95 3.0L timing troubles

I had to change the WP on my caravan. When I removed the timing belt, I marked the belt and appropriate covers to re-install the belt but when I removed the belt from the rear cam sprocket either one, or all of the timing sprockets turned on me. I realigned the crank sprocket but cannot get my cam sprockets to line up. HHEEELLLLPPPP!!!!!!!!

GO get a chiltons manual at the libray or buy one for that model. you need to get # 1 cylinder at top dead center... there is a dot or mark of some kind on the crankshaft....then you need to line up the camshaft mark ...then you need to put the rotor so it will point to # 1 cylinder on the cap ...then you can put the belt on

Be careful, that is an interference engine

Also on that dist. cap look where the number plug wire goes then turn cap over and follow the channel. The contact is not directly under it, they are channeled to follow the firing order but on top they have you install 123456, but that is not the firing order

Thanks for the info. I do have one other question though...I have aligned the crank sprocket dot and checked it with the rotor at the cap but I need to know if I will damage the valves by manually aligning the cams? I can turn them, with the correct rotation of the engine, with a ratchet, I think, but don't know if the those cams are times with each other and the crank. I figure that they are and don't know what kind of bird's nest I'll create if I turn them.....any ideas?


GO get a chiltons manual at the libray or buy one for that model. you need to get # 1 cylinder at top dead center... there is a dot or mark of some kind on the crankshaft....then you need to line up the camshaft mark ...then you need to put the rotor so it will point to # 1 cylinder on the cap ...then you can put the belt on

Turn your crank 1/4 turn past or before TDC this position should have all of your pistons low enough to prevent damage. Be sure to stop if you feel resistance. Remove all spark plugs so you are not feeling resistance from compression. Then line up cam marks first then your crank back to TDC
as long as the timing belt is off you should have no problem turning the cam either way. Just be sure to stop if you feel resistance and try the other way to get timing marks lined up.

Remember the crank takes two full revolutions to rotors one. If need be you can take the dist out spin the rotor 180 degrees and reinstall. The rotor will spin as the the dist comes out and goes back in becausen of the angle of the splines.
Good Luck,
Dave