Hi I'm new on here and you guys seem very good with keeps. I own a 1997 cherokee sport 4 wheel drive 6 cylinder. When I start it, it seems fine. Them seconds later a loud rattling starts that to me sea like it's coming from the transmission. I'm no expert but I have a decent amount of car knowledge. When I'm going down the highway going about 60 or so it seems like it slowly goes away. Also I had visited my dad not to long ago and his driveway is on a slight angle and when I parked the car and let it idle, the noise got quieter. I don't know if it's gotta be low fluid? Or a cracked fly wheel? I've been trying to figure this out for a while now and I would rather do the work myself instead of taking it to a shop. If I could get some help I'd appreciate it. Thank you!!!

 

Have you gotten underneath it & banged on the exhaust? Any exhaust leaks? Oil pressure OK? Piston skirt separation can also make a lot of noise. It could be the flexplate but since you have to remove the transmission to actually check, it's best to rule out the easy stuff first.

 

Try tying some twine around the transfer case linkage so it can't move at all. Then test drive again, it's not uncommon for it to rattle with age.
Last time I thought my front driveshaft was on its way out the bottom.

 

I haven't really gotten a good look underneath the car. I just went under it real quick to see what's making all the noise. I'll have to get under there this weekend and get a good look at everything. I've been so busy lately. I will let you know how it goes thank you!

 

I'm sorry but where is the transfer case linkage? I only know so much haha

 

Also my oil pressure when running seems normal. But when the car heats up and I stop at a light the pressure drops a bit. I'm not sure if that's normal. I would assume it would be somewhat normal cause when the oil heats up it's gonna be thinner

 

Its normal.

 

Is your cat or heat shield rattling? Lay next to it and kick/beat on the cat to see if it makes noise.

 

Where is the heat shield? And I'm assuming "cat" means the catalytic converter? I'm currently at work but I planned on looking into this a bit me in a fee hours. I will let you guys know how it goes.

 

Another common rattle area is the exhaust where it passes over the crossmember. Becoming quiet on an incline means something shifted just enough. Check exhaust and motor/transmission mounts.

 

I know mine rattled when my catalytic converter filter was broken..

 

It's the metal shroud around the catalytic converter. The cat is just aft of the transfer case crossmember where the exhaust pipe runs over the crossmember (aka the "skid plate") and before the muffler.

The heat shield is either bolted on or tack welded around the cat, and can break loose and rattle. Or, the catalyst honeycomb inside the cat can break loose and rattle. The former can be fixed with a large pipe clamp band (temporary), small C-clamps, or by tack welding (more permanent). The latter (honeycomb broken) can only be fixed by replacing the cat.

 

or is it another one of these-
flexplate rattle

 

We'll I figured out what that rattle is. It's my flexplate. I'll be fixing it this weekend when the part comes in. I've got 1 more problem tho, while turning left and right my car makes like a chirping noise coming from the wheels? I'm not sure what this is. If someone could please help me I'd appreciate it!!

 

did you run over any chipmunks?