2006 with the 2.2L
Using the Chilton's manual 28670.
2A-3 TDC
Chilton's manual, “TDC generally refers to piston position on the Compression Stroke.”
YouTube
Cloyes Gear & Products, Inc. has a video, and they say, “TDC on the Exhaust Stroke.”

Here my issue. I already removed the timing chain, sprockets, and guides with the engine on TDC Compression Stroke.
Do I reinstall the old parts and rotate to the exhaust compression stroke or does this really matter which TDC the engine is at?

Also note in the Chilton's manual
2A-8 Timing Chain and Sprockets.
4. Rotate engine to TDC followed by gibberish.
No mention if TDC is compression or exhaust.

 

TDC is at the end of the compression stroke.

 

Follow these directions, the timing is the same from scratch.

https://www.ddmworks.com/assets/imag...uild%20Kit.pdf

In the case where you have the chain off and aren’t sure where the camshafts are in relation to the crankshaft, TDC is TDC , note to rotate the crankshaft 90 degrees to avoid the valves contacting the pistons

Please read the entire article.

 

Here's the full article.

 

Compression and exhaust strokes are determined by cam position. IDK how you can go wrong if all the chain marks are on their correct cam and crank sprocket marks.

If the cams haven't jumped time, just start with the in correct position before removing the old chain, by rotating the crankshaft forward only.

If the engine has jumped time, it's a little trickier to get everything in the correct position without bumping valves. And of course making sure no valves are bent.

 

TDC is TDC when the chain is off. Then you align the timing marks on the chain.

 

Precisely….

TDC the crank, then line up the camshaft sprockets.

 

Thank you greg8453 for the link, this is far better than Chilton. However this doesn’t clearly state TDC on the compression stroke or TDC on the Exhaust stroke. My engine on the compression stroke does not align with the drawings.

Quote from link, “5. Locate the number 1 piston to approximately 60 degrees before top dead center (diamond shaped hole on intake camshaft sprocket at 12 o'clock position).”

This does not make sense, TDC compression stroke the diamond was not at 12 o’clock. Instead I have the triangle at 2:30.


I am going to put the old parts back on and rotate to TDC exhaust stroke to see if the triangle and diamond match the drawings.

 

I honestly think TDC compression is wrong.
My engine at TDC compression stroke does not look like the drawing.

 

You misunderstood the Question.