Flex Plate questions
08-26-2015, 07:27 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Eastern Long Island, NY
Posts: 952
Received 55 Likes
on
50 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 Cyl / 4L
Flex Plate questions
I have a 1996 4L AW4 with 130,000 miles.
Two days ago it started making a rattling noise when I go from stand still and step on the gas pedal hard. Once it picks up speed (past 20mph) the noise goes away. It sound like a flap of metal smacking up against something. Seems to be coming from the front and gives off some type of slight vibration by the floor boards. Only happens in the forward gears, not in reverse, and mostly when I am giving it gas. It did rattle a bit when stopped at a light but went away when I put it in neutral.
I checked all the ujoints and they look fine. I looked at the exhaust and nothing has changed. Everything else looks tight.
So I am thinking flex plate.
When I get underneath to check it, does the transmission have to be in neutral?
Can I rotate the flex plate by hand to get to the different bolts holding it?
Thanks.
Two days ago it started making a rattling noise when I go from stand still and step on the gas pedal hard. Once it picks up speed (past 20mph) the noise goes away. It sound like a flap of metal smacking up against something. Seems to be coming from the front and gives off some type of slight vibration by the floor boards. Only happens in the forward gears, not in reverse, and mostly when I am giving it gas. It did rattle a bit when stopped at a light but went away when I put it in neutral.
I checked all the ujoints and they look fine. I looked at the exhaust and nothing has changed. Everything else looks tight.
So I am thinking flex plate.
When I get underneath to check it, does the transmission have to be in neutral?
Can I rotate the flex plate by hand to get to the different bolts holding it?
Thanks.
08-26-2015, 09:02 AM
#2
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,863
Received 1,524 Likes
on
1,236 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I have a 1996 4L AW4 with 130,000 miles.
Two days ago it started making a rattling noise when I go from stand still and step on the gas pedal hard. Once it picks up speed (past 20mph) the noise goes away. It sound like a flap of metal smacking up against something. Seems to be coming from the front and gives off some type of slight vibration by the floor boards. Only happens in the forward gears, not in reverse, and mostly when I am giving it gas. It did rattle a bit when stopped at a light but went away when I put it in neutral.
I checked all the ujoints and they look fine. I looked at the exhaust and nothing has changed. Everything else looks tight.
So I am thinking flex plate.
When I get underneath to check it, does the transmission have to be in neutral?
Can I rotate the flex plate by hand to get to the different bolts holding it?
Thanks.
Two days ago it started making a rattling noise when I go from stand still and step on the gas pedal hard. Once it picks up speed (past 20mph) the noise goes away. It sound like a flap of metal smacking up against something. Seems to be coming from the front and gives off some type of slight vibration by the floor boards. Only happens in the forward gears, not in reverse, and mostly when I am giving it gas. It did rattle a bit when stopped at a light but went away when I put it in neutral.
I checked all the ujoints and they look fine. I looked at the exhaust and nothing has changed. Everything else looks tight.
So I am thinking flex plate.
When I get underneath to check it, does the transmission have to be in neutral?
Can I rotate the flex plate by hand to get to the different bolts holding it?
Thanks.
08-26-2015, 06:25 PM
#4
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,863
Received 1,524 Likes
on
1,236 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
08-28-2015, 07:37 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Eastern Long Island, NY
Posts: 952
Received 55 Likes
on
50 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 Cyl / 4L
Well that was embarrassing.
After inspecting the flex plate bolts (globs of greasy dirt falling on my face) and finding they are all on very tight, I removed the front drive shaft in case it was one of the original factory ujoints making the noise.
Noise was still there.
Looked around some more and with the help of my dad, we figure out the fan is touching the fan shroud when starting from idle! Didn't see that one coming, especially after I changed the engine and transmission mounts a few months back. I used the Westar original style mounts, and I can see the rubber triangle in the metal frame leaning forward a bit. Also the fan shroud was a little loose and the radiator reservoir return hose had gotten behind it and was pushing it out. Once I tightened it and put the hose back where it belongs, the noise went away.
But that was 3 hours of my life chasing a simple problem, and man was I dirty after it.
After inspecting the flex plate bolts (globs of greasy dirt falling on my face) and finding they are all on very tight, I removed the front drive shaft in case it was one of the original factory ujoints making the noise.
Noise was still there.
Looked around some more and with the help of my dad, we figure out the fan is touching the fan shroud when starting from idle! Didn't see that one coming, especially after I changed the engine and transmission mounts a few months back. I used the Westar original style mounts, and I can see the rubber triangle in the metal frame leaning forward a bit. Also the fan shroud was a little loose and the radiator reservoir return hose had gotten behind it and was pushing it out. Once I tightened it and put the hose back where it belongs, the noise went away.
But that was 3 hours of my life chasing a simple problem, and man was I dirty after it.
08-28-2015, 08:02 AM
#6
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,863
Received 1,524 Likes
on
1,236 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Well that was embarrassing.
After inspecting the flex plate bolts (globs of greasy dirt falling on my face) and finding they are all on very tight, I removed the front drive shaft in case it was one of the original factory ujoints making the noise.
Noise was still there.
Looked around some more and with the help of my dad, we figure out the fan is touching the fan shroud when starting from idle! Didn't see that one coming, especially after I changed the engine and transmission mounts a few months back. I used the Westar original style mounts, and I can see the rubber triangle in the metal frame leaning forward a bit. Also the fan shroud was a little loose and the radiator reservoir return hose had gotten behind it and was pushing it out. Once I tightened it and put the hose back where it belongs, the noise went away.
But that was 3 hours of my life chasing a simple problem, and man was I dirty after it.
After inspecting the flex plate bolts (globs of greasy dirt falling on my face) and finding they are all on very tight, I removed the front drive shaft in case it was one of the original factory ujoints making the noise.
Noise was still there.
Looked around some more and with the help of my dad, we figure out the fan is touching the fan shroud when starting from idle! Didn't see that one coming, especially after I changed the engine and transmission mounts a few months back. I used the Westar original style mounts, and I can see the rubber triangle in the metal frame leaning forward a bit. Also the fan shroud was a little loose and the radiator reservoir return hose had gotten behind it and was pushing it out. Once I tightened it and put the hose back where it belongs, the noise went away.
But that was 3 hours of my life chasing a simple problem, and man was I dirty after it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
John T
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
13
02-19-2022 11:27 AM
ohio95xj
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
3
09-11-2015 08:59 AM
SouthSeaPirate
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
0
09-07-2015 11:29 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
