Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance I have two...

...timing marks on my crankshaft pulley. My Chiltons shows the second notch (CW rotation) being the one that you line up for timing belt replacement. When I put the timing light on the car, the first notch is the one that is lit up.

Which one do I use?

From what I can determine, the first mark is 30° BTDC (Before Top Dead Center). The second mark is TDC (Top Dead Center) The timing light will only tell you when your spark plugs are firing. It will not tell you if your timing belt is installed wrong. (Unless it's really off) The notch located BTDC is the position that the crankshaft should be when your #1 spark plug fires.

K. That is where it is firing.

However, the notch in the intake camshaft lays flat (like it should) when the engine is at TDC. The exhaust cam is exactly one tooth behind where it should be. I guess that explains all of my driveability issues. :rolleyes:

The simpliest way I aligned my TDC is by putting a long screwdriver or whatever you could find into the 1st spark plug whole (the one closest to your timing belt) and crank the UD pulley until the screw driver ,or whatever you used, reaches it's peak rise. Observe the intake & exhaust cams where they align the most so that you can insert your cam alignment tool into the slots to lock the cams down.