Random Engine Clunk

A

a.jeeper

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Washington

• Jul 18, 2018

• #1

Hello,
1999 Jeep Cherokee
4.0
Auto
So it's got a wierd clunk when in park or neutral, and when stopped in Drive. No rhythm. Sounds like it's coming from the oil pan. Doesn't change with engine temp.
I've dealt with flex-plates. This is different.
Linked is also a video of what it sounds like. As you can tell I still removed the flexplate just to check.
I'm clueless at this point.
https://youtu.be/gKxw1Zzkuhs
Thank you!

 

old_man

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Loveland, Colorado

• Jul 18, 2018

• #2

If you put it in drive, hold the brake, and apply a bit of gas, does it change?

When you say you removed the flex plate, do you mean you removed the inspection cover? Removing the flex plate entails dropping the transmission.

 

R

RCP Phx

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Phoenix,Az

• Jul 18, 2018

• #3

That's a weird kind of sound. Get a piece of pipe so you can listen in different areas!

 

A

a.jeeper

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Washington

• Jul 19, 2018

• #4

My apologies, yes the inspection cover not the whole flex plate. And I haven't got a chance to try pressing gas while holding brake or using a pipe. Because today when I came home and it was all warmed up, I laid under it for some time and not a single clunk. So there's something new, guess it does change with temp.

 

Saudade

NAXJA Member

NAXJA Member

Location

SoCal

• Jul 19, 2018

• #5

Do you not hear it when driving? What about coasting in neutral?

Just for grins, make sure you don't have an exh leak.

 

Jeff in VA

<---respect

Location

Richmond, VA

• Jul 19, 2018

• #6

Loose starter bolts???

 

A

a.jeeper

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Washington

• Jul 20, 2018

• #7

I'll check the starter bolts. But it doesn't change in neutral. However when in drive it is silenced, so that goes without saying that, putting in drive and gassing makes it quite.

 

R

RCP Phx

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Phoenix,Az

• Jul 20, 2018

• #8

What about it in drive but with the transfer case in neutral?

 

T

trippled

NAXJA Forum User

Location

colorado springs, co

• Jul 20, 2018

• #9

Check the torque converter bolts. It's very possible the flex plate is cracked too. And highly unlikely you will be able to see the cracks without completely removing the flex plate.

 

A

a.jeeper

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Washington

• Jul 20, 2018

• #10

Starter bolts are good. Exhaust, everything from the exhaust manifold is new. Torque converter bolts were tightened with loctite a few months ago, I can still double check though. From listening underneath, I'm focused on the engine. Really sounds like the back end of the oil pan. My question for myself right now is, what in the engine could possibly be making a noise like this?!