Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Jeep makes a clicking or slacked chain clattering noise

40K views 51 replies 12 participants last post by  petercass88 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi, I have a 1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ 4.0L and it has started to make a clicking noise. It is similar to when you would put a card in your bike spokes to produce that repetitive noise, but more on the level of maybe metal clattering. To me it sounds like that or a chain that is slacked and is hitting metal tabs repeatedly. This all started when I was making a trip up to pinecrest, ca from the valley, It was a really hot day high 90's. I was about more than half way there and while the engine was under load going uphill, while accelerating the noise started really loudly with the gas pedal pressed. I immediately pulled over and decided to limp back home, while trying to accelerate very little. This made the noise less likely to happen, but when I needed to accelerate it would do it again. (55mph and up) When I reached town the noise wouldn't do it at all at local speeds. (35mph max) So when I reached home, I checked all fluids in the engine bay and the transfer case which were all clean. I haven't checked my differential fluid yet though. After this I let my jeep rest and took it out later that day to reach the speeds that produced those noises 55mph and up with acceleration on a flat road with optimal temperature. This didn't produce the noise at all, so I thought that it was just something that may have just been minimal and corrected itself, which I know that is highly unlikely. After that I've been driving in town fine, while staying away from the mountains. But over time these past few weeks the noise is coming back at local town speeds, 35mph while accelerating more commonly. I can't seem to figure it out, it happens while accelerating and comes and goes. for example one day it might not do it at all or at least once. Other times it may do it more often while driving. Today 5/22/2013, it did it multiple times accelerating, not as loud because of the speed difference compared to the mountains but still its there. I decided to come to the forum because everyone on here is super helpful and shares there compassion for jeeps as do I.

1994 Jeep Wrangler 4.0L Auto
The transmission has been rebuilt twice. (Once with previous owner and then secondly I had got it rebuilt)
33" Mud Terrain Tires
Front Axle: Stock
Back Axle: Mostly stock but has chromly alloy usa axle shafts
4" Lift, I'm pretty sure its rough country it contains white shocks with black boots, so I'm unsure about that.
The Drive shaft is stock.
So basically everything else is stock.

I have pictures of my jeep on my facebook if that helps at all, the ones on here are when I first bought it and quite a bit had changed in appearance.
https://www.facebook.com/dillonrcain

I can also put them on here if needed and additional information if need be.

Thank You! :)
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Hmm.... Do you have a loss of power at all while driving?

And sure man if you want to post up pics go for it! :thumb:
 
#4 ·
Hmm.... Do you have a loss of power at all while driving?

And sure man if you want to post up pics go for it! :thumb:
It may be a little under on power but it has always struggled going up very steep hills, I some times have floor it to make it stay at 55 going up so that I can maintain speed with traffic, while commuting to school. I think the power is different now because of that noise but that may just be my head thinking that.
 
#5 ·
The engine temp does rise while going uphill but not extremely, I think that's normal because of the load. While driving up hills it's around 210 at most. The only other time engine temp almost reaches the danger zone would be on priest grade hill and that hill is extremely steep and I have to go up that at like 25, but that's only when going camping. I'm sure others know about that road in california. But no it's not pinging.
 
#11 ·
Sounds like the starter motor. Pull it off and if the inner thing with teeth moves up and down without being retracted on its own, it's bad. It will cause it to make a clicking sound almost like a chain. Here's a pic of the one from my silverado (same thing happened on my wrangler, just didn't get picture). the left is bad, the right is good.
 
#13 ·
I forgot to mention that while accelerating and going up hill, the teeth will come in contact with the internal motor teeth. Also if it goes away while braking and going downhill the teeth are being forced forward away from the internal teeth.
 
#15 ·
It used to only do it when I was going at high speeds and needed to accelerate. But now in town when I accelerate it will do it occasionally. It has never done this before? Do you mean that the timing chain could of been tight enough before and was missing this retainer? I don't know if the timing chain has ever been replaced and I don't know if that piece is moving. To me it sounds as if its coming from underneath me. But that can be debatable because sound does travel while driving.

Oh also my jeep does have over 210,000 miles on it, original engine.
 
#16 ·
There's a chance it could be the catalytic converter going out, happened to my bro's cherokee. It might also be something with the timing chain, or the chain in the transfer case is having issues.
 
#18 ·
I would start by trying to remove the catalytic converter(easy if it's bolted on), it would be the simplest point to start and just leave it off while you're testing you're car out. Then if that's not the problem, I'd take it to someone who can diagnose the problem and handle fixing it(the timing chain can be difficult if you have never done it or seen someone do it, and the transfer case is very tricky). I see that you're in california, I'm wondering how close you are to me in Highland/Redlands area.
 
#19 ·
I would start by trying to remove the catalytic converter(easy if it's bolted on), it would be the simplest point to start and just leave it off while you're testing you're car out. Then if that's not the problem, I'd take it to someone who can diagnose the problem and handle fixing it(the timing chain can be difficult if you have never done it or seen someone do it, and the transfer case is very tricky). I see that you're in California, I'm wondering how close you are to me in Highland/Redlands area.
I live in Oakdale, but yeah my cat is welded on :( so I don't know where to go about that. Maybe use a cutoff wheel but then I would be screwed after i took it off, I lack a proper welder to put it back on. I wish there was a way for me to diagnose it properly, but I can see why I should go to someone.
 
#20 ·
Well, Oakdale is quite far from me. It's always difficult to diagnose other people's vehicles over a forum, especially when the problem can be one of many things. I'd hold off on your cat though, but if you did cut it, autozone carries couplers and clamps to put it back together without welding. If it was that cat though, it would sound like clanking on a metal pipe right under the passenger seat.
 
#22 ·
Have you checked the ujoints on the front axle? And I'm talking about the ujoints right behind the hubs, when they start to go bad they make the same sound as you describe. Just look under the front at each side and you will see them. You can reach in and wiggle them to see if they have any movement.
 
#23 ·
^ that. Start w/u-joints. They make a snapping/clicking sound as they spin when one of the caps & bearings starts to go bad.

If everything is bound up tight, make sure its in N and jack up a front tire if you need to. Then the front axle shafts should have a bit of play in them. But, those end caps for the ujoints should not.
 
#24 ·
Wow this is weird I have what sounds to be the same thing going on with my jeep! I have a 94 4.0L Auto, 4" lift and 33" tires. I am twisted on the noise. I found mine never did it during the winter. Only since it has warmed up dose it do it. I need to be driving home when traffic is really bad and on a hot day it will make a clicking noise like a card in a bike tire only metal sounding! RPM dependent noise, Only on acceleration and goes away if I let off the gas and re-accelerate very lightly, but it is very intermittent and hard to diagnose cuz once it is out of drive it will not make the noise. I just tried putting some heavier oil in it 10w40 to see if that helps. Almost a rod knock noise. Cannot duplicate to try and investigate.
 
#28 ·
Alright now it's doing the noise while driving when I go above 2k rpms. When increasing speed below 2k rpms, it'll shift fine. I also believe it shifts fine even when going above those rpms. So hopefully that rules out the transmission. Today it started doing it again after hitting rough railroad tracks and went away after going below 2k rpm, but would return going above that. So something could be loose I guess or what ever got jostled when I went over the railroad tracks. I'm just listing everything that agitates whatever is making the noise.
 
#29 ·
My noise always is at low rpm in first, second gear when accelerating. If the transmission switches gears up shift or downshift or if I let off the gas for a sec it will go away. Then come back randomly but only makes the noise after being fully warmed up. Changing to a heavier weight oil didn't help. I got home and it was making the noise so I played around in the parking lot. It will make it slightly brake torquing in gear. Goes away in park but could hear it lightly in neutral. Had someone walking by hold the brake while I looked under it and sounded almost like it was from the oil pan but couldn't really tell plus I had to let the guy walking by go. Lol
 
#34 ·
The noise that you described really sounds like worn out ujoints to me. What do you mean you even "put it in neutral"?

I had this same issue about a month ago and got under my jeep and was able to jiggle the most rear ujoint and so I replaced it and it took care of all my vibration and clunking noises.
 
#37 ·
I'm pretty sure it's the timing chain now, just took it for a drive out in the country. When accelerating every now and then as engine temperature rises the noise would happen. When at optimal temp. It would make the usual loud noise while accelerating, so as I listened I'm pretty sure it's coming from the front. With higher temp the timing chain gets more slack as metal expands and I think it's hitting the housing. It sounds exactly as if a chain was hitting/rubbing against a metal cover. So this is just my assumption. From what I'm describing, would you guys agree? Also how hard is it to replace a timing chain on a 4l and what is needed as far as tools/parts go? Thank you all for helping!
 
#46 ·
Yeah it made the exact sound but just not as loud when I shook it. The transmission vibrates regardless for me so when at highway speeds it was really loud. I also looked for anything metal small or big contacting underneath the jeep. I'm so happy that the fix cost hardly anything at all, plus you guys helped save me money before I started throwing different parts at it haha!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top