timing belt alignment marks

[90TTalonAWD]

searched around and seems alot of people have the same problem but i have a question. I'm trying to realign my camshaft sprockets for my timing belt change. There are dowel pins at 12:00, and then the timing marks on the inside and also the timing marks on the outside. Is it accurate to assume that if i put a straight edge across the outside marks and line them up, the marks on the inside marks should align as well and all 4 marks should be straight across the straight edge? I've been trying to line them up and they just don't seem to be straight across. should i ignore the outside timing marks and just make sure the inside timing marks are lined up straight?

 

[Defiant]

Ignore the outside marks.

 

[90TTalonAWD]

thx, i'll try that tonight see if i can get it lined up

 

[Tevenor]

Don't trust your eyes if you ONLY use the inside marks. Align the straight edge from the center of the cam bolts and then make sure the inside marks line up on the cam gears.

 

[BISHILVR]

It would be pretty hard to have it off and not notice. The inside marks line up to each other and have to be parallel to the head gasket/block surface (keep that in mind).

 

[gixrman]

It would be pretty hard to have it off and not notice. The inside marks line up to each other and have to be parallel to the head gasket/block surface (keep that in mind).

I remember when I did mine the first time it looked right when it was acually 1 tooth off. I had to play with it a couple of times to get it right.

 

[Tevenor]

It would be pretty hard to have it off and not notice. The inside marks line up to each other and have to be parallel to the head gasket/block surface (keep that in mind).

The problem is that the engine doesn't sit square to the ground, which you unfortunately are by standing on it. In the end, its not impossible to look like the marks line up but be off 1 full tooth. That's why a straight edge across the cam bolts will tell you right away if not only are they lined up but truly matched.

 

[vgknightcc]

What i usually do is set the bottom and have somebody hold it on the crank and the oil sprocket then. Then I set the belt on the intake side making sure the dowels are both at 12 o'clock on the intake and exhaust.. Then I kick the exhaust gear down one tooth below the intakes 9 o'clock. Now you you can place the belt over the exhaust cam gear. When that is done turn the motor over by hand about a quarter or less then back to timed; and if all the marks line up set the tensioner and you should be dead on. Works everytime for me.

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Rough pictures but you get the idea.

Here are the two lined up; the red arrow is where I set the 3 o'clock mark for the exhaust. It will be off when you put the belt on initially but after you bring it forward the back it will line up perfect for the tensioner

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[angel1246]

i have the same problem where the hell is the timing mark for the crankshaft sproket i have a 2.4L SOHC GS Spyder

 

[DSM1G90]

A small trick to make sure that all marks are dead across the top of the block is to get a mirror-take the one off from inside the car, being long, and you can then chek all the marks at one glance via the reflection.

 

[1992awdlaser]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/cyl...olved-cam-gear-timing-mark-clarification.html