slimjimvinny

Hello,
1997 XJ Sport with AX-15, approx 230k miles. I've been driving it since 112k miles, never worked on the clutch/tranny except for fluid changes a few times, also never had any shifting issues of any kind.

The weather here has gone from 70 degree nights and 95 degree days to 50 degree nights and 75 degree days over the last week, and this problem has started in the last week. I'm unsure if it's related, but thought you'd like to know.

When I fire her up in the early morning, I get a pretty bad squealing/grinding sound in neutral with the clutch pedal out. If i step on the pedal, the sound changes a bit and gets a little quieter, in or out of gear doesn't matter. Once I start driving, the sound is sort of all over the map, going away completely or getting louder right before I shift. It's weird.

Once everything is totally warmed up and I've gone 10 or so miles, the sound is totally gone, and doesn't come back until it's sat again at least overnight.

Other than the sound, I have NO symptoms. No grinding, shifting is as easy as it's always been, upshifts or downshifts are no problem in any gear, pedal is smooth and feels totally normal, clutch isn't slipping and everything feels fine. I'm also a pretty gentle driver, maybe that's why my clutch has lasted at least 115k so far.

I'm worried my baby is telling me she's about to strand me at 5am on my way to work, but she won't tell me why (women, amiright?)

I have decent mechanical experience, but I'm on a tight budget and live in an apartment and work 25 miles away, so I really need to figure this out in as quick and budget friendly a manner as possible.

Thanks

PS If all else fails, anyone know a decent shop in the Sacramento area to get a clutch/related components replaced for a budget minded Jeeper?

hbracing13

Sounds almost like your throwout bearing is starting it go. As its colder the metal becomes somewhat tighter, more friction and as your drive the heat open expandes the friction surface creating little to no noise, but it gets worse the more you use it. So you might as well change out the clutch and have the flywheel cleaned "skuffed up" or resurfaced and your problem should go away.