Chrysler Repair: wrong timing marks?: 2.5 V-6, poor gas mileage, cam sprockets

Question

Markings I replaced water pump and timing belt on 1995 Cirrus LXI 2.5 but ever since I can't get it to run right or pass smog (gross polluter) The distributor (rotor) does not point to Cyl.#1 as should. Are the marks on the camshaft gear to touch together- - or 12 oclock range where there is a line up mark as it seams. http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm?pageId=0900c152800896f2 it says to align camshaft timing marks together which I have never done, yet I have driver at 80 mph hundreds of miles w/poor gas mileage. Thank you in advance. vandegraw@gmail.com

Answer
Hi Alvan,
I believe that you are looking at manual figure for the 2.4L engine, not the 2.5; only the 2.5 has a distributor. That drawing is definitely for the 2.4.  Because the the camshaft gears are separated by the V design I can't see how what you show there could apply to your 2.5. The cam timing is supposed to end up as related to the marks on the timing covers when you are at TDC. But, when you installed the belt, you have to go thru a specific procedure which starts with the crank sprocket at 3 notches off of TDC and then you have to wind the belt around in a specific pattern etc. for it to end up at TDC when the cam sprockets are still on their respective marks. Let me know what is going on here; I can xerox and postal mail you the instructions for the belt installation on the '96 2.5L Cirrus manual. Have you checked the position of the piston in Cyl #1 (or the crank timing mark) when your cams are on their marks? It would seem that if the cams are on their marks, the distributor rotor should be aligned because the right cam drives the distributor.
There are internal hidden wiring re-arrangements so that the rotor will not point toward the wire for the number 1 cylinder on the outside of the cap when the engine is at #1 TDC for the compression stroke.
So my advice would be to check by feeling with a tool thru the spark plug hole to see if the piston is at TDC (moves up or down on either side as you rotate the crank shaft pulley bolt) or remove timing cover and  check the timing mark on the crank sprocket comparing either of those positions against the timing marks on the camshaft pulleys with their marks on their covers.
Have you checked for fault codes as possible causes for smog test failure?
Roland