Samsquanch22
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- OR
I have a 1990 4.0L automatic XJ with a fun new tick that I’m trying to diagnose.
After starting, 10 seconds later the ticking starts. It’s random, not rhythmic. When i put it in reverse, the ticking increases. When i increase the RPMs, the ticking increases. It usually goes away after a minute or two, but a couple times it has remained and gotten worse. I went back home and parked the jeep those times.
The flex plate bolts were tight. I took 3 of them off and loosened the 4th and gently pried on the flex plate with a screwdriver. Didn’t see any cracks. Rotated it 180 degrees and pried again: no visible cracks. I thought maybe the bendex gear of the starter wasn’t retracting, so i swapped out the starter since it was under warrantee; no change.
I did recently replace my rear main seal and oil pan gasket; while i was in there i replaced my oil pump. I put in the melling HV model, but didn’t have any clearance issues. I’ve heard of dipsticks vibrating on the oil pump pickuptube, but i pulled mine and the tick remained.
With a mechanics stethoscope I’ve probed the oil pan, bell housing, distributor, cps, and everything else i could think of, but never heard/felt the tick in any of those components.
Do you guys think it’s cracked flexplate with invisible cracks? With the bolts out the holes didn’t seem ovalized, but possibly enlarged? Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
https://youtu.be/oFFoOIgCa4s
After starting, 10 seconds later the ticking starts. It’s random, not rhythmic. When i put it in reverse, the ticking increases. When i increase the RPMs, the ticking increases. It usually goes away after a minute or two, but a couple times it has remained and gotten worse. I went back home and parked the jeep those times.
The flex plate bolts were tight. I took 3 of them off and loosened the 4th and gently pried on the flex plate with a screwdriver. Didn’t see any cracks. Rotated it 180 degrees and pried again: no visible cracks. I thought maybe the bendex gear of the starter wasn’t retracting, so i swapped out the starter since it was under warrantee; no change.
I did recently replace my rear main seal and oil pan gasket; while i was in there i replaced my oil pump. I put in the melling HV model, but didn’t have any clearance issues. I’ve heard of dipsticks vibrating on the oil pump pickuptube, but i pulled mine and the tick remained.
With a mechanics stethoscope I’ve probed the oil pan, bell housing, distributor, cps, and everything else i could think of, but never heard/felt the tick in any of those components.
Do you guys think it’s cracked flexplate with invisible cracks? With the bolts out the holes didn’t seem ovalized, but possibly enlarged? Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
https://youtu.be/oFFoOIgCa4s