That is on my to do list now, i know the pos went to hell on me years ago, never gave me any problems with it being dead.

 

Well good luck with it either way I am sure you will find it!

 

Well I finally got time to work on it today. Got under it, took off the inspection plate, and the first bolt i touched was loose on the flex plate(i think that is what it was lol). Most all of them were loose, some more than others. Tightened them up, and she sounds back to normal now Not sure how they got loose, but it was a 15 minute fix and cost me nothing.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone, you helped a noob out greatly!

 

I'm having the same problem my Cherokee is a 96 classic 4x4 4.0L 250,000 miles I went to start it one day and it made a horrible knocking noise and ever since it has done a knock at start up when cold and knocking (not rhythmic) in park. I know its not a rod knock, (my dads grand cherokee had one i know what those sound like) it sounds like its at the very bottom of the engine basically underneath my feet.... any ideas what that could be?

 

Flex plate again. Just go ahead and pull off that inspection plate and check for cracks before you tighten them back up.

Also, you just revived my first post ever on this site i think haha.

 

Sorry for the bump but where is this inspection plate? I'm getting a knocking sound in the lower end and it would be nice if this was the only problem.

 

The inspection plate is right where the transmission and engine meet its underneath the vehicle, its like a dust cover you can unbolt it and see where the torque converter and flywheel meet the engine. Also my nephew had a bad knock in his sounded like it was gonna fly apart but it turned out to be the water pump impeller! Good luck with it!

 

That's what i was guessing. Turns out it was a loose flywheel.

 

Hey guys (sorry for reviving this) but I have a 97 Jeep Cherokee sport, 4.0L straight 6, I have had a knocking noise on start up, and while it's running you can hear it but it's very faint. Then when I shut the engine off it is really loud and noticeable. I have taken the dust plate or inspection cover off and m flywheel is neither loose or cracked, and no bolts on the flex plate are loose. I've had someone start the engine and shut it off while I was under it and the noise seems to be coming from the flywheel area. Any suggestions?