distributor rotation problem

I just posted this in the Civic section, but here I might get better visibility.

This is a 96 4 cyl SOHC 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 the arrows and it's perfect.

Any idea what's going on with this engine? it seems to run fine without pinging, but it's bugging me. Thanks for your advice.

sounds like when you put the belt on it may have moved a tooth... very east to do and very easy to overlook.

Maybe the distributor is off a tooth, the belt may be fine if you double checked it.