I replaced my water pump and timing belt last night at 118K.
As mentioned before, I had trouble finding the timing gear alignment mark on the motor block. Well I found it, and it the timiung gear was about 3 teeth advanced of it! I took the old belt off, and tried to get the new belt to line up the way the crank was positioned, presumably from the previous timing belt change done at 72K at the dealer.
It would not line up with both marks on the upper cams.
After inventing new swear words and alternately throwing and searching for my tools, I advanced the timing gear to the alignment mark, and after just a little more grunting and swearing, got the belt on with all the marks lined up.
The Rodeo didn't run badly like this. Could there be some reason why the shop had the timing set this way? Besides incompetence? Should I expect it to run better with the timing adjustment I made?
It will be Wednesday before I get it all put back together. I guess I'll find out.