I'm doing a timing belt swap on my 94 4runner (3.0 3vze), and there is a missing mark on the crankshaft gear. The top dead center mark is clearly visible but the mark where I line up my "CR" line on my new belt is gone. I've searched and cleaned as much as I could but there is no mark. Everywhere I've looked online tells me to line it up to a mark that does not exist on my gear.

for the love of god please help before I have to hand a basket case over to a mechanic.

 

It most likely looks like a dimple that is punched into the gear.

 

Then just don't mess with he marks (they're only there as a crutch anyway).

All you need is for the crank to be at TDC and each cam to be pointing up. It doesn't matter where the marks on the belt end up (though usually the crank mark just ends up pointing straight down on the crank). Tighten it up, turn the crank two revolutions, and check to make sure all three end up in the same place.

(And if you do line up the marks, don't worry that the marks on the belt fail to line up after you spin the belt around once. They're not supposed to.)