2000 xj 4.0 158,000 miles. Just bought the vehicle. On start up when idling, you can hear the engine missing or stuttering of some kind(if I give it gas in park it will rev just fine) and if I put it in drive and put on the gas like normal, it will creep ahead a but, still stuttering and then sometimes after about five feet or so I hear a click or a clunk in the front end and it will go and drive fine all the way. It seems to be only on cold or half warm start ups, and not all the time. I was thinking maybe TPS or plugs or the coil but then the clunk has me scared thinking torque converter? Thanks

 

maybe front brakes sticking?

 

I don't think that is it because it doesn't rev and respond with gas like it should.

 

You have more than one thing going on here. The miss and the clunk.

Start with fresh plugs. The 00-01 likes the NGK plug. Gap it to .035. Do NOT use Bosch plugs as there are a ton of threads of people having trouble with them.

See where you are at with the new plugs.............

 

Will do. Plugs were the plan. What NGK's do you suggest? I've been reading Champion copper was good.

 

ok.. i had the same problem. it could be the torque converter or your flex plate could be loose. i was scared too. but for me it was that my exaust mounts were broken and it rattled around. and my guess was that the engine shakes more on colder days due to the warm up process. but yea. check that

 

Well it is driveabilty concern, not just sound. Would loose flex plate bolts cause it to fall on its face on cold idle?

 

I beleive I hear a vacuum leak or an intake whine. Possible cause.