'97 dodge inteprid 3.5. Just replaced the timing belt and I can't get the cam marks to line up with the rear covers. Do they eventually line up?

How to get my timing back correct after replacing timing belt.

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CarGurusJan 18, 2015 - I have went in and replaced the water pump and the timing belt. ...Align the crankshaft sprocket (10) with the TDC mark (9) on the oil pump cover. 2. ...and then just shut off and won't restart? try unplugging the cam ... The two timingmarks for the camshafts are lined up and the crank is lined up with TDC.

Timing Belt Change - Miata.net

Make sure your timing marks are lined up and start putting your belt on the rear cam first that would be 1,3,5 cam. Then route it under the water pump and up around the front cam 2,4,6 cam being careful the rear cam don't jump off it's mark. Keep tension on the belt while routing it. Continue routing it over the idler pulley keeping tension on it route it down and around the crank sprocket. Now set your tension pulley and replace the tension pin. Once the belt is set hand crank the engine 2 to 3 complete cycles then recheck your marks. This is for a 2.5 engine. Good luck hope this helps.

There are marks on the cam gear and the head to line up when the cover is off. And the lower end the marks are on the timing cover.

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REMOVAL

CAUTION: The following procedure can only be used when the camshaft sprockets HAVE NOT BEEN LOOSENED or removed from the camshafts. Refer to Camshaft Gear/Sprocket and Timing Components, if sprocket(s) or camshaft(s) have been loosened or removed.

CAUTION: The 3.2/3.5L are NOT freewheeling engines. Therefore, care should be taken not to rotate the camshafts or crankshaft with the timing belt removed.

1. Disconnect negative cable from remote jumper terminal.
2. Remove upper radiator crossmember.
3. Disconnect fan module electrical connector.
4. Remove cooling fan module and accessory drive belts.
5. Remove crankshaft damper and front timing belt covers.
6. Mark belt running direction, if timing belt is to be reused.

CAUTION: When aligning timing marks, always rotate engine by turning the crankshaft. Failure to do so will result in valve and/or piston damage.

Fig. 94

1. Rotate engine clockwise until crankshaft mark aligns with the TDC mark on oil pump housing and the camshaft sprocket timing marks are between the marks on the rear covers (Fig. 94).

CAUTION: Align the camshaft sprockets between the marks on rear belt covers before timing belt removal or damage to valve and/or pistons could occur.

1. Using a ink or paint marker; mark the exact position of the camshaft sprocket timing mark relative to the two timing marks on the rear timing cover.

NOTE: When timing belt tensioner is removed from engine, always store in the vertical (plunger facing upward) position

Fig. 95

1. Remove the timing belt tensioner (Fig. 95) and remove timing belt.

TIMING BELT TENSIONER

1. When tensioner is removed from the engine it is necessary to compress the plunger into the tensioner body.

CAUTION: Compress the tensioner slowly, as damage to tensioner could result.

Fig. 96

1. Place the tensioner into a vise and SLOWLY compress the plunger (Fig. 96). Total bleed down of tensioner should take about 5 minutes.

CAUTION: Index the tensioner in the vise the same way it is installed on the engine. This is to ensure proper pin orientation when tensioner is installed on the engine.

1. When plunger is compressed into the tensioner body install a pin through the body and plunger to retain plunger in place until tensioner is installed.

NOTE: When timing belt tensioner is removed from engine, always store in the vertical (plunger facing upward) position.

INSTALLATION

CAUTION: This procedure can only be used when the camshaft sprockets HAVE NOT BEEN LOOSENED or removed from the camshafts.

CAUTION: If camshafts have moved from the timing marks, always rotate camshaft towards the direction nearest to the timing marks (DO NOT TURN CAMSHAFTS A FULL REVOLUTION OR DAMAGE to valves and/or pistons could result).


Fig. 97

1. Align the crankshaft sprocket with the TDC mark on oil pump cover (Fig. 97).
2. Align the camshaft sprockets (to reference mark made upon removal) between the marks on the rear covers (Fig. 94).
3. Install the timing belt starting at the crankshaft sprocket going in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 97). Install the belt around the last sprocket. Maintain tension on the belt as it is positioned around the tensioner pulley.
4. Holding the tensioner pulley against the belt, Install the tensioner into the housing and tighten to 28 Nm (250 in. lbs.) . Each camshaft sprocket mark should still fall between the cover marks.
5. When tensioner is in place pull retaining pin to allow the tensioner to extend to the pulley bracket.
6. Rotate crankshaft sprocket 2 revolutions and check the timing marks on the camshafts and crankshaft. The marks should line up within their respective locations (Fig. 97). If marks do not line up, repeat procedure.
7. Install timing belt covers and crankshaft damper.
8. Install accessory drive belts and cooling fan module.
9. Install upper radiator crossmember.
10. Connect negative cable to remote jumper terminal.
11. Start engine and allow to idle for approximately 1 minute. If a noise is present from the timing belt/tensioner, air has possibly entered the tensioner.

1. To remove air from tensioner; using a DRB III, operate the engine at speed of 1600-2000 RPM for 10 minutes. This will purge air from tensioner.

NOTE: If air is present, the timing belt tensioner will be soft and may generate noise. This noise should disappear after no more than 15 minutes of engine running time.

To align both sets of timing marks, turn engine crankshaft to the right with belt on cam and crank. Once you have done this the crankshaft alignment mark (on front of crankshaft gear) will line up with mark to the rear of gear on engine block.The two cam gear timing marks should be alines across from one another. The right cam gear is the intake side and the left side is the exhaust side. After removing the belt turn the exhaust cam down 1/2 notch. Timing mark on exhaust 1/2 notch down from the intake side. Install new belt and recheck everything to make sure it's all correct. Hope this will help you.

Timing belt removed, static timing was not set before removing timing belt.

[Set Static Timing:
No.1 piston is brought up to TDC before removing timing belt.

Cam gear has a punchmark on face of gear, and this mark aligns with one single tooth. There is a matching punchmark on the Timing Belt Rear Upper Cover.

Facing the cam gear, the mark is to the upper right. There is an 'egg shape' of the timing belt upper rear cover, in this spot. This punchmark is in that 'egg shape', and is close to a bolt hole. The cam gear mark lines up with the Timing Belt Rear Upper Cover, mark.

The crankshaft gear has a punchmark on the face. It lines up with one single tooth. There is a corresponding punchmark on the lower right side. An alignment mark)

Should be a round punchmark on the face of the crankshaft gear. It lines up with a single tooth. Wipe the gear clean, use a little carb cleaner. (NO flames, or sparks nearby, well ventilated area)

Barring you cannot find the crankshaft mark, find the camshaft alignment marks, make sure they are aligned with the alignment, (Punchmark), on the Timing Upper Rear Cover.

Count the teeth in the timing belt. There should be 133 teeth on the belt.

There is 43 teeth in-between the timing mark of the camshaft, and the timing mark on the crankshaft.

(43 teeth in-between the Right Side Camshaft mark to crankshaft mark, 43 teeth in-between the Left Side Camshaft mark to crankshaft mark)

There should be 40 teeth in-between the two cam gears.

There is One mark on the crankshaft pulley that needs to point almost straight down (line up mark on pulley with notch on the bottom of rear timing belt plastic cover piece). Both cam sprockets will have a notch stamped into them. these need to be pointing exactly at each other. I believe the rear cam is the intake on these engines and the front is the exhaust. When the notch is at the 3 oclock position on the intake cam, the exhaust cam needs to be at the 9 oclock position (the marks will almost touch each other). Make sure you rotate the engine over using a breaker bas on the crank pulley bolt and double (even triple check) the marks and make sure they stay lined up! This is an interference engine and if you're not lined up, get ready to put a new cylinder head on it. Also be sure to rotate the water pump pulley and line up its marks to keep the belt tensioned.

Remove the hood bracket bar, 4bolts, then the fan shroud assembly, then the belts, belt adjuster, and timing covers, line up the cam gears, crank gear to the marks , cam has 1 dot, they line up to timing housing 2 dots, (single dot to middle of the 2 dots), crank has 1 dot to mark on the oil pump housing to your right of crank gear, thats TDC. now remove the timing belt tensioner, 2 bolts, and remove the belt, if the pump has leaked, replace the belt, and tensioner if it is NOT metal Pulley, the fibre one will break down from the antifreeze. its a good idea to replace the water pump housing orings behind it, ac bracket has to come off, as the right cam on engine, this not a retiming iussue with the gear. GOOD LUCK. RDJRP

Here is one pic of the timing marks. The cams get lined up with the dots on the back of the timing cover. The one on the cam goes in between the 2 dots.

the timing marks are as follows... if you are not able to see the picture the intake cam gear will line up with the mating mark on the rear cover .... the "I" needs to be straight up... the exhaust cam the E needs to be straight up. the crankshaft mark is a nothch in the rear of the crank gear which needs to line up with a pointer on the front of the aluminum oil pump housing. the keyway on the crank needs to be vertical. the marks on the rear cover are dimples in the cover. this is an interferance engine DO NOT ROTATE CRANK OR CAMS WITH BELT OFF. IF YOU HAVE BROKEN THE TIMING BELT DAMAGE TO ENGINE HAS ALREADY OCCURED AND YOU WILL NEED A VALVE JOB!!!! there is no exception on this engine. if you have tried to crank it over and the belt is broken the head is no good!