P0016 and loose OPDA

[Duck Doctor]

Noticed that the nut tightening the OPDA to the block was loose with the bolt only about halfway seated. Must have moved the OPDA while tightening the bolt down and now am getting code P0016 indicating Cam sensor and Crank sensor are not in sync.

What’s the method to sync these sensors? Should I lose the OPDA and move it slightly in either direction until the fault code is no longer present? Appreciate help on the proper procedure.

 

[JKP]

Remove the OPDA cover so that you can see the alignment holes in the tone wheel and the housing. Using a 3/4 in socket on a ratchet rotate the crank until the timing mark on the crank pulley lines up with the pointer. If the OPDA holes are 180 out, rotate the crank once more until the pointer and mark line up. Then adjust OPDA body until you can drop a philips head or allen key through the tone wheel and housing body. Tighten hold down.

You may have to remove the belt to see the pulley mark.

 

[AjRagno]

If the engine still runs, you’re not far off. Unless you have a scanner that can read the cam/crank sensor difference though, you’ll need to do what @JKP suggested.

 

[Duck Doctor]

Engine still runs perfectly with no issues other than the fault code. OPDA likely moved no more than 3/8”. Appreciate all the help

 

[sab]

I’d suggest rotating the crank to TDC on #1. Then remove the OPDA and inspect the driven gear on the OPDA and the drive gear on the cam to make sure there’s no damage caused by the OPDA hold-down screw being loose. If there is, you’ll have to replace the cam and OPDA. If not, you can re-install the OPDA. Line up the hole in the cam target with the hole in the OPDA housing and put something through it to keep the holes aligned while you install the OPDA. Once installed, if you still get sync or miss codes, you’ll have to perform the Cam Crank ReLearn procedure, and you may even have to rotate the OPDA while the engine is running to zero the Cam Crank Difference if the ReLearn doesn’t work. Depends on your cam and crank sensors…

 

[elkivory]

Noticed that the nut tightening the OPDA to the block was loose with the bolt only about halfway seated. Must have moved the OPDA while tightening the bolt down and now am getting code P0016 indicating Cam sensor and Crank sensor are not in sync.

What’s the method to sync these sensors? Should I lose the OPDA and move it slightly in either direction until the fault code is no longer present? Appreciate help on the proper procedure.

I replaced OPDA yesterday. I have read all the write ups and threads I could find before attempting. Everything went great other than I could not find the timing marks until I loosened the serpentine belt and moved it over on the fan pulley. It was easy to see marks with flashlight from front on driver's side with this belt moved toward front slightly. My wife watched marks while I turned crank from underneath. This was the one thing I did not see in the write ups, but I found when I searched the internet for finding TDC . Jeep ran great on test drive. I think the procedure Zorba did was the most helpful. Maybe he could add moving the belt to his procedure.
I added this comment about moving belt to reinforce JKP mentioning it above.

 

[Duck Doctor]

Loosened the OPDA hold down and moved the unit about 10 degrees toward the passenger fender. CEL went off for the time being. Will continue testing this week.

 

[sab]

Not trying to nag, but personally, I wouldn't run it without inspecting the gears on the OPDA and cam first. A loose hold-down bolt could potentially cause damage to the oil pump gears. Once a little damage occurs, that damage gets worse at an ever-increasing rate, and the end result could be that you run your engine with no oil pressure long enough for all the plain bearing surfaces to be destroyed, which means it's new engine time.

Right now, you may have no damage and be good to go. Or you could have slight damage and only need to replace a cam and OPDA. If you do have minor damage now, running with that will likely result in catastrophic failure sooner rather than later. An ounce of prevention, as they say...