Hey all,

I have a 98 xj 4x4 auto 4L. when driving on the highway between 45-60 MPH, in overdrive, it feels like I am driving on a rumble strip. it shakes the wheel a bit, and makes a low pitched WAWAWAWA kind of sound. I am pretty sure that it is the Torque converter, as when i shift into 3rd at the same speed, it goes away. and when i let off the gas at the same speed, it goes away. so i would have a hard time thinking it is anything else.

Want to get a second opinion though, do i need to get a new tourque converter installed, or could this be something else? has this happened to you before?

 

It's a 0.0001% chance that it's the torque converter.

Check your engine and transmission mounts. Also, if it's shaking the wheel, it's probably something in the front end. Like tie rods, wheel bearings, control arm bushings, maybe your tires? It could be a lot of things. Most likely though, a good portion of your problems would go away by replacing the engine mounts.

 

When was your last alignment?

 

a vibration at that speed is typical front end "death wobble" symptom, caused by various factors

If you engage 3rd at speeds of over ~35mph, the TC will be engaged (see FSM), so that indicates its NOT your TC

Could also be rear or front driveshafts/diffs

 

Have a really hard time thinking it's any of this. Motor mount is new, I'll have to check on trans mount. Tie rods are also new and my control arm bushings are new as well. If it were any of those things, the issue wouldn't go away by changing gears, and it wouldn't only happen in overdrive.

 

3 months ago when I got new tires. Issue has been going on for longer

 

But if it was the driveshafts, why would it go away by changing gears or just by coasting?

 

more specifically the diff and wheels bearings can make a noise under load

running the vehicle in drive whilst on jackstands usually will reveal such a fault

had a rumble on a previous D44 equipped rear, when jacked off the ground it squeeled like a *****, worn diff bearings

never discount a dodgy tyre as the first cause either

 

If you think its in the transmission, as I mentioned the reason logically it should not be the TC (cause it locks up in 3rd as well)

That does not rule out some mechanical issue with the 4th gearset components in your AW4, loss of to top gear being one way an auto can fail

cant think of any easy way to check, except noises get worse, or check the trans pan magnets

 

Check the bellhousing to engine bolts are tight. While you're there, might as well check the torque converter to flexplate bolts.