lazyxj
NAXJA Member #1310
- Location
- Los Angeles
My 2001 XJ's 4.0 engine, over the last year or two, had developed a tick that was present when cold and mostly went away when warm. Lately, I could still slightly hear it when the engine was hot.
Originally, I had thought is was a bad lifter but, after using a mechanic's stereoscope, the noise was narrowed down to the bottom of the engine, right in the middle, near the oil pump drive.
Didn't find much searching here but on a Wrangler forum, found a thread about later model TJs, with 4.0s, having a TSB, dealing with noise and wear problems with the cam synchronizer drive.
I pulled the cam synchronizer and found both the drive gear and the oil pump drive oil pin had noticeable wear.
I ordered a new cam synchronizer and it cured the problem, no more ticking.
The new synchronizer is lacking the "toothpick" hole but it does come with a plastic tool that holds the synchronizer is the right position, when replacing.
I took a photo of the synchronizer, before removing the original, to insure it was reinstalled in the correct position.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IY3IK...keywords=Dorman+689-200+Camshaft+Synchronizer
Originally, I had thought is was a bad lifter but, after using a mechanic's stereoscope, the noise was narrowed down to the bottom of the engine, right in the middle, near the oil pump drive.
Didn't find much searching here but on a Wrangler forum, found a thread about later model TJs, with 4.0s, having a TSB, dealing with noise and wear problems with the cam synchronizer drive.
I pulled the cam synchronizer and found both the drive gear and the oil pump drive oil pin had noticeable wear.
I ordered a new cam synchronizer and it cured the problem, no more ticking.
The new synchronizer is lacking the "toothpick" hole but it does come with a plastic tool that holds the synchronizer is the right position, when replacing.
I took a photo of the synchronizer, before removing the original, to insure it was reinstalled in the correct position.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IY3IK...keywords=Dorman+689-200+Camshaft+Synchronizer