Where are the marks for top dead centre please?

[Maestro 1.3]

My Timing belt snapped so I am refitting a new one but, timing marks on the bottom pulley. Is Top dead centre the red or white arrow? (I know the white arrow doesn't actually point to anything but, a bit further round there is a notch on the back of the pulley where the white arrow is.)

Car is a Montego 1.6 Petrol

[E_T_V]

If in doubt remove the spark plugs and put a long screwdriver or piece of wood down into the bore to rest on the piston crown and feel where TDC is by carefully rotating the crank pulley slowly (having a helper guide the rod in and out of the spark plug hole helps). You also need to make sure that the rotor arm is pointing at the appropriate spark plug too (to prevent the timing being 180 degrees out).

[Sussex Pete]

Dans description for finding TDC is absolutely correct if you have no other indicators. On the S series, there should be a pointer on the block/bottom of the water pump and directly below the water pump drive gear. There is then a nick in the crankshaft pulley that corresponds to TDC when aligned with the pointer. At the same time on the camshaft pulley the timing mark is on the rear of the pulley that will align with a groove on the top of the first cam carrier housing. Ensure that these don't move when you are tensioning the belt.

[Mike Brock]

Those timing marks don't actually point to TDC as such if I remember correctly. There safe marks to line up with corresponding cam pulley so you can change cam belt. I think if you set TDC as Dan describes static timing would be out.

[Sussex Pete]

This is a scan from the service manual (sorry its not brilliant - its a thick manual and difficult to scan!) relating to tappet adjustment and cambelt changes. The relevant info is in the 3rd paragraph on the lower section where it reads "Turn the crankshaft to align the camshaft gear and carrier timing marks. Check that the crankshaft pulley timing mark is at TDC"

[Mike Brock]

Ah right - 1.6 engine. I haven't read the manual for a while but I'm sure this is the case for the o series engine that I thought this was. Again - could be wrong! ??