I'm changing out my timing belt on my 90 4runner and at TDC my cam sprockets are off a tooth from being aligned can someone tell me why? I have advanced the crank clockwise 360 degree's 3 times and they are still off a tooth? when I aligned them and not the crank, the crank was at 15 degree's instead of 0.

 

Off a tooth compared to what? If you are looking at the painted line on the new belt it will be off. What matters is that every 2 revolutions of the crank the crank and cam aligns to the proper TDC marks.

MudHippy recently described the way to put the belt on so it aligns correctly without the 'skipped' tooth issue. A search should pop up the thread.

 

Off a tooth of the cam pulley's in reference to the painted marks above them.

 

Have you seen this thread?

1990 4runner 3vz-e motor cam timing....page 2 has what you may need

 

Thanks rworegon!!!