Timing Belt

Recently my timing belt broke and when I went to replace I wasn't sure how to align the marks on the camshafts. Since there is a mark on an 'I' and an 'E'. I looked in the Haynes manual and it shows, from left to right, the 'I' first then the 'E'. Is that correct? Tried it that way, but think I may have been off timing, off a couple teeth on one of the camshafts. Since the car struggled to stay on after turning over the engine, it eventually shut off after a few seconds anyway. Thanks for any advice.

please help us out so we can help you by providing the year, engine type and size. It sounds like that is a dual cam, yes?

Yeah, position the left camshaft with the I and the right camshaft with the E to the 2 points on the seal plate alignment marks. I think it is the crankshaft mark that isn't lined up for you. For every full turn the crank makes, the camshaft turns 1/2 turn. Or it takes 2 full turns on the crank pulley to move the crank 1 turn. A way to find top dead center of cylinder #1 is to take the spark plug out and insert a screwdriver. As you turn the crank, the screwdriver will start coming up to TDC. When it gets to the top and starts to reverse that is Top Dead Center for the crank. Keep in mind that you can have the marks on the crank pulley lined up and be out of sync.1 full turn. The way to make sure is to take the valve cover off and check if there is any play on the intake and exhaust lifters. There should be play on both if you are on TDC to align the timing belt. If the exhaust lifter has no play but the intake has play it is out of alignment one full turn. Align the mark on the crankshaft pullley with the cylinder block.

Oh sorry, forgot all about that. 91' GT model with the 1.8L DOHC.
Thanks Davescort97. I'll let you guys know what happens, haven't had a chance because of rain.

The camshaft on the left side as you are facing it is the I or intake cam and the one on the right is the E or exhaust cam. If you are Top Dead Center on the power stroke (The one you want the belt aligned on), both the intake and exhaust will have play. If you have the mark lined up and it's on the TDC of the exhaust stroke the intake will have play and the exhaust will be tight.
The point I am trying to make (and not very well) is that the mark on the crankshaft can be aligned, but you will be at TDC of the exhaust stroke and not the power stroke.

Yeah, position the left camshaft with the I and the right camshaft with the E to the 2 points on the seal plate alignment marks. I think it is the crankshaft mark that isn't lined up for you. For every full turn the crank makes, the camshaft turns 1/2 turn. Or it takes 2 full turns on the crank pulley to move the crank 1 turn. A way to find top dead center of cylinder #1 is to take the spark plug out and insert a screwdriver. As you turn the crank, the screwdriver will start coming up to TDC. When it gets to the top and starts to reverse that is Top Dead Center for the crank. Keep in mind that you can have the marks on the crank pulley lined up and be out of sync.1 full turn. The way to make sure is to take the valve cover off and check if there is any play on the intake and exhaust lifters. There should be play on both if you are on TDC to align the timing belt. If the exhaust lifter has no play but the intake has play it is out of alignment one full turn. Align the mark on the crankshaft pullley with the cylinder block.

So the camshafts will be at a bit of an angle to the right? Since those marks aren't straight up and down, correct?(if there the ones i think your talking about) Sorry it's hard to discuss since my car is at a friends. When we first tried, we just put the marks on the camshafts straight up. 'I' then 'E.'

Thanks again.

To align the camshafts set the I and E to wherever the alignment marks are on the back plate. Do this even if the marks aren't straight up and down.