Chrysler Repair: timing belt: 99 2.4L engine, cam sprockets, plymouth breeze

Question
ok i have a 1995 dodge stratus with a 99 plymouth breeze motor
in it. its a 2.4 dohc w/about 120000 miles recently i replaced the water pump and after i got it back together it will not run at a idle ive taken it apart like three times to make sure the cams and crank are lined up and it looks like they are but it still wont run at idel speed. How far off the timing marks is acceptable and does the cover keep the belt on? please help!!

Answer
Hi Michael,
Have you checked for fault codes that might cause the mixture to be off-value?
I doubt that the timing belt covers are needed to keep the belt in place, at least at low rpm's. On the timing, when the two marks on the cam sprockets are directly opposite, then the mark on the crank sprocket (trailing edge of the tooth) has to be in line with the mark on the oil pump cover. If that is not the case, then that could be significant as to why it won't idle.
Do you have the "late" instructions for installing the belt? The procedure was changed in '98 so you may be not following the proper approach. It is pretty critical, particularly because this in an Interference type of valve train. In fact you aren't supposed to move the crank or the sprockets in any significant amount once the belt is removed during the changing of the belt process.
How does it sound when it runs? Is there a chance that you inadvertantly moved any of those three without the belt being on, or that the belt broke while the engine was running?
You can check to see what kind of compression you are getting as a measure of the timing situation. Do you have a compression tester?
Let me know what kind of an instruction manual you have for the timing of the belt procedure, and any relevant history.
Roland