

I noticed that when the triangle is on line with the timing mark on the crank sensor, then if you put the crank pulley on, it lines up its timing mark with 0/TDC, which makes perfect sense for the not crashing valves thing.. i think all three arrows (on the crank and cam pulleys) are just absolute direction for the respective shafts, so you know what is where. Thanks for the help everyone.