Can't get ignition advance set correctly

This is a 96 4 cyl Civic. I changed the timing belt as normal maintanance and got everything lined up correctly. The crank pulley line at TDC lines up correcly and the cam pulley lines are perfectly lined up with the little arrows on each side. So I get it all together, cross the connector in the passenger foot well, set up my timing light and try to adjust the timing by rotating the distibutor. All the way pegged to the retard position, it still is too far advanced. It's at about 16 deg BTDC and it's supposed to be at 12 deg BTDC.

Doubting my TB install job, I partially tore it down again and rechecked to arrows and it's perfect.

Any idea what's going on with this engine? it seems to run fine wihtout pinging, but it's bugging me. Thanks for your advice.

If it runs good, then your timing belt is ok, one tooth off
on that makes a big difference, and you would know it.
It's either the connector not jumped out properly or
you're reading the wrong mark?
That's all I can think of, sorry:frown: