# Help! Timing a Jetta when things went wrong

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-timing-a-jetta-when-things-went-wrong/38613>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** jetta, belts, volkswagen, timing-belts\
**Created:** [October 25, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-timing-a-jetta-when-things-went-wrong/38613 "2009-10-25T21:11:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![casey8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@casey8](https://community.cartalk.com/u/casey8)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-timing-a-jetta-when-things-went-wrong/38613/1 "2009-10-25T21:11:18Z")

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I got it timed, sorta. Seems the timing marks line up when #4 is at TDC, but the distributor is pointing to #1. The engine is the type that can mash valves if it is rotating out of time. So, I’m thinking the easiest way out of this is simply point the distributor to #4 and time it on that cylinder instead of #1.  
  
  
  
 Will this work?  
  
  
  
 Casey