I need to know the timing marks for a 98 caravan 3.0 liter enigne

Are the wires still in the actual distributor cap? If they are simply swap them over ONE AT A TIME! The firing order is the standard 1-3-4-2, Number 1 cylinder is the one nearest the engine belts and pullys. First take a careful look at the actual distributor cap. Some manufacturers mark the position of the number One terminal on the cap.
The issue you may have if there are no wires fitted is the distributor's direction of rotation. Some manufacturers use a clockwise rotation and others use an Anti-clockwise rotation.
A method to figure out both is to turn the engine clockwise By Hand through 2 to 3 full turns to line up the timing marks to Top Dead Centre. I've done this with the cap removed to see which way the rotor arm spins. This should line the rotor arm up to terminal One for cylinder One.

An engine needs 3 things to run, Spark, Fuel, & Compression. If you have verified that you have spark at the plugs, and fuel is making it into the cylinder, and the engine has the proper amount of compression to run... these also have to happen in the correct time. Make sure your timing marks all line up.

1. On the harmonic balancer you will find a line cut into it, mark it with some white chalk.
2. loosen the distributor just enough to be able to turn it.
3. look the setting up in the book.
4. start the vehicle the turn the distributor until the line lines up with your chalk line at the setting point.

my guess, is you removed them and didnt mark them?
the firing order?
what engine, there are 5.

to do this , one need to know 5 things.
2.5L, 2.8L, 4.0L and 5.2/5.9L engine displacements.
the distributor rotation direction CCW, or CW
and last the firing order, sometimes marked clearly on the intake manifold.
you must now where #1 cylinder is (always most front)
1989-98 2.5L Engine firing order: 1-3-4-2 Distributor rotation: Clockwise
2.8L Engine firing order: 1-2-3-4-5-6 Distributor rotation: Clockwise
4.0L Engine firing order: 1-5-3-6-2-4 Distributor rotation: Clockwise
5.2L and 5.9L Engine firing order: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Distributor rotation: Clockwise
on a v6/v8 one cylinder is more forward. this is #1, look carefully.

Hi: 1st thing to do is pull #1 Spark Plug AND before you Crank The Engine PULL COIL WIRE so your car does'nt Start During Your ommpression Test.Once you have commpression coming out #1 Spark Hole.Then follow the #1 Spark Plug Wire up to the Distributor Cap-Now Mark that #1 Wire with a Marker ,Sting any Way you'll know where it is on your Distributor.Now PULL Distributor Cap and see where the Rotor Is,It should be Pointing toward that #1 Spark Plug Wire. Could be a Little Past.. If all This Lines up and Tested Out right,Then ALL you Need to Do is Clean and Mark Your Timing to What you Car is in Time, Could be TDC (TOP DEAD CENTER) or 4-8 Degrees BTDC (Before Top Dead Center.And then put coil wire in and attach your timing light to #1 Wire And Loosen the Distributor Hold Down Bracket Under Distributor.Where You Still have a Little Resistance to Move it Clock or Counter Clock Wise. Start the vehice and Slowly Move the Whole Disributor Until You Get The Timing Light At the Timing Mark you Made. Thats It. Hope this Helps You Out. From The WYOCWBOY

Only the 2.3 liter diesel is an interference engine. The 2.3 Liter gas is not an interference engine. I would guess the belt was not installed correctly. The belt broke so the cam was then out of alignment with the crankshaft. Unless you aligned it correctly it will not start. BTW, the belt must be replaced every 60,000 miles. I asume you have the timing cover off, put it back on and set the crankshaft at the 0 mark on the timing cover, remove the cover and don't touch the crank. near the bottom of the cam gear is a protruding piece of plastic with three raised areas, set the cam timing mark at the first pointer, closest to the passenger side . on the back part of the timing cover is a v shaped pointer set the distributor gear mark at the pointer, remove the distributor cap and verify that the rotor is pointing at #1. Loosen both bolts on the tensioner and using a pry bar carefully pry the tensioner away from the distributor gear, tighten the small bolt on the tensioner. install the new belt starting at the crank, then the distributor gear, then the cam, then over the tensioner pulley. loosen the small bolt and the tensioner will adjust automatically. tighten the tensioner bolts and turn the engine over by hand 2 or 3 times and make sure all marks line up ( the cam mark should now be at the center pointer with the crank at 0). I find it handy to paint a reference mark for the crank inside the timing cover.

By distributor settings i have to assume you mean ignition timing? Please send me a message with the engine [email protected]. How many liters? 4.3L V6 timing is set when the distributor is installed. #1 cylinder at TDC, (Top Dead Center) on the compression stroke. There is a easy trick to do this without removing valve covers to watch when both valves are closed on the number one cylinder, Remove the number one spark plug. Have a helper turn the key quickly from run to start and back to run(Make sure the distributor is unplugged and the coil wire is grounded to prevent engine starting!) while you hold your finger over the spark plug hole.(you could also use a compression gauge if you have one.)This is called tapping over the engine.You can feel the compression trying to blow your finger off the hole. Look for the timing mark on the harmonic balancer approaching the pointer on the timing chain cover. Once this is achieved, turn the key off, and rotate the engine by hand with a socket on the crankshaft pulley bolt until the tdc mark lines up with the timing mark on the timing cover. The engine is now set up at #1 tdc on the compression stroke. Look at your distributor, there are three marks on it. An indent on the bottom of driven gear, A mark in between the two shoulders just above the driven gear and when looking down at the top of the distributor a small pointer with the number 6 in it.(Disregard the one with the 8 in it as these distributors are used in the v8 as well.) Line up the indent with the mark between the shoulders with the rotor installed. The rotor segment should be pointing to the distributor cap hold down screw nearest the flat side of the housing. Using a long screwdriver align the oil pump drive shaft with the slot in the bottom of the driven gear. Holding the shaft in place with the housing and the two bottom marks lined up install the distributor into the engine. The shaft will turn as you engage the camshaft drive gear. With the rotor installed the rotor tip should now be pointing at the 6 mark at the top of the housing when fully seated. If the distributor will not fully seat then the oil pump shaft is not lined up. No worries though, have a helper crank the engine over a few turns, this should allow the distributor to drop in fully. Realign the mark on the balancer with the timing mark on the cover again, using the procedure mentioned above, and make sure the rotor tip points very close to the 6 mark. Rotate the housing until the 6 is dead center with the rotor metal conductor (segment). If it won't line up you installed the distributor a tooth or more off, Try the procedure again. Bolt down the distributor and you're in. If you get a check engine light afterwards and DTC(Diagnostic Trouble Code) P1345 is set off, the distributor in not installed corectly. The VCM( vechile control module) sets the running timing based on inputs from various engine sensors so there are no other adjustments to make. Good luck stmusgrove, Let me know how it works out!
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check your distributor position,double
check all marks again,make sure when u line up
the crank marks at #1 cyl. at compression and cam shaft marks!!

G

Here ya go!

1998 Dodge Caravan FWD
3.0 liter V-6 VIN "3"