What Next? More Problems With The XJ

[rubicontrail]

Yesterday I had a new problem develop. When accelerating from a stop I hear a tinny clanking sound. It sounds like it is coming from the right front.

If I let off the accelerator it stops (even if I coast at the same speed). I checked around trying to find anything loose but there is nothing. Once I get up above like 35mph it isn't audible any more.

Does anyone have any ideas what it might be.

[Silvacon]

I had a similar problem with my TJ and it turned out to the the CV joint on the front driveshaft. The driveshaft felt tight, but the dealer swapped out the driveshaft and it was gone.

[rubicontrail]

How much did that run you to fix? I am getting so frustrated with everything going wrong at once on the XJ. I so need to get the cash together to buy a JK.

[Silvacon]

It was still under warrenty, so I could not tell you. What does it do when you go into 4H or 4L?

[Triple-XJ]

Start by checking the axle u-joints and front driveshaft. also look at the brakes.

Its difficult to figure it out without listening to it first hand, but that is where I would start.

[rubicontrail]

It does it in both 2WD and 4WD.

[rubicontrail]

Start by checking the axle u-joints and front driveshaft. also look at the brakes.

Its difficult to figure it out without listening to it first hand, but that is where I would start.

It doesn't do it when the brakes are applied... so unless the caliper is sticking it wouldn't be the brakes would it?

Also, it doesn't sound like a clunk... more of tinny sound.

[Silvacon]

Here is what was done with mine.....I took it to the dealer half a dozen times and they either "could not hear" the noise. The last time they started throwing parts at it, they changed the front carrier, the locker, both axle shafts and was thinking of changing the transfer case. They call me up late friday and tells me its ready. I get there just before closing and as I was taking it out of the driveway I put it in 4H and the noise is still there. By this time it was too late for the service department so I told them I will be back. I take it home and my neighbor and I put it on jack stands. The jeep is completely off the ground and we put in 4H and release the brakes. Add a little gas while the other is under the jeep narrowing down the noise. That is when WE discovered the CV joint on the front driveshaft. There is step by step directions on Stu Olson's website.

[Triple-XJ]

It does it in both 2WD and 4WD.

doesnt matter, on that year oem XJ.

The front axles and drive shaft still spin in 2wheel drive.

Just look for u-joint problems, like a loose, broken, cracked, or missing u-joint cap.

If you inspected the brakes and they look fine, move in to the driveshafts.

[Triple-XJ]

If you are dead set on finding this noise, pull your drive shafts one at a time and drive it. atleast this way you could rule in/out the d-shafts.

[AbsoluteOffroad]

Agree with Geno. Also check your 36mm axle nut that hold the outer axle stub in the wheel bearing is tight.


Joe
Absolute Offroad



doesnt matter, on that year oem XJ.

The front axles and drive shaft still spin in 2wheel drive.

Just look for u-joint problems, like a loose, broken, cracked, or missing u-joint cap.

If you inspected the brakes and they look fine, move in to the driveshafts.

[Markos]

Yesterday I had a new problem develop. When accelerating from a stop I hear a tinny clanking sound. It sounds like it is coming from the right front.

If I let off the accelerator it stops (even if I coast at the same speed). I checked around trying to find anything loose but there is nothing. Once I get up above like 35mph it isn't audible any more.

Does anyone have any ideas what it might be.

Rubi:

I know your time is valuable, and you tend to take your XJ to the shop. However, you should seriously consider crawling under the XJ and removing the front driveshaft. It's only 4 bolts holding it in place, two on each u-joint strap. Then you can drive your jeep around, and see if the noise disappears. If it continues, bolt it back up. If it goes away, you just saved 15 minutes of labor. Since you'll be pulling the front shaft, there will be no negative effect on daily driving.

I'm getting a 'dup dup dup' noise when I accelerate sometimes. It's been there for several years now. I rebuilt my front shaft and it's still present. It's infrequent, so I've been casually avoiding the issue... :)

[cdhowell]

While your under there check the cat. Had a spot weld break on the heat shield and would get a tinney rattle under certain speeds as the motor torqued over.

[rubicontrail]

Well... now I am confused.

This morning as I was warming her up in the driveway, I hear clank......... clank....... clank. Not very fast but fairly regular. I pop the hood trying to find where the noise is coming from but with the sound of the motor, the belts, the compressors, etc. I can't tell where the sound is coming from... oh well. I think... oooh I should check the oil level as I have a very little leak around the oil plug that I need to fix. I turn off the engine and I check the oil and the levels all good so I put the dipstick back, close the hood and restart the engine... the clanking is now gone! I put it into gear, back out of the driveway, and then accelerate away... no clanking.

So, now my question is the clanking something tempermental that comes and goes, or was the oil dipstick loose (if it was it wasn't noticable) or something and vibrating against something?

[rubicontrail]

SON OF A @#(@!

When I left work, the stupid thing started making the clanking noise again. :-/ I guess I have to start tracking down the noise now.

[Triple-XJ]

SON OF A @#(@!

When I left work, the stupid thing started making the clanking noise again. :-/ I guess I have to start tracking down the noise now.

Check what cdhowell suggested; this to is a common noise maker. When the exaust is cool, just bang the bottom of the cat and listen for a rattle. Sometimes the center of the cat comes loose.

While your under there check the cat. Had a spot weld break on the heat shield and would get a tinney rattle under certain speeds as the motor torqued over.

[rubicontrail]

I am wondering if it just might be the precats. I have a MIL illumination that ademster said mostly indicates that the precats are bad. I went ahead and ordered the replacement assembly and I should have it delivered and installed by the end of this week. Maybe I will be lucky and this will fix it.

Which also brings up the question, what is the point of the main cat on my XJ? There are no O2 sensors after the main cat (there are four O2 sensors on it, two in front of the precats, and two after the precats, all on the precat assembly). So there is just an assumption that it might be working right??? Kind of wacky. Anyway... I will update the thread when I find out more.

[Triple-XJ]

I am wondering if it just might be the precats. I have a MIL illumination that ademster said mostly indicates that the precats are bad. I went ahead and ordered the replacement assembly and I should have it delivered and installed by the end of this week. Maybe I will be lucky and this will fix it.

Which also brings up the question, what is the point of the main cat on my XJ? There are no O2 sensors after the main cat (there are four O2 sensors on it, two in front of the precats, and two after the precats, all on the precat assembly). So there is just an assumption that it might be working right??? Kind of wacky. Anyway... I will update the thread when I find out more.

:confused: huh :confused:

You lost me with all the pre-cat and 4 O2 sensor stuff. :eek:

Must be special 01 XJ thing.

EDIT: I had yet to work with an 01's exaust or powertrain. Just did a Radiator, lift kit and SYE on a friends a few years ago but didnt notice the exaust.

[rubicontrail]

My XJ has a setup with like 4 O2 sensors, two pre-cats, and a main cat.

This was like the California-compliant setup of previous years so my guess is that they just made all the 2001 XJs California-compliant or made all the 60th Anniversary XJs California-compliant.

Instead of the Y pipe just being two straight pipes off the headers, there is a pre-catalyst on both pipes above where the Y joins. There is an O2 sensor before each pre-catalyst and an O2 sensor after each pre-catalyst. There are no O2 sensors after the main catalyst, so it really serves no measurable purpose. :-/

[Triple-XJ]

My XJ has a setup with like 4 O2 sensors, two pre-cats, and a main cat.

This was like the California-compliant setup of previous years so my guess is that they just made all the 2001 XJs California-compliant or made all the 60th Anniversary XJs California-compliant.

Instead of the Y pipe just being two straight pipes off the headers, there is a pre-catalyst on both pipes above where the Y joins. There is an O2 sensor before each pre-catalyst and an O2 sensor after each pre-catalyst. There are no O2 sensors after the main catalyst, so it really serves no measurable purpose. :-/

Wow, what a PITA!

I knew there was a reason I prefered the 97-00, oh and the fact that it was LP. :D

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showpost.php?p=253725&postcount=8

[rubicontrail]

So, my friend who works at the Toyota dealership near my house suggested another thing that might be causing the creaking... swaybar bushings. Does that sound possible for the previously mentioned symptoms?

It's too dark out for me really to see much of anything under my Jeep. I will try to look tomorrow morning to see if they look squashed or deterioated.

If so, I found poly swaybar bushingings for about $25. Do the actual swaybars go bad too? The vehicle handles fine so I don't really need a performance upgrade. How much is involved with replacing the bushings.

[fallx13xflights]

Does the noise occur when you first start up the jeep then go away after a little while?

[rubicontrail]

No it only happens when accelerating and then fades out ... not at a specific speed.

For example if I am in traffic going 30mph and then traffic speeds up... I step on the accelerator and the noise comes back for a bit and then fades away.

It sound kind of like metal on metal. But not like a grinding or deep clunking sound... more like a clank ........ clank..... clank sound.

[Markos]

A bad cat usuallys sounds like a bolt rattling/bouncing around inside a metal canister. That's exactly what's happening, but it's catalyst material, not a bolt. Eventually, your jeep would start to bog down when you accelerated.

The front driveshaft noise is often referred to as "angry sparrows", due to the noise that it makes when the centering goes bad. You could try some internet research on that.