to my understanding, if I rotate the engine such that the red timing mark on the crank pulley lines up with the "arrow" wedge on the lower timing cover, then pop the rubber boots out of the cam gear covers, I should see those lined up with timing marks.

Can someone please confirm this? I do not get these to line up. It looks like I'm about 2 teeth off on the front bank and 1 on the rear bank.

I have a NASTY tick right now, and have had bad performance for about a week.

Getting ready to pull all timing covers and check the marks on the gears and the block / head, but I'd like to know the quick procedure before I dig in.

I have 166k miles and changed the timing belt myself when advised by the minder a few years ago.

 

it's the white mark on the crankshaft