I have a 1991 Accord. I recently replaced the timing belt. The car runs fine but the idle is a little rough so I decided to check the timing using the service manual procedures. The timing is too far advanced with the distributor fully retarded. I turned it all the way to the stops and although I can see the BTDC mark it is well above the pointer. Any suggestions?

 

Well the timing belt could be a tooth off on the cam pulley?

 

Does that mean pulling off the timing belt to adjust it? Can you remove the distributor and turn it a tooth to adjust the timing?

 

The dist shaft does not have 'teeth' where it meets the cam.
I'd put the crank to TDC, then remove the top timing cover and check the 'slash' marks on the sides of the cam pulley to be sure they are lined up with the head.
You don't have to completely remove the valve cover, just back off the nuts to let it lift up a 1/4", then you can get the top timing cover off to check the marks.
If you have to move the belt, you can get sneaky and loosen off the 14mm tensioner nut on the outside of the lower cover, use a long pry bar from the top to take the tension off. Then retighten the 14mm nut. then you should have just barely enough slack to slip the belt off the cam. Put the cam pulley in the proper position, spray the edge of the pulley with silicone or WD-40, and slip the belt back on. Then loosen the tensioner nut to let the belt get retensioned, maybe turn the crank counterclockwise a little to take up the slack.....tighten the tensioner 14mm nut.
THEN turn the engine over 2 revolutions by hand to be sure the timing marks all line back up and there is good tension on the front/long side of the timing belt.

 

Thanks for the advice. It worked like a charm.