Here we go again (CEL came on again)

[KimsJeep]

Driving down the road to day the CEL came on again. Here are the codes it through this time.

One of the fixes is this,

What I am confused about is, I have tried searching for a "Camshaft sensor" on the internet, but I can't seem to find one for a 99 TJ. Seems like it wants to give me "Crankshaft sensors" instead. I have already replaced that.

Anybody know where I should go from here? I have replaced plugs, wires, rotor, Upstream 02 sensor, crankshaft sensor. I have cleaned the throttle body.

I'm going to crawl under the Jeep to check the bolt on the crankshaft sensor once it cools off, but other then that, I'm at a loss. Oh, as far as the code for the multiple misfire, I think I may go buy a new coil and see if that helps with that. That is the only thing as far as a "spark" goes that I haven't replaced. That I know of that is. LOL

 

[rasband]

I think on the earlier year TJs that's called a "distributor pickup coil". Looks to be confirmed by Jerry on JF: https://www. JF .com/forum/f9/symptoms-bad-camshaft-position-sensor-1370855/ (replace JF with "jeepforum").

 

[KimsJeep]

Ok guys, I did as I always do, and I posted here, then went and searched one of the codes on google. I searched P1391 and found a great youtube tutorial about it. It was on a 2001 TJ, but I am going to guess that my 99 is probably the same. The guy said the camshaft sensor is in the distributor. It is a big flat piece with a wire. He say's for the price of it and the price of a new distributor, it is best to just get the new distributor because you get all the other stuff to, cap, rotor and sensor. That is if you get a "good distributor he say's. LOL Supposedly a good one comes with brass parts. Anyway, with that being said and the fact that I already changed the cap and rotor and all, I'm thinking of just getting a new sensor.

Am I correct on this 2001 being the same as my 99?

 

[KimsJeep]

I think on the earlier year TJs that's called a "distributor pickup coil". Looks to be confirmed by Jerry on JF: https://www. JF .com/forum/f9/symptoms-bad-camshaft-position-sensor-1370855/ (replace JF with "jeepforum").

Yah, I was posting my findings when you made your post. LOL I couldn't remember the name "pick up coil", that is what the guy called it and said it is also the camshaft sensor.

 

[KimsJeep]

Couple more questions. I looked online for the "pick up coil" and found a Mopar one for 106 bucks on amazon. The guy in the video said that this part is only about 40 bucks. I'm sure there are aftermarket ones so maybe that is why he is saying such a cheap price.

I really don't want to spend 106 bucks on something I really don't know if it is the problem. Do you all think I can get an aftermarket one and be ok? Or should I just spend the money on the Mopar one? I know some things should only be Mopar, just don't know if I can fudge on this one or not?

 

[bobthetj03]

These TJ's seem to be very finicky about sensors and electrical items, so I say cry once and get the Mopar unit. I made that mistake with a radiator and paid the price to do it twice when the cheaper O'Reilly's one started leaking in less than 20k miles.

 

[KimsJeep]

Just found this whole distributor with the brass parts, 80 bucks. What do you guys think about this one if I decide to go the whole distributor route?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VVBNZXQ/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[KimsJeep]

@Chris and @Jerry Bransford , just want to get your guy's opinion on the distributer I have linked above. Also, talking to my local parts place, they are not the typical place they are very trusted by me and hubby. They have a pick up coil that is 68 dollars. He told me it is a very good one and say's it comes with a 3 year warranty. It's only 40 dollars difference. Thing is, I doubt the 106 dollar Mopar one comes with a warranty, at least I didn't see anything about one. So would one non Mopar one with warranty be a better deal?

 

[twistedlv]

What's your time worth? For the extra $60, I would go with the OEM pickup.
How many miles do you have? Unless it's really high, I doubt that you need the whole distributor. Plus, I Would never trust an $80 Amazon repro.
And don't sweat the misfire code right now, it could be a product of the other code.

 

[KimsJeep]

What's your time worth? For the extra $60, I would go with the OEM pickup.
How many miles do you have? Unless it's really high, I doubt that you need the whole distributor. Plus, I Would never trust an $80 Amazon repro.
And don't sweat the misfire code right now, it could be a product of the other code.

Forgot to answer your question on the mileage. It has 197k on it. I can’t say it’s the original distributor or not in it?

 

[Chris]

@Chris and @Jerry Bransford , just want to get your guy's opinion on the distributer I have linked above. Also, talking to my local parts place, they are not the typical place they are very trusted by me and hubby. They have a pick up coil that is 68 dollars. He told me it is a very good one and say's it comes with a 3 year warranty. It's only 40 dollars difference. Thing is, I doubt the 106 dollar Mopar one comes with a warranty, at least I didn't see anything about one. So would one non Mopar one with warranty be a better deal?

I wouldn't use any part that wasn't OE Mopar if given the choice. In some cases you may be at the mercy of the Chinese now, as Mopar has stopped producing some parts. However, as I mentioned, if given the choice, always go with an OE Mopar part. It doesn't need a warranty, because it won't fail in 2-years like the Chinese one will. It will last 10+ years most likely. I know I sound repetitive, but I can't stress how important it is to use OE Mopar parts if you really want to keep your vehicle on the road with as little issues as possible. This goes for almost all auto manufactures as well. For instance, on our Honda, I always use OE Honda parts when it comes to electronics and sensors. The only place I'll deviate from that at all are things like shocks, struts, brakes, etc.

 

[KimsJeep]

@Chris , thanks for the reply. Unfortunately hubby went and bought the BWD pickup coil. I just got done installing it. I do wish I would have just went with a new distributor now though. I didn’t realize the little plate thing inside was so rusty till I took it a part today. I will start saving for a distributor but for now I just used some sand paper to clean it up. I put it all back together and still, to me it runs fine. I was talking to hubby and he say’s he could feel it missing sometimes when we were driving down the road, this was before I changed and cleaned up the distributor and coil. I myself never felt it. I guess I thought it was just hitting bumps?? Anyway, here are some pics of the old pickup coil and the piece in the distributor that was rusty.

I didn’t take a pic after I cleaned up that metal piece but it looks 100% better then it did. LOL

I will drive it to work tonight to see how it does. Hopefully this takes care of the codes for now.

Can someone give me a link to a good distributor to buy? I would like to start saving the money, but I need to know how much I need to save and know a good one. Thanks.

 

[Chris]

The part number for the OE Mopar distributor for your 99 TJ is 56041034AB. However, I am absolutely unable to find any Mopar units, as they have been discontinued by Mopar for a while now. Even eBay doesn't have any.

It looks like you're at the mercy of the Chinese here unfortunately, and you're just going to have to buy whatever distributor assembly you can. If it's one with a warranty, that's good. Even if it fails in 2 years, at least they'll give you a new one to replace it.

It sucks when this happens, it really does. Eventually though, we fall to the mercy of the Chinese and the local auto part stores, since Mopar unfortunately doesn't continue to make the parts forever.

Good call on cleaning that thing up!

 

[KimsJeep]

@Chris , thanks for the number. After reading what you said about the Mopar one’s being history, I think I will just go with that 80 dollar one I found on Amazon. They guy in the video raved about the ones with the brass parts, and this one has that, so guess go cheap for now and see how it works out. I plan to wait though as I want to see how it does with the new pickup and cleaned metal plate.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Chris]

@Chris , thanks for the number. After reading what you said about the Mopar one’s being history, I think I will just go with that 80 dollar one I found on Amazon. They guy in the video raved about the ones with the brass parts, and this one has that, so guess go cheap for now and see how it works out. I plan to wait though as I want to see how it does with the new pickup and cleaned metal plate.

Thanks again for the help.

No problem. Knowing what I know now, I would do the same thing.

Mopar is no more, and if that one comes with a warranty, that's all that matters anymore.

 

[KimsJeep]

Ok, just got back from a Pizza run. No, don’t work for a pizza place, just went and got it for lunch. . I honestly can’t tell a difference. I still don’t feel a miss. It still idles the same as it did before, which I thought was ok. I told hubby since he was the one that could tell it was missing that I would have to take him for a drive. LOL It didn’t throw any codes yet though, but then again, it took a week or so before it through this code since I changed the crankshaft sensor.

I’ll report back once I take the hubby for a drive.

 

[Willys LJ]

A lot of times, I've "salvaged" an original part by just cleaning it up good if it's not visibly worn out. And like recently, I fixed my original multifunction switch by cleaning it up and making a new wearing surface out of an old soda can.