So I've had this xj for almost 6 months and I'm just now getting around to fixin it up.
1- I have a soft tapping coming from inside the valve cover, it's pretty quite when idling but when you accelerate the tapping gets louder. I ran seafoam through the oil and then did an oil change. No effect on the noise, I think it could be a lifter and if so how hard is it to fix it? Any other ideas let me know.

2- once the jeep runs for a lil while then I turn it off, 5 min later I start it again and it tries to die. If I hold down the pedal for a min it will stay alive an act like nothing happened. Not really sure on what that could be.

3- I have the light switch turned off interior and exterior, all doors closed and the trunk light and light ring around the ignition stay on. Again not sure what thats from either.

Any help on these would be great thanks.

 

Probably a lifter, it's a common noise with the 4.0's. If it doesn't clear up when you rev the motor, the lifter is likely stuck. Some have luck adding MMO to free up the gunk.

Cleaning the throttle body and idle air control might help with the second problem.

Did you try pushing on the cargo light to turn it off?

 

Yea it didn't do anything so I took the bulb out so it wouldn't kill the battery, and il try what you said today and see. Thanks for the input.

 

Auto trans? Have you isolated the noise with a mechanic's stethoscope?

It could be flexplate bolts coming loose. Easy fix. You probably oughta just check them anyway.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/ho...ocking-125547/

 

I didn't check the flexplate but il do that today I while I finish my coolant flush.

 

Well I swapped out the thermostat and gasket filled it up and turned it on and the housing was pissing coolant -_- so I gotta take it apart and get a new gasket with a lot of sealant I guess lol.

 

NOT alot of sealant. Good gasket and a THIN coat of sealant.

 

Found out that the old housing was cracked and when I took it off it snapped in half so I changed it out and all is good now, my temp works now, it doesn't die after running and seems to idle smoother. But I still have the tapping and more investigating leads me to believe the noise is coming from the lower front of the motor maybe the timing gear or chaining?

 

Shine a light into the oil filler hole and see just how sludgy things are in there.