Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

P0340 & P0344

sgesbeck

New Member
Original poster
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
8
Location
Sahuarita, AZ
Got code P0344 camshaft position sensor intermittent about two weeks ago on my 2006 Wrangler Sport 4.0 Automatic. The engine would buck at about 2500 rpm during acceleration after a stop. This jeep was mine originally and then my youngest son drove it for about 9 years. When I retired I gave him and his wife my 2018 Wrangler JK Sahara and took back the 2006 TJ for a restoration project. Anyway, probably 7 or 8 years ago we replaced the Oil Pump Drive Assembly. We had bought a new Cam Shaft Position sensor before we realized the opda came with the sensor. Since I never throw things away I installed the new sensor and cleared the code. The next time I drove it the bucking started again and this time the code was P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor. Since it was a new sensor I suspected a wiring issue.
I checked the wiring on the Camshaft Position Sensor along the engine and behind the dipstick and everything was good. I next checked the wiring for the Crankshaft Position Sensor and sure enough there were exposed wires. Unfortunately this is on the wiring going back to the pcm. I ordered a new sensor and short wire harness. I reinstalled the Camshaft Position Sensor (since it wasn't the root cause), removed, cleaned and reinstalled the Crankshaft Position Sensor, and then spliced in the new wire harness with solder & seal wire connectors. Since I had the negative cable disconnected from the battery I cleaned the connections at the firewall and the engine more for preventive maintenance than anything else.
When I started it there was no check engine light because of disconnecting the battery. I let it idle in the driveway while I checked air pressure in all three vehicles (killing time). Took the jeep for about a 15 mile drive with several stops and starts and no issues. I've had this Jeep long enough to know that problems often reoccur but this seemed like an obvious smoking gun. I'll update if the code(s) return.

20250109_163503.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: mudmaster
Got code P0344 camshaft position sensor intermittent about two weeks ago on my 2006 Wrangler Sport 4.0 Automatic. The engine would buck at about 2500 rpm during acceleration after a stop. This jeep was mine originally and then my youngest son drove it for about 9 years. When I retired I gave him and his wife my 2018 Wrangler JK Sahara and took back the 2006 TJ for a restoration project. Anyway, probably 7 or 8 years ago we replaced the Oil Pump Drive Assembly. We had bought a new Cam Shaft Position sensor before we realized the opda came with the sensor. Since I never throw things away I installed the new sensor and cleared the code. The next time I drove it the bucking started again and this time the code was P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor. Since it was a new sensor I suspected a wiring issue.
I checked the wiring on the Camshaft Position Sensor along the engine and behind the dipstick and everything was good. I next checked the wiring for the Crankshaft Position Sensor and sure enough there were exposed wires. Unfortunately this is on the wiring going back to the pcm. I ordered a new sensor and short wire harness. I reinstalled the Camshaft Position Sensor (since it wasn't the root cause), removed, cleaned and reinstalled the Crankshaft Position Sensor, and then spliced in the new wire harness with solder & seal wire connectors. Since I had the negative cable disconnected from the battery I cleaned the connections at the firewall and the engine more for preventive maintenance than anything else.
When I started it there was no check engine light because of disconnecting the battery. I let it idle in the driveway while I checked air pressure in all three vehicles (killing time). Took the jeep for about a 15 mile drive with several stops and starts and no issues. I've had this Jeep long enough to know that problems often reoccur but this seemed like an obvious smoking gun. I'll update if the code(s) return.

View attachment 584825

Those wiring issues can indeed lead to all sorts of erratic behavior, especially with camshaft and crankshaft position sensors.

Hopefully, the repairs will hold up, and the bucking and codes will be a thing of the past. Keep us updated on how things go with the Jeep; we love to hear success stories, especially from restoration projects. Best of luck with your ongoing work on the TJ!
 
Might need to resync or check the OPDA's phasing with a scan tool.

I'd be checking more of that harness and now's a great time to check and clean all your grounds and battery terminals.

-Mac

P.S. Is it the original PCM?
 
Might need to resync or check the OPDA's phasing with a scan tool.

I'd be checking more of that harness and now's a great time to check and clean all your grounds and battery terminals.

-Mac

P.S. Is it the original PCM?

Not a bad idea to check phasing. Not sure I can do it with the blue driver scan tool though. I did clean the ground connections and battery terminals. Also unclipped connections and cleaned with electronics spray cleaner. inspected all the wires on top during the restoration and used new wire loom. Found exposed wires on one of the O2 sensors and a leak on the back of the valve cover. We had thought the oil was from the rear main seal which we did twice. There is a grounding strap back there that was saturated in oil.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macleanflood
Update 1/22/2025: The next day after replacing the wire harness on the Crankshaft Position Sensor the CEL came back for code P0344 camshaft position sensor intermittent. I decided to replace the original Crankshaft Position Sensor with the new one that came with the wire harness. I cleared the code and drove about 8 miles when the CEL came on but this time for P0340 camshaft position sensor. I reinstalled the original Crankshaft Position Sensor, cleared the code, went for a test drive and the CEL came back with P0344 camshaft position sensor intermittent. After reading through some other posts here I bought the Echlin Ignition Camshaft Position Sensor Part #: ECH CSS1159 from the local NAPA Auto Parts. I have since driven the Jeep about 280 miles without the CEL returning. I'm South of Tucson, Arizona and we've had several morning below freezing which some posts suggested contributes to the issue.

Thankful for the resources available here to help troubleshoot issues. Maybe this will help someone else with similar issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macleanflood
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts