96 XJ 4.0L AW4 135K miles

A few weekends ago, I started getting a serious grinding from what I assume is the tranny. If I'm in reverse and at a standstill, it sounded like there were marbles in my transmission. Very loud grinding that I could feel in my feet. It would only do it in reverse, if I shifted over to park, neutral or drive, it would idle normally. Only happened in reverse. If I started moving in reverse, it would go away - only happened when stopped.

That sound then went away for a couple weeks but then came back last night. But now it's gone again. Temperatures are fine, fluid levels are good (and not burnt or anything). So the sound is temperamental.

I'm going to pull the inspection cover and take a look for abnormalities.

What else should I look for?

 

Are you sure it's in the tranny and not the t case?

 

I'm not sure at all. It most certainly may be.

Well, is anything internally of the transfer case "moving" or working while the wheels aren't moving?

 

loose chain in the tcase maybe

then again what makes you think its the driveline at all if youre not sure?

 

Well, because there aren't any other systems that are at work while idling. Driveline internals are not my strong point, which is why I'm bringing it up

Is the chain moving while the wheels aren't moving? I thought not...

 

Oh makes sense now ha
Well it might be moving slightly. I would think enough to cause the sound?

Personally I would have someone put it in reverse and hold the brake, while you look underneath

(someone trustworthy of course

 

It's a veryyyyy rapid sound though. The whole thing is this sound has only happened twice in the past couple weeks. Next time it does it, I'll be getting under there to inspect. But it's not doing it at the moment. Like I said, she's temperamental

 

Sounds like an abusive relationship lol

 

Well yeah, it's an XJ haha

 

Hopefully I can grab a video of the noise soon. It's not a mount either or else this wouldn't happen just every now and again. It would happen all the time. Plus the sound is far too rapid for it to be something like the exhaust hitting the crossmember or something

 

Funny you say that, My exhaust literally rests on my crossmember
(guessing since I have a 2000, and crossmember is from a 1998)

My exhaust is bent differently. Probably makes a sound but my Jeep makes alot of sounds lol Beater rig
Have you ever swapped out similar components from different years?

 

Exhaust hitting the crossmember would be a rattling sound that isn't all too rapid. Mine sounds like 100 marbles pinballing around somewhere below me haha.

But no, never mismatched years with parts.

 

Haha well. Turns out it is just my exhaust against the crossmember. Started making the noise again so I threw the parking brake on and poked my head down. And sure enough...

I feel dumb but hey, at least that's all it is. Whenever I hear something or feel something or smell something while driving, I always think the worst possible scenario

 

I knew that was it. You were just in denial.

 

Feel free to say something next time! Some help you are.

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