If I am correct, 2 marks on the cam gears are supposed to be aligned at 3 and 9 o'clock, while at the same time the crankshaft is suppossed to be at top dead center (tdc) mark. Is this corect? What are the marks on the cam gears supposed to look like? When I look at mine, I see a painted mark (green on one, red on the other) that are off 4 teeth. I could not find any other marks on the cams at all. So, I took it to a garage to re-time it, but they insist the timing is correct.

I'm almost positive my timing belt skipped b/c of a bad tensioner pully.
Am I looking at the right marks on my cam gears?

The timing marks on the cam sprockets are actually cut into the gears. It's not a painted mark as it is two groove in the metal you need to line up.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Una Salus Victus.

Mods List:
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Ok, I just realized the paint highlights the grooves in the cam gears. So if the marks are off 4 teeth, I still think my timing is messed up then. This mechanic whos looking at it seems to think it's fine. I cannot see the crankshaft TDC mark, but is there a chance it is OK, or am I correct with the timing being off?

If you don't know that the engine is at TDC, how do think the timing is off? Turn the engine and at some point they should line up, and that should be TDC if the crank is set right. The only way to check all the marks is to pull the crank pulley off, and timing cover.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Una Salus Victus.

Mods List:
http://highlander.dsmpower.com/sig.htm

I only took off the timing cover, just to see that the 2 cam gear marks were off 4 teeth. But my question is, does this mean my timing is definately off (without looking at the crankshaft at all.)

If you just removed the access panel then no. The engine doesn't stop at TDC. You have to make sure everything lines up.turn your wheel to the right, pop the acess panel to the crank bolt and turn the engine and see if you get the two cam timing marks to line up, if you can then I would bet timing is fine.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Una Salus Victus.

Mods List:
http://highlander.dsmpower.com/sig.htm

also, the timing marks on the cam gears will only line up every 2 full crank revolutions.. If your timing was off 4 teeth, then you would most def have a CEL, and the car would run like total crap..if at all..

What is a CEL?

But, I kept turning the engine over as my buddy kept checking the marks on the cam gears to see if they would ever line up. The closest it ever came was 4 teeth off. At some point, I had to have had the crank at the TDC mark, too have seen the marks this close together (4 teeth).

And yes, the car idols rougher than when my timing was done, awhile back.

CEL= check engine light. Is that orange light lit up on your dash? If it is, then retrieve the code#. If timing is off, it will normally light up the check engine light. It gives a code for timing belt being off one tooth or more. If you are postive that the marks are off, then you need to redo the timing. This means getting down to the timing belt components, just like you were installing a new timing belt. If another shop did that, take it back to them. If everything was done properly the first time, then the belt should never skip any teeth.