OPDA Failure

LilHammer97

LilHammer97

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 19, 2019
Messages
213
Location
Huntingdon, TN
My 05 rubicon recently jumped time going about 65 down the highway. Got a couple questions for you fine folks about replacement parts, but first let me explain. I knew that the opda was a problem but my Jeep never showed any symptoms of it going bad. It didn't even start to act sluggish or even throw a misfire code my opda just seemlessly failed and killed my Jeep and almost me and my brother.

So after it jumped time and would no longer start I had it trailered home and began to check timing and found out that at TDC the opda was off by about 130° give or take.
IMG_20201019_111035350.jpg


it also had some pretty rough gear wear also and would not spin freely by hand....

IMG_20201019_111009277.jpg

IMG_20201019_111016345.jpg


Which then drove me to inspect the cam gear and also take a look at the notch for the oil pump.
IMG_20201019_111208839.jpg

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Recommendations anyone? I know to buy the crown opda unit and use the old sensor. But does anyone have a good recommendation for a cam? Thanks yall
 
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YEAH... that cam drive gear does have some serious wear...
Not what you want to hear, but you should replace the cam otherwise the next OPDA you install will end up with premature wear.
You should do an inspection of the engine oil looking for sparklies in the oil.
You need to replace the camshaft and install new lifters with the cam.
 
CharlesHS said:
YEAH... that cam drive gear does have some serious wear...
Not what you want to hear, but you should replace the cam otherwise the next OPDA you install will end up with premature wear.
You should do an inspection of the engine oil looking for sparklies in the oil.
You need to replace the camshaft and install new lifters with the cam.
Click to expand...
Yep I figured that😂
 
CharlesHS said:
YEAH... that cam drive gear does have some serious wear...
Not what you want to hear, but you should replace the cam otherwise the next OPDA you install will end up with premature wear.
You should do an inspection of the engine oil looking for sparklies in the oil.
You need to replace the camshaft and install new lifters with the cam.
Click to expand...
My plan is to replace both at the same time I just don't know if I should be buying an aftermarket can (not performance just stock), or stick with a mopar replacement if I can find one. I did read that you can replace the cam without pulling the head but I want to install new flat tapers and lifters also so they don't wear out the cam too quick.
 
Stock Mopar cams get better than +200k miles with proper maintenance, can't get much better than that. And you better purchase the OPDA soon as they are starting to get hard to source.
 
Did they fix the OPDA issues by the time the '06s hit the streets or did they keep using the same defective parts?
Is there a way to tell if the one in my '06 is a ticking time bomb
 
CharlesHS said:
Someone can correct me IF I am wrong, but I believe I heard the '05 & '06 are the most prone to this problem. Not sure it there was some redesign that caused this or what.
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Yes it was a complete redesign of what the older smaller ones look like. Mine actually seized up which is what blows my mind. Now I'm looking at 1500 bucks to get a new cam and timing chain+lifters/flat tappets and opda installed. Head had to be pulled😒
 
voodooridr said:
Did they fix the OPDA issues by the time the '06s hit the streets or did they keep using the same defective parts?
Is there a way to tell if the one in my '06 is a ticking time bomb
Click to expand...
My 2006 started making the noise soon after I bought it at about 45,000 miles. Gave plenty of warning and didn’t fail completely before replacement, though.

I would order the OPDA and keep it on hand until you have free time to replace it.
 
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Yep I'm planning on just doing a manual to auto swap as I found a good engine and tranny from a friend that's doing an ls swap. He's willing to get me the complete harness, ecm, radiator, ect. Everything for 800 bucks.
 
Steel City 06 said:
I would order the OPDA and keep it on hand until you have free time to replace it.
Click to expand...
MutantNinjaTJ said:
And you better purchase the OPDA soon as they are starting to get hard to source.
Click to expand...

did Crown discontinue it or something? I didn't have any trouble finding it, but the Amazon listing did say "order soon, only 6 in stock".

Because I'm about to start the search for an LJ, your posts just spurred me to order one even though I don't have a Jeep that it fits yet. :ROFLMAO:
 
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