Chrysler Repair: timing on 4 cyl 2.4L engine, 1998 plymouth voyager, oil pump housing

Question
We had to replace a water pump on a 1998 Plymouth Voyager with the 4 cylinder engine. During the tear down it became apparent that the engine had skipped time when the water pump failed, we also replaced the tensioner pulley when we noticed that it was weak. However after lining up the timing marks and putting it all back together it is obvious that it is still off time. Is there any way of figuring out which cam is off?

Answer
Hi Lori,
According to my '98 manual, the timing is set as follows:
The crankshaft shaft sproket is at TDC when the trailing edge of the marked tooth is lined to the tip of the mark on the oil pump housing, and if the cams are set up properly the two marks on the cam shaft sprockets should be facing oneanother, with the mark of the exhaust side sprocker one-half a tooth below that of the intake sproket mark. So by removing the removing the upper timimg belt cover, if you can check whether the two cams are within 1/2 a tooth when they meet at 3 and 9 o'clock respectively that would verify their relationship to oneanother. If you can't see where the crank mark is without taking too much apart you could try removing the #1 plug and then probe through the hole with a rod or stiff wire to feel the movement of the top of the cylinder as you turn the crank and you should find that it is at the top of its range of motion (stops moving up or down at exactly that point) when the cams are aligned as I described above.
One concern that you may want to consider is that if the timing were quite a bit off as the result of the earlier mishap with the waterpump it is possible that the pistons interfered with the valves and done some damage. That is why you are not supposed to move the crank or the cams significantly once the belt has been removed and until the belt is replaced.
Let me know if this is not exactly what you needed to know.
Roland