Camshaft alignment marks need to be aligned

Camshaft gear pin hole aligns with a notch in the camshaft bearing cap, exactly behind the gear. You do not mention if you checked the marks on both cams, before going into the timing belt. they do not move, unless you removed one or both of the cams.

No, you will have open valves when the timing marks are aligned. This will create spring pressure and will want to move the cams to a neutral position. This is why you need the retaining tool to hold the cams in the proper location while the belt is replaced.

1. Rotate the engine until the crankshaft sprocket mark aligns with the second silver link (2) at the 5 o'clock position. Refer to the illustration.
   
   
   

   Fig. Rotate the engine until the crankshaft sprocket mark aligns with the second silver link (2) at the 5 o'clock position-2.2L engine
   

2. Make sure the INT diamond on the intake camshaft sprocket is aligned with the copper link at (1) at the 2 o'clock position. Refer to the illustration.
   
   
   

   Fig. Make sure the INT diamond on the intake camshaft sprocket is aligned with the copper link at (1) at the 2 o'clock position-2.2L engine
   

3. Make sure the EXH triangle on the exhaust camshaft sprocket is aligned with the silver link (3). Refer to the illustration.
   
   
   

   Fig. Make sure the EXH triangle on the exhaust camshaft sprocket is aligned with the silver link (3)-2.2L engine
   



Hope helps.

4 Cylinder diesel(4JX1) :
1 - Timing mark
2 - Cam pulley
3 - HP Oil pump pulley
4 - Tensioner pulley




6 Cylinder petrol:
Align crank(C) timing notch mark (1) to oil pump mark.
Align cam pulley(L+R) marks(3) to cylinder head marks
The cam belt has 3 marks, 2 lines and one mark that is actually a row of dots. Align the dots to the crank pulley groove mark(2) and align the other 2 lines to the cam pulley marks. Using a clothes peg to hold the belt to the cam pulleys works wonders to keep it in place while fitting. Please note the arrows on the belt and have them point in the direction of rotation - right to left side of engine
W - water pump pulley
I - Idler pulley
T - Tensioner pulley.

If for some reason you need to realign the cams on each bank :
Standing in front of the car and starting from YOUR left , looking at the cams you should see RE, RI, LI, LE on each of the camshafts.(R for right bank, L for left bank, I for intake and E for exhaust) Right bank camshafts are marked with one dot, left bank with 2 dots on the shaft itself. To align the camshafts to each other each cam shaft gear has a mark on it. Draw an imaginary line between the centre of the camshaft and the centre of the pulley. The alignment mark should be between the two along this imaginary line. The result will be that RI an RE will be at the top of each gear. The same with the left bank.

You need to specify engine type, but the following videos of the same engine type in MG and Rover cars should help (kv6 petrol 2.5L and rover k series -only single on the last one but similar principle)

It is typical to have to stretch the belt a tad as you install--needs to be tight across the cam sprockets and from the right cam to the crank gear. Then the tensioner should take up the slack on the other side.

1. 
2. Fig. Camshaft and crankshaft alignment marks-2.4L engine

2. 
   

To install:

Fig. Install the belt tensioner


Fig. Proper timing belt routing

1. Set the crankshaft sprocket at TDC by aligning the sprocket with the arrow on the oil pump housing.
2. Set the camshafts timing marks so that the exhaust camshaft sprocket is a 1 / 2 notch below the intake camshaft sprocket.
3. Install the timing belt by starting at the crankshaft. Go around the water pump sprocket, idler pulley, camshaft sprockets and the tensioner.
4. Move the exhaust camshaft sprocket counterclockwise to align the marks and to remove any slack.
5. Insert a 6mm Allen wrench into the tensioner opening on the top plate of the tensioner pulley. Rotate the top plate counterclockwise. The pulley will move against the belt and the tensioner setting notch will start to move clockwise. Continue to move the top plate counterclockwise until the setting notch is aligned with the spring tang. Using the Allen wrench, to prevent the top plate from moving, tighten the tensioner lock bolt to 220 inch lbs. (25 Nm). Make sure the setting notch and spring tang are still aligned after the lock nut is tighten. If not repeat the procedure.
6. Remove the wrench from the belt tensioner.
   NOTE When repositioning the crankshaft to the TDC position, this must be done during the clockwise rotation movement. If the TDC is missed, rotate a further two full turns until TDC is reached. Do not rotate the crankshaft counterclockwise as this will result in improper tensioner settings.
   
7. Rotate the crankshaft two full revolutions and verify that the TDC marks are properly aligned.
8. Check the spring tang is within the tolerance window, if not repeat the previous two steps.

I hop you are replacing the belt and tensioner/ idler pulleys. the crank pulley has a notch approx 12'oclock. the cams will be marked rear cam "I" and front cam "E" .. put both letters at 12 o clock. there should be a notch at the top of the cover for the cams at 12 o clock. thats all there is to it. to tension the belt, after you have it all timed up. put some tension on it, tighten tensioner bolt, turn the engine 2 revolutions, then double check your marks, push down with you thumb between the cam sprokets with 20 lbs of force, the belt should delfect about 10MM if its too loose, loosen the tensione rbolt an dturn it tighter a little more an dck tension again. If you get it too tight it will whine and wear the cam journals, too loose and timing will not be correct.

There are no marks on this one. There is a special tool set to align camshafts ($900). The best you can do is to bring #1 cyl to TDC compression with both cam(valve) covers off. #5 cyl should have lobes at equal opening, exhaust just closing and intake just opening.. #1 cyl cam lobes should each be diametrically opposed to the positions of #5. If cams need to be moved, there is no registration of gear onto cam. Just loosen bolt holding gear and move cam. Retighten bolt. Roll thru 2 crank revolutions and check cam timing again.Simple.

This is the same as a Ford Escort 1.9, the #1 cylinder should be all the way up. To confirm- the crak shift mark should be on zero which is Crank Shift Center- THe camshift sproket should align with the headmark. Make sure both marks don't move. Align the belt- not too tight , not to loose

Timing Belt
Removal
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove air cleaner assembly.
3. Remove radiator upper fan shroud from radiator.
4. Move drive belt tensioner to loose side using wrench
then remove drive belt.
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Legend
(1) Crankshaft Pulley
(2) Cooling Fan Pulley
(3) Tensioner
(4) Generator
(5) Air Conditioner Compressor
(6) Power Steering Oil Pump
(7) Drive Belt
5. Remove cooling fan assembly four nuts, then the
cooling fan assembly.
6. Remove cooling fan drive pulley assembly.
7. Remove idle pulley assembly.
8. Remove serpentine belt tensioner assembly.
9. Remove power steering pump assembly.
10.Remove crankshaft pulley assembly using
5–8840–0133–0 crankshaft holder, hold crankshaft
pulley remove center bolt, then the pulley.
11. Remove right side timing belt cover then left side
timing belt cover.
12. Remove lower timing belt cover
13. Remove pusher.
CAUTION: The pusher prevents air from entering
the oil chamber. Its rod must always be facing
upward.
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Legend
(1) Up Side
(2) Down Side
(3) Direction For Installation
(4) Locking Pin
14. Remove timing belt.
CAUTION:
1. Do not bend or twist the belt, otherwise its core
could be damaged. The belt should not be bent at
a radius less than 30 mm.
2. Do not allow oil or other chemical substances to
come in contact with the belt. They will shorten
the life.
3. Do not attempt to pry or stretch the belt with a
screw driver or any other tool during installation.
4. Store timing belt in a cool and dark place. Never
expose the belt direct sunlight or heat.
6A–30 ENGINE MECHANICAL
Installation
NOTE: For correct belt installation, the letter on the belt
must be able to be read as viewed from the front of the
vehicle.
014RY00042
Legend
(1) Crankshaft Timing Pulley
(2) RH Bank Camshaft Drive Gear Pulley
(3) Water Pump Pulley
(4) Idle Pulley
(5) LH Bank Camshaft Drive Gear Pulley
(6) Tension Pulley
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Legend
(7) Alignment Mark on Oil Pump.
(8) Alignment Mark on Timing Belt
(9) Alignment Mark (notch) on Crankshaft Timing
Pulley.
(10) Alignment Mark (groove) on Crankshaft Timing
Pulley.
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Legend
(1) Timing Belt
(2) Engine Rotation Direction
(3) Cylinder Head Side
1. Install timing belt.
1. Align the mark (notch) of crankshaft timing pulley
(2) with mark on oil pump (1).
Align the mark (groove) on the crankshaft timing
pulley (3) with alignment mark (white dots line) on
the timing belt (4).
NOTE: When timing marks are aligned, No.2 piston will
be on Top Dead Center.
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Legend
(1) Alignment Mark on Oil Pump
(2) Groove on Crankshaft Timing Pulley
(3) Alignment Mark on Crankshaft Timing Pulley
(4) Alignment Mark on Timing Belt
ENGINE MECHANICAL 6A–31
2. Align the alignment mark on the RH bank
camshaft drive gear pulley (2) to the alignment
mark of the cylinder head cover RH (3).
3. Align the alignment mark (white line) on the timing
belt (1) with alignment mark on the RH bank
camshaft drive gear pulley (2) (on the left side as
viewed from the front of the vehicle) and put the
timing belt on the camshaft drive gear pulley.
Secure the belt with a double clip or equivalent
clip.
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Legend
(1) Alignment Mark on Timing Belt (White line).
(2) Alignment Mark on Camshaft Drive Gear
Pulley.
(3) Alignemnt Mark on Cylinder Head Cover RH.
4. Align the alignment mark on the LH bank
camshaft drive gear pulley (2) to the alignment
mark of the cylinder head cover LH (3).
5. Align the alignment mark (white line) on the timing
belt (1) with the alignment mark on the LH bank
camshaft drive gear pulley (2).
When aligning the timing marks, use a wrench to
turn the camshaft drive gear pulley, then set the
timing mark between timing belt and camshaft
drive gear pulley and put the timing belt on the
camshaft drive gear pulley.
Secure the belt with a double clip or equivalent
clip.
NOTE: It is recommended for easy installation that the
belt be secured with a double clip or equivalent clip after
it is installed the timing belt to each pulley.
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Legend
(1) Alignment Mark on Timing Belt (White line).
(2) Alignment Mark on Camshaft Drive Gear
Pulley.
(3) Alignemnt Mark on Cylinder Head Cover LH.
6. Install crankshaft pulley temporarily and tighten
center bolt by hand (do not use a wrench).
Turn the crankshaft pulley clockwise to give some
belt slack between the crankshaft timing pulley
and the RH bank camshaft drive gear pulley.
2. Install pusher and tighten bolt to the specified torque.
Torque : 25 N·m (2.5 Kg·m/18 lb ft)
1. Install the pusher while pushing the tension pulley
to the belt.
2. Pull out pin from the pusher.
NOTE: When reusing the pusher, press the pusher with
approximately 100Kg to retract the rod, and insert a pin
(1.4 mm piano wire).
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