Seriously, WTH is up with my LJ Rubicon?

[GorillaBiscuit]

Ok, so I've been having TPS codes pop non stop, even after installing a new Mopar TPS.

I figured for craps and giggles I'd change a few sensors out just incase one of the other sensors was giving a weird reading that some how triggered the TPS.

I removed the throttle body, cleaned it throughly, and replaced the idle speed control valve, the map sensor, the crankshaft position sensor, and the camshaft position sensor. I even removed the new TPS and cleaned out where it sits in the throttle body.

All parts are brand new Mopar parts from an authorized dealer using my vin number to make sure the parts are correct.

The battery was disconnected for several hours.

I connected the battery and turned the key and instantly it threw the P0340 code for the camshaft position sensor! And it was really hard to start. I removed the battery cables and replaced the new camshaft position sensor with the old one. The jeep fired right up with no codes, but now it's idling rough and I swear it is making a squeaking noise when the engine is idling.

WTH! I've seriously had it with this damn jeep!

Is there any way I screwed up the OPDA by removing the camshaft position sensor and reinstalling it?

 

[AndyG]

Guys , this is a pristine , very low mileage LJR Automatic , if anyone has any experience with this type issue , throw it out here. It's the type Jeep most anyone of us would be really proud to own .

This member has a lot of real mechanical experience, has great taste in cool vehicles , and is really getting a bad experience with this LJ idle issue . He really needs a hand...he's a good dude.

Thanks ,
AndyG

 

[GorillaBiscuit]

Thanks @AndyG !
I'm really trying to get this thing fixed, but its just not playing nice! Lol!
I definitely need some expert advice on this one.

 

[AndyG]

Thanks @AndyG !
I'm really trying to get this thing fixed, but its just not playing nice! Lol!
I definitely need some expert advice on this one.

This thing has to be fixed ..Ones as nice as Big Red are super rare actually ..you see a lot that look good at a distance ..then you get close and they are chewed up and scratched all over , etc.

Yours is museum quality .

I don't know how to tag people , but we have some real talent and experience on here that may have ran into this idle/surge /TPS code gremlin.

 

[AndyG]

Talking to you tonight got my Jeep on! .....I just got in mine to loop the little community I live in with the back window out listening to Hal Ketchum "mama knows the highway" ...and it's my 26th Anniversary . I better keep this ride short or she ain't gonna be happy!

 

[Chris]

No way you could have screwed up the OPDA by simply removing the CPS. However, with that squealing you mentioned, have you actually pulled the OPDA and inspected it?

 

[AndyG]

No way you could have screwed up the OPDA by simply removing the CPS. However, with that squealing you mentioned, have you actually pulled the OPDA and inspected it?

That reminds me . True Story.

Last year they caught a guy in Alabama romantically involved with a pig in the bathroom at a Wal-Mart

I figured he would have gotten by with it , but the pig squealed on him.

I know , shut up Andy .

 

[rasband]

These types of issues suck, but at least you’re getting codes. Long shot, but my latest runaround has me think maybe just check the following:

* OPDA - is yours replaced? If so, double check the orientation of the housing. You don’t want to reorient to change timing, however if it’s off 4 o’clock (when viewing the engine from the passenger fender) the sync may be off of the crank position sensor
* Ignition Coil - weird shit happens when this is broken
* Spark plugs - my recent issue was due to them being past their prime. A later issue was one seemed to come loose

There’s always the issue of bad grounds to consider and check as well.

I did have a similar p0340 issue and read in one case the PCM needs to be told to relearn. I put in my old CPS and rejiggered the opda housing.

 

[GorillaBiscuit]

I haven't taken the OPDA out yet, I'm going to order a new crown OPDA and hopefully be done with it.
Yea, I know it makes absolutely no sense, that by pulling out the sensor and replacing it, it caused problems, but that's just the way my luck has been with this thing.
I'll take the OPDA out tomorrow and see how it looks.

 

[rasband]

I don’t think pulling the sensor and replacing causing issues is out of expectation. I tried the same with a mopar sensor with the same result - immediate codes.

 

[GorillaBiscuit]

@rasband , I was actually really curious about my spark plugs. I haven't had them out either. I'm going to pull them out and check the gap. If the plugs are all good, I'll look into the ignition coil and possible vacuum leaks.

 

[GorillaBiscuit]

@rasband , yea, I thought just pulling out the old sensor and replacing it with a new genuine Mopar sensor would be a pretty simple task with no issues. I really didn't expect it to immediately throw the CPS code and almost not start. I honestly was thinking that the sensor was somehow the wrong part number or something.

 

[rasband]

@rasband , I was actually really curious about my spark plugs. I haven't had them out either. I'm going to pull them out and check the gap. If the plugs are all good, I'll look into the ignition coil and possible vacuum leaks.

My spark plugs looked damn near original. Thewore pretty evenly but were very worn:

i didn’t test my coil beyond visual after finding one new plug (replaced a month prior) to be looser than spec. I checked the gaps, torqued and added the rail (also torqued) - happy so far.

there’s a rebate on the auto lite xp985 right now that makes them just over a buck a pop on rock auto.

 

[rasband]

Oh and I had a host of other reported issues: u0155 (cluster communication), p0340, a misfire, and a few others I forget. Took a while to just check the basic health of the engine

 

[AndyG]

Keep it up guys ..this is what I’m talking about .

 

[rasband]

One last thought, don’t forget to read the Factory Service Manual - it has common remedies for many subsystem errors. For example when I was stalling out randomly, it suggested the spark plugs while the internet said a fuel pump, PCM, CAT and a half dozen other things.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...ice-manuals-fsm-technical-documentation.4618/

 

[AndyG]

GB , find BeavisTJ thread “ Jeep Running Rough and stalling when driving ...to the end .

He went through it man...big time...turned out it was the plugs .

Had all sorts of issues . I found it searching “surging” . It’s only 2 pages .

 

[GorillaBiscuit]

So anyway, new random OPDA issue to the side, the main issue is random surging when stopping at red lights.

Well crap, I'm trying to upload some video footage of the crazy random surging, but the files are too large.

I start it up, it drives and idles great, then randomly after driving a little while the jeep goes nuts! The needle on the tachometer jumps from 0 to about 1200 rpms over and over when I'm stopped at a red light. If I'm driving at speed, the engine has a noticeable power loss.

Then it drives fine for a few minutes, then back to surging. Then the CEL pops on with the P0122 code.

I've removed the throttle body several times, cleaned everything, changed TPS sensors a few times, changed the MAP sensor and also the idle speed control valve.

It still does it, even after all if that.

 

[AndyG]

So anyway, new random OPDA issue to the side, the main issue is random surging when stopping at red lights.

Well crap, I'm trying to upload some video footage of the crazy random surging, but the files are too large.

I start it up, it drives and idles great, then randomly after driving a little while the jeep goes nuts! The needle on the tachometer jumps from 0 to about 1200 rpms over and over when I'm stopped at a red light. If I'm driving at speed, the engine has a noticeable power loss.

Then it drives fine for a few minutes, then back to surging. Then the CEL pops on with the P0122 code.

I've removed the throttle body several times, cleaned everything, changed TPS sensors a few times, changed the MAP sensor and also the idle speed control valve.

It still does it, even after all if that.

Be sure to catch my last post .

 

[GorillaBiscuit]

Be sure to catch my last post .

Dang, sorry Andy, I was typing and I didn't see that post. I will definitely check that out!