How to change your OPDA

Let's say I just acquired a 06 LJ manual with 195K on the odo.

If it's lived that many miles without OPDA failure, should I assume it's fine? I guess there's also the possibility it was done by the previous owners.
 
If the sticker on the side of the OPDA says "LDI, Inc." then it's an original Mopar one.

LDI_Inc.jpg


If yours is original, I don't know if that means it's going to live forever, or it's about to croak.
 
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@jblues1969
It doesn’t seem that mileage matters. My ‘06 LJ manual had 30K on the odo when the OPDA failed catastrophically this Spring. This is my first Jeep and I’m still working on the engine rebuild.


Let's say I just acquired a 06 LJ manual with 195K on the odo.

If it's lived that many miles without OPDA failure, should I assume it's fine? I guess there's also the possibility it was done by the previous owners.
 
UNLTD06 said:
@jblues1969
It doesn’t seem that mileage matters. My ‘06 LJ manual had 30K on the odo when the OPDA failed catastrophically this Spring. This is my first Jeep and I’m still working on the engine rebuild.


Let's say I just acquired a 06 LJ manual with 195K on the odo.

If it's lived that many miles without OPDA failure, should I assume it's fine? I guess there's also the possibility it was done by the previous owners.
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could you share some details of your catastrophic OPDA failure? My 06 manual has 33k on it with OEM OPDA. I have a replacement on the shelf.
 
Viking Jeeper said:
could you share some details of your catastrophic OPDA failure? My 06 manual has 33k on it with OEM OPDA. I have a replacement on the shelf.
Click to expand...

I've always been a Land Cruiser guy (still am) but this particular LJ was too good to pass up. I bought my '06 in February and drove it to Moab in March. The 700 mile trip was no problem and the first week of wheeling was a blast. After about a week I heard the dreaded "screaming monkeys" which I assumed was a belt squealing (very similar sound). It was intermittent so I figured I'd get some belt dressing ASAP and call it good. My wife took the LJ to go hiking the next day while I was wheeling the LC. She called me from the trailhead and said she saw the oil pressure light come on and then immediately heard a "bang". Based on what she said I decided not to even try to fire it up and ended up towing it back to MT. Research indicated the likely and certain cause of my problem. You can see the end result in the photos.......
I am currently 2 gaskets away from having it all back together again. Put your replacement in yesterday!

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UNLTD06 said:
I've always been a Land Cruiser guy (still am) but this particular LJ was too good to pass up. I bought my '06 in February and drove it to Moab in March. The 700 mile trip was no problem and the first week of wheeling was a blast. After about a week I heard the dreaded "screaming monkeys" which I assumed was a belt squealing (very similar sound). It was intermittent so I figured I'd get some belt dressing ASAP and call it good. My wife took the LJ to go hiking the next day while I was wheeling the LC. She called me from the trailhead and said she saw the oil pressure light come on and then immediately heard a "bang". Based on what she said I decided not to even try to fire it up and ended up towing it back to MT. Research indicated the likely and certain cause of my problem. You can see the end result in the photos.......
I am currently 2 gaskets away from having it all back together again. Put your replacement in yesterday!

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A new long block would have been less effort.
 
Thanks to everyone for contributing to this thread! I’m not sure my 2005 TJ was going bad but I did hear a brief sound when starting it recently that sounded like some describe. It also had some rotational play in it when I removed the cover. I bought the Crown unit. $115 on Amazon. Very easy repair. I set the crank at TDC using the timing marks (hard to find by the way but not hard when looking from the underside). I then marked the OPDA and the block with a marker for a reference. Installed the plastic pin in the old one. Removed the old OPDA, removed the pin, put the pin in the new OPDA, marked the new OPDA at the same point as the old one, and dropped it in. I had to pull it out a couple times to rotate the oil pump with a large screwdriver. Once it dropped in, the marks I put on it aligned. Verified everything was correct then tightened it down. Used the old cam sensor instead of the new one like recommended here. Started it up and it ran like a top….no weird noises and no trouble codes.

I used a distributor hold down tool (does anyone even know what those are any more?!) to loosen and tighten the hold down bolt.

Very easy replacement. Took maybe 30 mins. My old one probably wasn’t bad but suspect it was getting to be time to replace. Taking it on a trip next week and also a long trip later in the year so didn’t want to worry about it. There was a little wear on the gear but nothing abnormal. It was marked LDI Inc so I assume it must be a factory one. Mine is definitely affected by manufacture date so it may have already been replaced once.

Thanks again for all the info!
 
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I just bought an '05 with 35k miles and plan to install the Crown OPDA as preventive maintenance. However, before I do, can anyone tell by looking if I already have a Crown or not?

Oh, and of note, the Mopar website shows that OPDA was serviced under the customer satisfaction campaign in March of 2005, so perhaps that's why it doesn't have the sticker?

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I know this is an old thread but need a bit of help on my install...I (as most of us) used several threads and videos to come up with my plan of attack. I got the old OPDA lined up properly with the holes and the pin, pulled the old unit out, replaced it with the new one. I was not able to use the old sensor as it had welded itself into the unit. The Jeep is running quite nicely but I now have P0016 coming up. I have not gone about 3000 RPMs but Im guessing limp mode would occur if I did. Im wondering what my next steps would be to rectify the issue. I have read you can loosen the OPDA bolt and make small adjustments to see if that corrects the degrees off. I dont have a tool to assist so Im looking for alternatives.

TIA

P.S. I live in CT, yes its cold outside and will be for awhile.
 
Take it to a shop with a bidirectional scan tool as indeed it needs to be synced with the crank sensor. You can try adjusting but you’re just trusting luck and it will probably act up again.
Many have been lucky just dropping a new OPDA and sensor in and having it run. But I’m of the opinion do it right the first time. Sux to be out on a trail 1200 miles from home and have an issue.
Don’t ask me how i know😄
 
Or… buy a bidirectional scan tool and learn how to use it.
Best investment in money and time that will pay many dividends keeping these older TJ/LJ’s running.
 
RocknLJ said:
Or… buy a bidirectional scan tool and learn how to use it.
Best investment in money and time that will pay many dividends keeping these older TJ/LJ’s running.
Click to expand...

Is there a tool you would recommend? I dont mind spending a bit of money but I have seen scanners get quite high on price. Is there a tool you would recommend? I dont mind spending a bit of money but I have seen scanners get quite high on price. I have seen bi-directional scanners that are Bluetooth for 60ish bucks, but I have also seen them for 600+
 
05LJRub said:
Is there a tool you would recommend? I dont mind spending a bit of money but I have seen scanners get quite high on price. I have seen bi-directional scanners that are Bluetooth for 60ish bucks, but I have also seen them for 600+
Click to expand...
 
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