Hey there guys, this is my first post here on Cherokee forum. I have been here plenty of other times as a spectator but I have a problem I could not find an answer to and I'm hoping some of you guys can help. So, first off, let me start by saying that on the title to my XJ it says it's a 97. When I look up the VIN thats on the dashboard underneath the windshield it comes up as a 97. I don't know if someone changed that VIN tag of what but everywhere else on my XJ has 2000 on it. It's got it inside the hood, in the door jam, it's got the cats that are built into my downpipe for emissions which I also thought was a 2000 thing. Any other things I could look for to tell if it is for sure a 97 or 2000? Anyways, sorry for getting off track, back to my main question...

So, I noticed a slight ticking noise that sounds like it's coming from my transmission. It happens after I have run the Jeep for a solid 20 minutes, and I come to a complete stop and put the shifter in neutral (it is a 5 speed manual). When put into neutral I can hear a constal slight *tick *tick *tick *tick. Now as soon as I push my clutch in (even just ever so slightly, doesn't need to be fully pressed in) the noise goes away. Let the clutch back out.... and the noise continues to proceed to annoy the living poo poo out of me. I think I might have a couple ideas as to what it is but I want to hear what you fella's might think. Thanks for the help, I know you guys will pull through!

 

Sounds like a throw-out bearing, my '95 has the same noise. I haven't got underneath to check on mine but some throw-out bearings have a grease fitting and greasing it might help with the noise.

 

Throw out bearing.
Never heard of the grease fitting.
More info?pic?

 

Only semi trucks have a grease fitting on the throw out bearing. And some old trucks. Not any jeeps

 

I didn't think so.

 

That's where I've seen it before was on old trucks. Wasn't sure on Jeeps but hadn't looked at mine yet.