HOW TO REPLACE A FACTORY OPDA ON A 2006 JEEP TJ ON ROADLESS TV

In this week's Roadless TV video we give you step by step instructions to replace your OPDA in a 2005 or 2006 Jeep TJ/LJ. A defective factory OPDA can cause engine damage and loss of oil pressure so replacing it is cheap insurance against a catastrophic failure. If you have a check engine light on and it's thrown a P0016 code it's more than likely an issue with your OPDA and you NEED to check the wear on the OPDA gear and your cam gear!
Here's the replacement OPDA you need to buy. NOT THE DORMAN REPLACEMENT! www.quadratec....
Tools needed: T-25 Torx bit for OPDA cover, 10mm wrench for the cam position sensor, 6 point 1/2 inch wrench for the OPDA retainer and a 19mm socket and ratchet for the crank bolt. Also, having a great group of friend around helps as well as a great Jeep dog.

[@mikethomas7138]

I finally got around to doing this to mine today. I have had the part for sometime. I was really wanting to take it somewhere and have it done, but after watching your video and a few others, I did this on my own with my son. It took us about an hour, and it all went pretty well. I was so extra nervous and cautious about lining up the pin. We checked and checked, and checked it again. There's a little play in the original device, and we wanted to make sure that the max and min in the play was right in the middle. The other hard thing was trying to figure out for sure which direction to turn the motor to get the pin holes to line up, but we figured it out. Why there did an oil change and it's sounding great and there are not CEL issues, as of yet. Drove it for about an hour after and no issues. Thanks for the great video on this it was very helpful, and surely saved me a few hundred $$ by doing it with myself, and some good tool-time with my son. Funny thing we did wrong, we didn't take off the breaker bar and the socket from the mount that turned the motor. This could have been a disaster. when we started it up after the change what a hell of a racket, but it was all good, and no real damage, but sure scared us both really good.

[@thestoryteller9512]

Just put mine in drove it and is working fine. Just found the gasket laying on the dining room table... good thing it’s a quick job also I got my retainer first try by standing in a stool over the top of it and using a hand straight down on each side of it.

[@Chakram82]

Great video! My 2005 TJ just popped the codes for the OPDA and camshaft. Thank you for the info!

[@RANDOMNATION907]

Oh good, I don't have to worry about this particular problem as I have a 2000 WJ, 4.0L. It does have a 0331 head and I *_don't_* see any markings or "TUPY" down in the valve cover hole, so, I do potentially have a weak cylinder head.

[@MrJohnpjohnson]

Thanks for the video! It made it an easy job. The repair manual didn’t have anything about this job. Hopefully this fixes the 0344 code as there was very little wear on it.

[@sergeantsilly-pantsjackson1942]

Thank you for the video. This really wasn’t that bad of a replacement. The presentation of the information was very nice to listen to as well. It felt professional but also light hearted and fun. Bravo guys.

[@stevenjones5465]

Great video! Thank you. Doing it this weekend.

[@riclopez1627]

When you spry shop guy set up motor at TDC was he using timing marks under serpentine belt. Or the old pull plug #1 out and verify it is on compression stroke at tdc? I think i may be slightly out of time as im getting a po016 code and limp mode after i got a new PCM. Thanks for the video

[@latenightguitaradventures3022]

question I've got 118 on my 06 and I've got the ticking and the camshaft position sensor issue but not the squealing do you think that I've caught it before I've got camshaft damage? subscribing by the way cool video

[@panthercombo9647]

My 06 wrangler just started the monkey squeal, using a hose to my ear I found it coming from the opda,do you think the cam is already damaged, 128k miles on the jeep?

[@lelandeggleston1041]

Subbed, awesome video. Thank You.

[@tomkrysiak3224]

How many miles on her TJ? Or doesn't that matter? I have an '05 Unlimited Rubicon with sub 65K miles. Guess I should have it changed next time I am in for an oil change? Thnx

[@austintradup6446]

What happens if you by chance watch this video too late and did turn the motor with the opda out because the end of the shaft broke I did the really bad thing you mentioned not to do Soo how do you re time it I tried finding tdc by compression put the opda in runs like dog shit now im throwing a code cylinder 5 misfire out of correlation with cam any help appreciated love your video thank you got an 06

[@haydenallen888]

Fairly certain dealer has a tool that can retime the motor

[@dad3562]

How long do these typically last?

[@ARC928]

Did you find out what was the size of that bolt while it was out?

[@AndrewBrowner]

5:20 is that the correct hole you want lined up with the hole in the gear? theres a small hole same size as the the one in the gear just beside that large one in the housing, i assumed the same sized holes were suppose to match i could be wrong though, jeeps not running regardless and cam is really worn so i guess it needs a teardown

[@AndrewBrowner]

gave up on the jeep for 3 years, gonna take another crack at it, watching this video again, thought to myself hmm i wonder if i used that large hole or the tiny one when i did it.. scroll down to the comment's and the first comment is me asking the same thing

[@zukesrubicon1130]

Great video! I have a new Crown OPDA on the way to install this weekend. I am concerned that you are the first person I have heard mention the pin gets left in the unit. The piece of the plastic pin that gets sheared off is OK rattling around inside the OPDA housing? Everyone else says to use the new pin to help align the old OPDA perfectly before removal, then put it back into the new unit and pull out once the new unit is lined up and fully seated. I have not seen Quadratec or Crown instructions, but a chunk of plastic left inside where critical moving parts live just makes me nervous.

[@RoadlessTV]

Todd Zukowski that's the way we've always done it. Once the opda is installed it would be almost impossible to pull the pin out of the bottom of the housing. That little piece of soft plastic won't hurt anything.

[@zukesrubicon1130]

Thanks for the reply!

[@xmo552]

@@RoadlessTV Does the WJ have this issue?

[@mikesexton1825]

So, if it is already making noise like a screaming monkey does it mean that I have bigger issues?

[@riceman2112]

Thanks so much for this! Any specific torque settings for the hold down bolt?

[@dad3562]

Did you ever find out the torque value?

[@riceman2112]

@@dad3562 Actually no, i didn't and I just tightened by hand to what seemed a good place to stop. working fine so far..

[@netiger11]

Good video! I have done this replacement before I saw this video but after hearing the monkey's. Install was easy enough as you've demonstrated but ever since I did this my cruise control doesn't work and rev limiter at 3500 rpm. I used the original cam position sensor also, when this happened I used the crown sensor... no change so I bought a third "mopar" sensor... no change. Code thrown is P0016 indicating crankshaft position sensor or camshaft position sensor so I bought a mopar crankshaft position sensor and installed... no change. Any earthly idea what is wrong? Also I did NOT turn engine over with opda out lol

[@tammyrowell6176]

I know it's late but if you didn't find out yet? Here's An idea... Turn motor over till you can reinstall the pin in the OPDA, pull it, pull the 1st plug make sure you were really at TDC. Then repin the OODA. And put back in. If you want for shits and giggles try to find TDC, and see we're the OPDA is in relationship to being able to puting the pin in. If it will not repin your not at TDC and will have to do the above for sure. Any way sometimes the wear from the old unit will put a touch out if time. As that's what I think happens? Either reason it worth a shot.

[@netiger11]

I ended up taking it to the dealership and they said it was WAY out of time, lol he didn't know how it was starting lol. But he got it zeroed in and made sure my sensors were relearned. Been running great ever since!

[@target.fishing1015]

How would you know if the cam gear is worn?

[@RoadlessTV]

So if you have an 05 or 06 Wrangler TJ/LJ you should replace before it goes bad. If you are hearing a squeaking sound from under the motor, it may already have gone bad.

[@target.fishing1015]

@@RoadlessTV got it done, only took about 20 mins. Thanks for the info!

[@ONE_GEN_X]

Well I guess I’m screwed. Thing makes the gawd awefulliest noise. Also I ordered a Dorman before I learned everyone recommended the Crown.

[@AndrewBrowner]

@@ONE_GEN_X for future readers once you set to tdc and remove the opda assemble you can you can look down with a flashlight and there will be the cam gear off to the side if the teeth are uniform shape and mustly dull colour they are good, if they have large flats worn onto the teeth that are shiney it may be worn, the larger those shiney flats the more is worn off the teeth, im not aware how much is too much in regard to those

[@latenightguitaradventures3022]

I just have ticking. think I'm in good shape?

[@cpal9355]

New owner of an LJ. 46k Miles. I'm an amateur at turning wrenches and I bought an LJ so I can learn. How do you "turn the engine" to line up the OPDA before removing it? I bought my LJ this past weekend and from the first day I've been getting P0344 "CPS Intermittent" errors when first starting up cold. The dealer installed an after market CPS which didn't fix the issue, so I've ordered an OEM one from Mopar, and figured I'd replace the OPDA while I'm in there. Any advice would be extremely helpful. This video makes me feel confident that I can do this myself.

[@RoadlessTV]

You'll need a large ratchet and socket on the crank balancer bolt. Then while someone turns it you'll watch for the allignment holes to line up in the opda body and tone wheel. Watch the video because we describe that part pretty well. Good luck! If you need any additional help just let us know.

[@RoadlessTV]

EagleOneGS Yea, that bracket is one big pain in the butt! Welcome to the wrenching Jeep life. I'm really glad we could help ya out with this project. Let up know if there's any projects you'd like to see us do on Roadless TV. Thank! ~Steve

[@AndrewBrowner]

for future reader ill try and give more info, take your belt off the accessories and look around the main crank pulley, there will be a notch in the edge of the ppulley closest to the motor, spin that notch around until it lines up with a lever that comes off the block, lever/timing mark is at about 1oclock compared to the pulley, line the notch up with the lever thats off the block and look at the opda with the top cover removed, if the two holes are really close youre good to pull it out if the holes are seperated by 180 degrees spin the crank again until it lines up with that timing mark again then the opda holes will be lined, pin them and pull it out, only spin the crank clockwise, the cam spins half as much as the crank so sometimes it will line up first try and sometimes youll be off 180 and need to do a full spin on the crank to get a half spin on the opda, its a good idea to put sharpie markings showing how much play the gear had and where it was lined up aswell as a mark showing where the opda was clocked compared to the block, the cam sensore should stick out at about 4-5oclock not at 6-7oclock or 1-2oclock theres only a few teeth on the opda so it will be out of clock by alot and easy to notice if your off one tooth

[@stevenjones5465]

When lining up TDC for the opda replacement, does it have to be on compression stroke? Or does it matter for this procedure? Thank you

[@charleswright86]

I think as long as that pin lines up with the hole, it is good.

[@AndrewBrowner]

pin needs to line up with hole and timing mark on crank needs to line up with the finger off the block, the opda pin only lines up every second turn of the crank, i believe the timing mark should be lined up whenever the opda pin is so line up the opda pin by spinning the crank pulley clockwise and then double check those marks are indeed lined up perfectly as there timing marks are alot more accurate than the opda pin is, accessory belt needs to be removed to see the timing marks, theres a notch on the crank pulley on its edge closest to the engine block

[@veiledzorba]

"OPE-DAH"

[@heathforeman7227]

The first important thing you do is turn the motor to top dead center. ....doesn’t show how that’s done 🤦🏼‍♂️ My search continues

[@haydenallen888]

He did show. You put pin in opda and when it lines up you are at tdc

[@veiledzorba]

@@haydenallen888 Critical info such as which direction to turn the motor was missing...

[@haydenallen888]

@@veiledzorba that is dependent on your situation