Fooling the computer on a 2007+ JK Wrangler for mechanical diesel

[Dan Grec]

Hi All,

I'm right in the middle of swapping a mechanical diesel into my 2007 JK Unlimited Ruibcon, and I'm researching and trying to understand how to best fool the JK computer into thinking the engine is running so I get the stock tach to function, etc.

My understanding is that most people use two trigger wheels and sensors on the front of the engine - one for the crank position sensor, the other for the cam.
JPJeeps.com sell such a kit here - http://jdjeeps.com/jdjeeps/crankshaft.ashx

I'd like to keep this all as simple and straight forward as possible (and cheap!), so I'd like to understand if I actually need two sensors, of if feeding the cam wire the same signal as the crank will suffice. Here's some info from redveloce who did exactly this in an earlier TJ

"Here's one for anyone looking to do a diesel swap into a '97+ Jeep.

In order to turn on the tach, the PCM needs to see a signal from the cam sensor on startup. It's common for people to make or buy two sensor wheels, one for the cam and one for the crank sensor ($400+ from JD!). When I was building mine, I found that it doesn't check for accuracy of the cam sensor signal, just presence during startup. Some have used a relay to tie the disconnected cam sensor signal wire into the active crank sensor signal wire during startup, which is what I did and have used successfully for the past year and a half.

I was thinking about it last night though and couldn't see any reason why the cam sensor would need to be disconnected after starting. The actual signal from the cam sensor is used with the gas engines for checks related to fuel and ignition timing, but does not affect the gauge readout in any way after startup. It shares the same 5v power and ground output as the crank sensor, and is the same type of pickup, so there isn't any chance of overpowering and frying something.

I decided to try just directly connecting the cam signal wire to the crank sensor signal, and it worked! I managed to eliminate two fist fulls of wire, ties, and other junk in the process. "

Which makes sense - we need the crank signal to be "accurate" to have the tach be correct, but the cam sensor just needs to think the engine is turning, and that's good enough.
It also appears the computer doesn't even care if the camshaft signal stops after startup, but again, it seems there is not reason to not leave it there.
My check engine light will be on, of course, but I'll just pull hte bulb.
I'm going to lose cruise control and likely ESP will be strange, but other than that I hope everything functions as normal (air bags, lockers, a/c, etc.)

I checked the factory service manual for the JK, and both the crank and cam sensor have exactly the same wiring (5v supply / sensor ground / signal) so I can't see how connecting them together will hurt anything.

Does anyone here have first hand experience doing this on a JK?

Thanks very much,
-Dan

 

[Comanche Scott]

Check with Bruiser conversions, I think they are only using the crank sensor.
They may also have a bolt on kit you can integrate for the JK.
http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1205-4wd-bruiser-jeep-wrangler-jk-cummins-diesel-conversions/

 

[Dan Grec]

Check with Bruiser conversions, I think they are only using the crank sensor.
They may also have a bolt on kit you can integrate for the JK.
http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1205-4wd-bruiser-jeep-wrangler-jk-cummins-diesel-conversions/

Thanks, I've sent them an email asking about it.

Their site says they don't sell the computer flash they perform separately, but they will sell a "Trigger Wheel" and "Sensor Bracket".

They also sell a wiring harness (though again won't sell it separately) - I'd be interested to know what that involves.

We'll see what they come back with.

-Dan