I replaced my opda and all was good until I heard a ticking coming from it so I pulled it again and when I reinstalled it, i misaligned something. My jeep starts and idles but as soon as it’s under load it’ll stall. Is my timing off or is it the housing that needs to be turned?
OPDA timing / alignment issues?
- Thread starter Chasitek
- Start date
I will try that. So since my jeep will start and idle, does it mean the gear itself is in time? It’s just the housing not in time? With how the housing is orientated right now, i am not getting a CEL anymore. However before I fiddles with the housing orientation, I had a p0016 and p0344.
The sensor is in the housing so the orientation of the housing with respect to the gear is what is important. This is why you need to get to TDC to align the housing and gear properly. As Blaine said though, there is a 10* tolerance, so you may be on the edge of that tolerance. I was with no CEL at first, but then it walked itself out of time and the CEL came on. FWIW mine ran and idled apparently fine even slightly out of time and with the check engine light on. You need to verify your housing and gear alignment is correct at TDC.
I
I understand that part. My question is will the jeep start if it’s on the exhaust stroke TDC. My problem is i can get my jeep to start but once it’s under load, it stalls
Okay so maybe that’s my problem? I have read that the opda can only slip in and sit flush against the block in 2 ways but i can get mine to sit flush in more than 2 ways. At least 3 different ways, sometimes more. Also my jeep drove fine until as I made it back from the loop around the parking lot, it stalled. I’m so lost now. I have no clue what to do. Also when the key is just in the on position, there should NOT be any oil pressure right? Only when the car starts?
One of the more knowledgeable persons regarding TJ's, @mrblaine recommends taking it to someone with a DRB to set the timing.
Per Blaine:
"Find someone with a DRB to set the timing on the OPDA. That is the only way to get it exact. We've done many and the OPDA units all look about the same rotation until we get them on the DRB. The system will compensate for 10 degrees of misalignment. If you are at the edge of that range, slop in the gears will move it out of time."
Per Blaine:
"Find someone with a DRB to set the timing on the OPDA. That is the only way to get it exact. We've done many and the OPDA units all look about the same rotation until we get them on the DRB. The system will compensate for 10 degrees of misalignment. If you are at the edge of that range, slop in the gears will move it out of time."
well i think I figured out my problem. I was timing everything off TDC on the 6th cylinder which means cyl 1 was being timed off the exhaust stroke meaning I was 180 degrees off. This was probably causing the jeep to stall under load
You can pull the plug on cylinder #1 while someone is turning the crank to set TDC on compression stroke.
The procedure you need to follow is on page 417 of the service manual. Begin with step 6.
When you install the OPDA, note that it will rotate clockwise as it goes into the block. It should be at roughly 4 o-clock when fully seated. After you tighten everything down, if you find it does not start or if it sets codes, loosen the hold down bolt and rotate slightly further clockwise and repeat as necessary.
When you install the OPDA, note that it will rotate clockwise as it goes into the block. It should be at roughly 4 o-clock when fully seated. After you tighten everything down, if you find it does not start or if it sets codes, loosen the hold down bolt and rotate slightly further clockwise and repeat as necessary.
yeah that's what I will do again. I had done that but stupidly, I was doing it on cylinder 6 instead of 1. lol lesson learned. Will update if I get it done tonight. It's 25 degrees out so we'll see I make it out tonight. thanks
I just looked in the service manual. On page 418, Fig. 23 could be misleading, if you don't look closely. Cylinder #1 is indicated by an arrow labeled #6, but the legend, in small print, indicates cylinder #1
I know the procedure. I was doing that exact procedure. My problem was I was timing it off cylinder 6's compression stroke meaning cylinder 1 was on it's exhaust stroke. I am going to mess with it more and update if that's what fixes it. If it does (and I think it will) i'll be really really mad as i've spent 5+ hours trying to get this darn thing timed. I will also be extremely relieved though. sigh. wish me luck
If I ever replace my OPDA, I will remember this. Thanks for taking one for the team
So I went out and got cylinder 1 on TDC compression stroke and got everything lined up, jeep starts and idled for a few minutes and then all of a sudden stalled and now won’t start. Wtf? Could my timing chain be off? I did rotate the crank counter clockwise not realizing it is bad to do that when the vehicle has a chain rather than a belt.If I ever replace my OPDA, I will remember this. Thanks for taking one for the team
You do need to rotate clockwise. Did you rotate counter when installing the chain or just when aligning the OPDA? Yes, if you are off a tooth or more on the cam sprocket with respect to TDC of cylinder 1 then your timing would def be off because cam and crank wouldn't be in sync. I would defer to some of the more experienced on here for further help. Anyone?
I haven’t touched the chain. I only rotated CCW to align the opda and double check that I felt compression
Ok. I went back and reread this thread again. You said it will run/idle but will die when put under load. Since your OPDA adjustments, have you let it get up to operating temp at any time? This is when your CEL will come on if your timing/sync is slightly off. Majorly off it would likely not run at all. While I was going thru the steps of fine tuning mine, my CEL wouldn't come on either unless I let it run long enough to reach operating temp. Then like clockwork it would come on even though it idled smoothly. Makes sense now. You will either have to go through the TDC steps to align housing (sensor) with the internal disk (cam gear) several times until you get it up to operating temp without a CEL or take it somewhere to have someone with a DRB set/align it exactly as Blaine mentioned.
Similar threads
