I just put my front engine cover on but am concerned maybe the cam button and spring came off or is cockeyed since I had to twist and muscle it around a bit . Is there a trick to check this without pulling the cover back off?
you might be able to see with a small telescoping mirror inside the cam sensor hole. Or through the fuel pump blockoff plate with a larger mirror (that's a visual straight shot to the button area)
It's just a spring that pushes the cam away from the timing cover. The 'new style' has a flat roller bearing on the end to cut down on friction and the entire assembly spins with the camshaft.