Does anyone know what happens if you replace a H22 timing belt and get the exhaust cam one tooth retarded? Is there a VERY noticable difference? Is the car still mostly drivable? Anyone experience getting the timing off one tooth or know what happens? I have the engine all appart and the crank is at TDC, but the belt teeth line up on the exhaust cam pulley such that it hits in the middle of a tooth. i.e. the cam would have to turn 1/2 tooth either direction to engage the belt. So I'm thinking 1/2 tooth one way is right, and 1/2 tooth the other way is off a tooth, and I want to know what will happen if I get it off by one. Thanks...

 

If this is a H22a1, you can start the car and check the ignition timing with a timing gun. If you're on the wrong tooth, the ignition timing will be off.

The car should still run with one tooth off and it would be difficult to tell the difference without driving it back to back against the engine with the correct valve timing.

 

If it's out half a tooth , put it that half towards the other cam.
So that the cams up marks are slightly closer together. Rather than further apart.