Seemingly random knock/clunk
10-29-2009, 03:55 PM
#1
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Seemingly random knock/clunk
I've done a bit of searching, and I couldn't really find anything to help my diagnose this issue at all. I've noticed that my Jeep (1995 Cherokee Country, 4.0HO, AW4 tranny) will make a knock/clunk/rattle noise at seemingly random times. Sometimes if I stop at a light, it'll start. If I put the tranny into neutral, or when I take off, it stops. Sometimes it'll happen if I'm going around a corner, or going up a hill. It's not dependant on engine speed, so I don't think it's anything to do with the driveshaft or transmission; it stays one constant speed no matter what revs the engine is at.
However, I cannot for the life of me recreate the issue. It always happens when I'm not in a position to diagnose the issue, but will never, ever occur when I'm actively trying to figure it out. Has anyone else had this issue? What did you do to correct it?
However, I cannot for the life of me recreate the issue. It always happens when I'm not in a position to diagnose the issue, but will never, ever occur when I'm actively trying to figure it out. Has anyone else had this issue? What did you do to correct it?
10-29-2009, 04:00 PM
#2
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Sounds like...... the 20 years I spent as a mechanic whenever a customer brought in a vehicle.
Last edited by Jamie57; 10-29-2009 at 04:16 PM.
10-29-2009, 04:19 PM
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Just shy of 150k. The engine starts right up and runs strong, and I haven't noticed any sort of performance drop or inhibition of the drivetrain at all. It's not a particularly loud knock, but it is noticeable inside the vehicle. My main worry is that it's something innocuous that will turn into something bigger. I'd like to nip it in the bud before that happens.
10-29-2009, 04:31 PM
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I did read about that, and I tried it. Sometimes it seems like it helps, other times it seems like it does nothing at all. It's very perplexing. It's like it can't figure out exactly what it wants to be wrong with itself.
10-29-2009, 04:34 PM
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10-29-2009, 05:06 PM
#9
I know its common to fix them 
In an old Ford I had, I would just start slapping/hitting things until the squeaks, rattles, knocks, chirps, and whatever else went away. Would work till the next pot hole or bump in the road. Then it was back to square one.
In an old Ford I had, I would just start slapping/hitting things until the squeaks, rattles, knocks, chirps, and whatever else went away. Would work till the next pot hole or bump in the road. Then it was back to square one.
10-29-2009, 05:16 PM
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
It does need new shocks on all four corners. I have a lift coming from Rough Country; I'll wait until after I put that on, and see if that fixes anything. I may discover some blatantly overt issue while I'm putting it on, or the new shocks may fix it.
11-07-2009, 07:01 PM
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Model: Cherokee
My 96 does the samething. Drives my nuts I have 250k on mine. I am a master ase tech too. Mine sounds like its coming from the oil pan or bell. I checked converter bolts and flex plate and was ok. some day I will find it. You should check yours bolts and flex too
11-08-2009, 07:29 AM
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Year: 1995
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Engine: 4.0L
If it were the flex plate, it would modulate slightly at slower RPMS, and it would be a constant thing. The sound of a broken flexplate is also a slight whine, whereas this is a clunk.
If it were a constant thing, it would make diagnosing this so much easier, as would it if it changed with engine RPMs. As it is though, it's far too random for me to pinpoint it at this time. As I stated before, I'll do the suspension change and refresh and see if maybe that helps it at all, and report back.
If it were a constant thing, it would make diagnosing this so much easier, as would it if it changed with engine RPMs. As it is though, it's far too random for me to pinpoint it at this time. As I stated before, I'll do the suspension change and refresh and see if maybe that helps it at all, and report back.
11-08-2009, 11:47 PM
#14
If it were the flex plate, it would modulate slightly at slower RPMS, and it would be a constant thing. The sound of a broken flexplate is also a slight whine, whereas this is a clunk.
If it were a constant thing, it would make diagnosing this so much easier, as would it if it changed with engine RPMs. As it is though, it's far too random for me to pinpoint it at this time. As I stated before, I'll do the suspension change and refresh and see if maybe that helps it at all, and report back.
If it were a constant thing, it would make diagnosing this so much easier, as would it if it changed with engine RPMs. As it is though, it's far too random for me to pinpoint it at this time. As I stated before, I'll do the suspension change and refresh and see if maybe that helps it at all, and report back.
