I'm a pretty smart guy, but setting the timing on my Audi is like asking for free ride to the moon. 1) its not gonna happen. 2) it'll probably be like sex. (for an impotent man..) 3) it'll require lots of money and an entire crew of astrophysicists. so anyways...

how do i set the timing on the whole engine when none of my marks line up anymore and the crack scribe is no where even close to TDC on any piston.

1)piston locations.. for sure.
2)firing order. for sure.
3)not failing at the above two for it would end in an epic life fail.

 

How far off are they? Is it because things moved while you had the belt off?

 

yeah just did some tinkering and got the timing to match up after alot of poke and hope action. but now after running it for a minute to let it warm up to open the thermostat... shut it off and then tried to start it again and got a really f'n scary sound almsot like a starter missing the full extention but from the front of the motor. i'm at ahuge loss here, and i'm considering admitting defeat.