Recently my XJ developed a loud ticking/knocking sound which i had mistaken for lifter tick. I traced the knocking to the space between the engine and tranny and a mechanic said it was a cracked flywheel and i was looking for a 1 thousand dollar repair bill.

What are the chances i cracked the flywheel? I have no loss or power or anything.... just an annoying knocking/ticking.

Check the torque converter bolts 1st, if that isnt it then probably cracked flywheel. $1K to replace? I should become a mechanic cause even if it took 10 hrs, which i dont think it would or should, thats $100 an hr!!!!

Alright thanks. And he was saying that most shops charge 500 to just drop the tranny and then the flywheel would be like 750 etcetcetc. What are some symptoms of a cracked flywheel though?

Just spent 2 mins to search, flexplates for auto's and flywheels for manuals are around $75 new, not $750.

Haaa. Thanks for the heads up. I may just keep it after all

Pop down under the Jeep and find your bellhousing inspection cover. Take it off (IIRC, it's 2 bolts and 2 nuts). You should then be able to see the torque converter and flexplate. Check all the bolts by rotating the crank clockwise around to each bolt. I forget the exact torque specs. You can also take the time to look for small cracks with a mirror. They usually appear near the crank bolts.

Worst case scenario, the flexplate is cracked. I don't see how it's a $1000 job. Dropping the tranny is not difficult.

I got quoted $400 to drop and install a new flex plate. Bought it from the dealer(ordered) for around $80
try changing the oil filter and see if it goes away.

I'll check it tomorrow. I'm studying tonight lol, and I thought that's what it was too cuz I was running a Fram high mileage which I thought was making my lifters tick etcetcetc. I dropped a Mobil 1 in without any change, it may have even gotten louder. The sound is coming from under the jeep. Exactly where the tranny and engine meet

There's your answer.

If I find any bolts loose, I remove them, wire-wheel the threads, add some LocTite,and reinstall the bolt. Do this to all 4 bolts if you find one loose. Usually it's all 4 anyway.

PS- It's probably the bolts. I'll bet the mechanics never removed the inspection plate to verify a crack or not....

Yep, old thread, but posting to see if you fixed the issue and what it was.

Had the same thing, flex plate was cracked. Oreillys had one, and a local guy was able to pull the trans back enough to swap it out without completely dropping everything.

Here ya go:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/ch...xplate-172081/

Wow I totally forgot this thread existed haha. It ended up being a cracked flex plate. My transmission blew up shortly after I started this thread so while it was out they let me know (and showed me) it was cracked all the way around the mounting bolts. I appreciate the help guys.

Thanks