Timing Belt Change Question

[jasonm621]

If you want to be sure i don't see a problem with taking the valve cover off to confirm the dots on the idler gear and timing gears line up. However if you are going to crank the engine you need to hook up the intake parts first and any other sensors you may have unplugged. So make sure that anything that has a plug is plugged in, otherwise your engine probably wont even think about running and if it does you'll probably get CEL's up the wazoo. I dont know what dash lights youll get if you dont have the accessory belt on: you'll probably get a CEL or idle issues if the power steering pump doesnt have any pressure. Same goes with the alternator not being hooked up.
Honestly if you insist on cranking the engine and it does run, i wouldnt run your water pump dry for more than 30 seconds.
If you are really questioning your judgement id say that taking off your valve cover would answer more questions than turning the engine over, and it will take less time...

[TexasProton]

Thanks Jason, I guess the part I am not clear on is whether you adjust the Cams to their prospective timing hash marks while the #2 cylinder is at TDC, then you turn the Crankshaft 180 degrees to line up the belt at the TDC notch at 9 O'clock and the timing mark at 3 O'clock. The last time I did it, I started with the timing hash mark on the Crankshaft aligned with the timing mark on the oil pump cover a 3 O'clock, and the TDC notch already at the 9 O' Clock, but that did not work!

Last night, I moved the #2 cylinder to TDC, aligned the Cams, moved the Crankshaft 180 degrees so the TDC notch was at the 9 O'clock position, then aligned all the belt marks with their prospective marks the Cam pulleys and Crankshaft sprocket. I have not cranked the engine, because I have ZERO confidence in anything I am doing now, because I am not doing it from a position of knowledge...I'm just guessing!!)

When I turned the LH CAM, it sprung to 9 O'clock position on its own. I then turned it another 90 degrees to align it with the Timing hash mark on the Head, but it stayed there without me having to keep a ratchet on it...I was told that should not happen, and it should try to spring back!!! It didn't...So where does that leave me? I saw the same thing in that grainy video:
http://www.vehicross.info/misc/timing_belt/timing2.wmv

I don't know if I am just making this simple process more complicated than it has to be, or maybe this simple process is not that simple...