Dodge dakota 3.9 v6 year 2000 where should rotor point to on cap when cam gear dot at6 and crank gear dot at 12 and on tdc compression stroke it points to number 4 on cap when cam dot at 6 o clock

They need to line up cam down crank up .However before you can do this you need to have #1 cylinder at tdc top dead center witch means #1 has to be at the top of the compression stroke its on the left side when your facing the engine take the plug out and bar the engine over from the crank bolt its easier if you take a few plugs out .Stick your finger in the #1 plug hole when you feel pressure that is what is called the compression stroke then take a piece of stiff wire or something that will not bark off in side and slowly bring the piston slightly before the top of the stroke if it starts to go down you went to far .This will mechanically time the engine. Then line the dots up on the gears .You can double check by removing the dis cap the rotor should line up with the pin the plug wire from #1 cylinder is plugged onto slightly before not after.

If you know the engine's number one cylinder location, you need to put it at TDC of the compression stroke, then you lower the distributor in so that the rotor ends up pointing to the #1 spark plug wire tower on the distributor cap. As you drop it down, the gear on the dist. shaft will mesh with another gear and turn slightly. You want it ending up pointing directly to #1. Get it seated, then you can start the engine and set the timing according to specs with a timing light.

To find TDC of the compression stroke (as opposed to TDC of the exhaust stroke), pull the #1 spark plug out. Put a socket and wrench on the crankshaft pulley and turn it in its normal direction (clockwise), with your finger over the spark plug hole. As the number one piston is rising on its compression stroke, you can feel the pressure build up under your finger. You won't feel any pressure as the piston rises on the exhaust stroke, only on the compression stroke. So when you feel pressure, you know the piston is rising on its compression stroke, and you can turn the crank on around until the piston is at top of its travel-the notch on the crank pulley will now line up with the zero degrees mark on the pointer scale beside the pulley. There, TDC of compression stroke. Now drop in the distributor so the rotor tip lines up with the #1 spark plug tower on the dist. cap.

You'll have to put the timing cover and balancer on to find out if the mark on the balancer is pointing to the mark on the cover. If it is, the rotor should be pointing to cyl 1 plug wire.

The cam gear mark should be at 6 and the crank gear mark should be at 12 so they meet each other.

Are we talking cam timing or ignition timing? Cam timing you will have to line the dots up on the cam and crank gears when installing the timing chain. Ignition timing is controlled by the computer for the most part, you just have to make sure that the rotor of the distributor is lined up with the number 1 spark plug wire on the distributor cap when the engine is at Top Dead Center (TDC) of the compression stroke of the number 1 cylinder.

Okay, you have to set the number 1 cylinder at TDC of its
compression stroke, and then drop in the distributor so the rotor is pointing to the #1 spark plug wire tower. This should start the car, then you could set the timing to spec with a timing light.

There are two TDC's of a cylinder- the compression stroke and the exhaust stroke. To find the compression stroke, take out the #1 cylinder spark plug. Put your finger over the hole. Now either turn the engine over by hand (with a socket on the crankshaft pulley-turn clockwise), OR have a helper bump the starter over in as short bursts as possible. As soon as you feel pressure on your finger- stop turning- the piston in #1 is rising on its compression stroke. Now check the timing pointer or scale by the crank pulley. Turn the engine slowly on over until the notch or mark on the crank pulley is right on the zero degrees mark on the scale. This is TDC of compression stroke-the piston is at top of travel in the cylinder. Put the distributor in so the rotor will be pointing to the #1 spark plug wire.

Sounds like timing may be off. Recheck your procedure. Did you change the timing belt?

I would start by putting crankshaft to the zero point on scale-TDC on the compression stroke. Crankshaft will be at zero, TDC, twice; on the compression stroke and on the exhaust stroke. To find the compression stroke, pull the spark plug on number 1, with finger over hole, turn crank by socket until you feel pressure against your finger. Now turn the crank (clockwise) until it is at the zero mark-TDC of compression stroke. Pull off the distributor cap-rotor should be pointing at number 1 plug wire tower-Is it?
If good so far, look for inspection rubber plug to check camshaft timing mark on cam sprocket, OR pull the valve cover off and check the number 1 cylinder camshaft lobes that open the valves-both lobes, intake and exhaust, should be away from the valves. Valves should both be closed on number 1.
Post back with what you find. Good luck.

Right, so you have two TDC's-the exhaust stroke and the compression stroke Top Dead Center-and both occurr when the crank hits the zero mark on the timing scale.
Always set timing with the number one cylinder at TDC on the compression stroke. How do you know which is which? If you have a distributor, the rotor will be pointing to number one cylinder tower, when at TDC of the compression stroke. If you are on the exhaust stroke's TDC, the rotor will be pointing just opposite of number one .
If you don't have a distributor, look at the valves for cylinder one under the valve cover. If at TDC of compression stroke, both valves will be closed. At TDC of exhaust stroke, the exhaust valve will be open.
You can also find the compression stroke on number one by pulling out the spark plug for number one, and either put a wrench or socket on the crank pulley and turn it clockwise, or use the starter and bump the engine over in short bumps. Put your finger or thumb over the spark plug hole and feel for the pressure to build up. As soon as you feel pressure on your finger, (if turning by hand, pressure will be slight, but you can feel it) you are on the compression stroke. Stop bumping the starter and turn the crank on around by hand until the zero mark lines up on the timing scale-TDC of compression stroke! The exhaust stroke will have no pressure build-up as the piston comes to top-because the exhaust valve is open. On the compression stroke, both valves are closed as the piston travels up the cylinder.

Pull the number one sparkplug, and hold your finger or thumb over the hole while the crank is being turned. As the crankshaft comes around to the zero mark, you will feel a slight pressure buildup on the compression stroke. If you are on the exhaust stroke and approaching TDC, there will be no pressure buildup. But even turning the crank by hand, you will feel a slight pressire on your finger on the compression stroke. When at tdc of compression stroke, rotor will be pointing to number one plugwire tower-if you have a distributor, that is. But feel for the compression on number one as the crank approaches the zero mark (tdc).

Verify that the distributor rotor is pointing directly at the #1 cylinder spark plug wire tower on the distributor cap, with engine set to TDC on the compression stroke for the #1 cylinder.
If not, and you have not touched the distributor previously, you have not set up the valve timing properly. Recheck your timing gear and chain alignment marks.
Hope any of this helps you. Good Luck!
If you need a diagram of the timing chain and gears, email me a request at [email protected]