Oil Pump Drive Assembly Replacement - Jeep TJ - Ep. 13 Project TJ

Welcome to Project TJ - Episode 13 - Replacing the OPDA - Oil Pump Drive Assembly
Follow the journey of repairing, modifying and enjoying a 2005 Jeep TJ Sport 4.0l.
In this episode, we replace the faulty OPDA.
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Please be advised that I'm just a guy who enjoys repairing and modifying his Jeep. As such, any mad spanner skills that you may see aren't guaranteed to work for you. Please make your own decisions and if in doubt, consult an expert.

[@josueletelier1745]

Great job !!

[@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. Of all the videos out there on this, this one was my fav.

[@DarrylSheather]

Love this!

[@charlielynch7647]

Don't think it matters which way you turn the engine

[@jimmysantos4569]

Even after all these years your video helped me fix my problem. Thankyou

[@DarrylSheather]

Glad I could help

[@charlielynch7647]

Also, another concern. If my old unit is somewhat defective, will lining up the holes of it before removing possibly not assure TDC?

[@charlielynch7647]

I don't think it's ever jumped teeth, starts and runs well. Just makes noise at cold start, especially in cold weather. So timing will probably be right when i pin the old one before removing (and pin new one before installing)?

[@charlielynch7647]

Why do you turn the unit to the left when removing, then the right when replacing? Curious, as I'll be doing this soon, thanks EDIT: I believe it's the helical cut of the gears

[@jacoley]

My oil pressure sensor reads zero after long dives only when I come to a stop. I have replaced it three now in the past 4yrs. I have 210,000 miles, is this OPDA something that I need to be concerned with as my next preventative maintenance?

[@DarrylSheather]

You really need to get some data on if it is oil pressure or a faulty gauge with a mechanical oil pressure gauge. If the OPDA on your 05/06 is worrying you, pull it out and check the gears on both it and the camshaft for wear but if it's not noisy should be fine. Only other thing you can do is next time you need a main seal or oil pan gasket replaced put in a new oil pump.

[@jacoley]

@@DarrylSheather Thanks for the input, just put in a new oil pump last year. I try to change out components every so many months being that this is a high milage jeep. My goal is to have the engine last as long as possible. Eventurally when I have catastraphic engine failure I will upgrade the engine to a budget hemi or LS. But that is another headache withing itself.

[@rickwhoo1]

It moves like a distributer tho. Does it need to be adjusted? You can spin it some either way.

[@DarrylSheather]

You need to set it at the 4 o'clock position at TDC

[@rickwhoo1]

@@DarrylSheather I just replaced it in the exact same position I took it out from. I did not put it in TDC... Too much work for a simple job.

[@jimmysantos4569]

Did you put the new gasket that comes with pump on?

[@stevenolson4995]

My opda went bad on the drive home from work (25 miles) by the time I got close to the house I had no oil pressure. The opda had chewed the gear off of the camshaft. Luckily I know enough that I did the whole rebuild myself. Don't mess around with a cheap unit, get the Crown one. Replace it now, before it causes lots more issues

[@DarrylSheather]

What a nuisance, hope you sort it without to many issues

[@stevenolson4995]

@@DarrylSheather I did. I tore the block down and replaced the camshaft. Took me about 5 hours to tear it down and about 8 to put it back together. I just wanted to take my time and get it right going back together. It fired right up on the first try. Whew! I've put about 300 miles on it since and it's running great

[@frackcenturion]

handy information, thanks darryl

[@jackrose5670]

Know you can take of the plastic top and fish out that plastic centering pin.

[@pbody0808]

Good job, mate!

[@DarrylSheather]

Thanks!

[@zukesrubicon1130]

Some people (like me) had to use a torch to apply heat to the bolt to get it to move.

[@toddcianciulli921]

I did exactly what was done here and the pin seemed to move clockwise about 1hr position. It appears that I am still ok, I think because it would fit only there or 180 reverse of that. If I try to cloch it 1 hr back it will not seat the shaft down properly. Am I correct in assuming I am ok?

[@DarrylSheather]

The best way to time the unit is to put No.1 Cylinder at TDC and then the sensor of the unit at around 4 o'clock. That said if everything is running ok and it's seated correctly all should be ok.

[@Sarge0311]

I have a 2004 TJ my oil pump looks different then the one you changed also my Jeep is a automatic.Mike

[@DarrylSheather]

Mike the 04 TJ didn’t have the OPDA issues as you rightly point out they have a different assembly.

[@xmo552]

@@DarrylSheather Does the WJ have this issue?

[@DarrylSheather]

I’m not too sure

[@xmo552]

@@DarrylSheather Thanks

[@adolfosalazar7889]

Should the bottom tio of the shaft spin freely help?

[@DarrylSheather]

The OPDA has a one piece shaft inside it, so yes it should spin freely.

[@adolfosalazar7889]

Dam right it should I JUST FIXED IT !! Today bet your dying to know what it was well ima tell you it was the fuking syncronization that was fuked up it liked moved from its origional spot so I fucking adjusted it back but you have to use a scan tool to do it at it runs like a beauty now I'm a genious

[@jkmiddy2224]

Where did you order yours from cant seem to find any

[@DarrylSheather]

Rockauto.com

[@Sarge0311]

Having a oil pressure drop or my oil pressure gauge says here is a low oil pressure when stopped at a traffic light. Any suggestions on fixing the issue ? Mike

[@DarrylSheather]

The early 4.0’s had a perfectly normal fluctuating oil pressure gauge, whilst the latter ones tend to just sit centered on the dial mostly. If it’s a change from normal, get it looked at.

[@daohan8665]

Hi darry. Where did you purchase the opda in Australia? My jeep have same problem. Only 40000 km Thanks

[@DarrylSheather]

I get my parts from Rockauto.com in the USA, they are generally here in a week.

[@daohan8665]

@@DarrylSheather hi Darren thank you, I have the sound of my jeep that I recorded and I'm not sure if it's the opda problem or not. Some guy on Facebook said it was normal. It just started this year. I have the link for the recording that I put on KZbin can you see if it's the saw as yours. Here's the link: kzbin.infoffkuu3WG22k?feature=share Thanks

[@DarrylSheather]

@@daohan8665 Hy Dao, it's just lifter noise as long as it goes away after startup its ok.

[@daohan8665]

Thanks @@DarrylSheather. You solved my problem

[@SuperTruthSeeker4U]

Pretty good job & info... BUT you didn't shine a light down into the block to see just WHAT condition the CAM Gearing is in that Drives the OPDA..!!! :O

[@DarrylSheather]

Stands to reason if the OPDA drive gear is pristine, so is the cam gear that drives it. The gears only wear if you keep driving with the OPDA making its noise and it seizes

[@bonza167]

the existing '05-'06 have the top bearings in the OPDA lubed with a waxy grease through an oil impregnated bush. over time the grease dries up and the OPDA assembly squeals and in worse case scenarios will seize or break the pinion that is driven from the cam shaft, even bugger the cam drive gear. rather than buy a new assy you can do the Fog Mod. Fog was a forum member on the US www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/2005-06-jeep-opda_cps_distributor-failure-1144202/. basically the mod involved drilling and tapping a grease port to take a nipple and routinely grease with shell aeroshell33 grease. I did mine 9 years ago and re-grease it every 20k and 100k later no problems. I've also modded other owners with this mod, regards BonZa

[@DarrylSheather]

Yep but replacing it with the Crown version is low cost and no further maintenance. Good to have options however. 👍

[@infooptimalfitness7720]

Another problem with the OEM is the gear metal is to hard and wears out the cam shaft in the motor. So more than the lack of oil or grease is just one of the problems. Spend $100 and just replace it.

[@bonza167]

@@infooptimalfitness7720 the cam shaft gear is harder by a few points than the OPDA pinion not the other way round. I verified this using a LE hardness tester at the machine shop where I work. I also bought a spare pinion from Crown and tested its hardness and it was the same as OEM. havent had to use. if you use a new Crown OPDA assembly swap over the OEM CPS sensor into it as the after market ones are reported to be problematic according to USA forums. BonZa

[@Achisachis73]

I wonder why it is called "oil pump drive assembly" when in reality it is a rotating sensor unit to do the firing of the coils at the proper time? it does not pump oil at all!

[@DarrylSheather]

I know, bit weird huh

[@Achisachis73]

does it drive the oil pump with the gears on the bottom?

[@lolbroklol]

I was under the impression that the slot at the very bottom drives the oil pump.

[@zukesrubicon1130]

@@Achisachis73Yes. It drives the oil pump. The gears on the bottom are mated with the gears on the camshaft, which turns the shaft when the engine turns over/runs. The disk at the top of the OPDA is the cam position sensor wheel, which signals when to fire each cylinder. The flat blade at the very bottom of the shaft (below the gears) slips into a slot on the oil pump and drives the oil pump.

[@scavenom2008]

It drives the pump via the cam gear and it connects at the bottom of the shaft with the slotted end of the oil pump