Jeep noise

Tiny
HEATHENSTEPHEN
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 JEEP WRANGLER
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 140,000 MILES
My 1988 Jeep Wrangler 4 cylinder/manual 5 Speed) is starting to make a resonating/vibration noise only when I shift from 3rd to 4th (and at a higher RPM) but not all of the time. When is does make the noise I can feel a slight vibration in the clutch pedal. But Jeep seems to shift normally.

Jeep has 140,000+ miles and this clutch was installed in about 2004

Is this a forthcoming clutch issue?
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 AT 5:22 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
I'd guess Clutch or Transmission. Sorry

My CJ, had some issues shifting into 2nd and 3rd, the only way it would go in either without grinding, was to "slow motion" to shift.I rebuilt it Completely, myself.I went overboard, the only thing I reused was the case!

If you are feeling it in the pedal, my best guess is clutch.

Is your pedal at the top, and just slightly down (maybe an inch) you feel the pressure of the pressure plate?

In other words is your pedal engaging high, and disengaging high?

Or is it engaging low on the floor?

I was told that "My NOT FULLY DEPRESSING THE PEDAL", when I shifted, led to my problem (I was not "speed shifting", My pedal is adjusted correctly, I just got lazy with the foot!) Messed up the blocking rings and the surfaces they moved on.

I rebuilt it the same way 7 years ago, around $400 then, Just over $800 this time. Parts only, I was Free!

I hope your pedal ain't right--and adjusting if for FULL PEDAL will fix you up. And everything else is fine!

The Medic
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 AT 2:20 AM
Tiny
HEATHENSTEPHEN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hi CJ Medvac,
Thanks so much for taking the time for your input. To clarify--I'm pretty sure my clutch pedal feels strong and I'm pretty sure I have a full-pedal. Also, today driving to and from work, I did not hear anything and it felt fine.

But I think I may too have a lazy foot from time to time and I have been guilty of not depressing the clutch all the way in. To be honest the my Wrangler never really felt like it shifted properly after last clutch replacement and always felt a little tight.

I also could swear that I head this noise about 3-4 years ago when I had to drive the freeway and it was also evident only when shifting into 4th gear back then. But the noise went away but now it's starting to come back.

I also could swear that I heard that resonating even while I was just cruising and not when I was depressing the clutch too. Which also made me think that it might be my fan clutch and perhaps the water pump is giving out. But I just had a water replaced last June. So I'm not sure what I should do. It's my only mode of transportation and I live 7 miles from work so I might be heading for a tough spot here in the next few months.

So I'm not sure what to do--I guess I'll have to look around for a repair shop.

Anyways-hey thanks again!
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 AT 6:06 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
WRANGLER FELLER. JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY SORTA WHERE IS HOME?

I KNOW YOU HAVE CHECKED FLUIDS IN YOUR UNITS--TRANNY AND TRANSFER CASE

ALSO LOOK AT THOSE "U" JOINTS. EVEN A LITTLE SLOP, SOMETIMES MAKES A BIG SOUND. NOT KNOWING YOUR SITUATION, IT MAY SOMETIMES SEEM AS THOUGH I TREAT PEOPLE AS IF THEY ARE MENTALLY CHALLENGED.I DO. THEY ARE!

I REPLACED MY 3 ARM PRESSURE PLATE (CLUTCH SYSTEM) WITH A DIAPHRAGM TYPE THIS PAST TIME (7 YEARS AGO) IT IS A LITTLE STIFFER TO PUSH, I'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT.

I APPRECIATE YOU RESPONDING BACK. THIS IS MY HOBBY, DID NOT SIGN UP FOR $$$, SMILES ARE WHAT I GET OUT OF THIS, MOST THINK THERE IS A MACHINE ON THIS END! MY CRUSADE HERE, IS FOR THE CJ FELLERS. NONE BROKE AT THE PRESENT, SETTLED FOR ASSISTING A WRANGLER!

I DO HAVE SOME STUFF THAT STILL MAY INTEREST YOU. CLICK ON MY AVATAR, SEND ME A MESSAGE, WITH YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS, IN MESSAGES. YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WILL BE PRIVATE THERE, NOT BROADCAST TO THE WORLD, AS HERE!

GONNA SEND SOME MORE PICS
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 AT 8:31 PM
Tiny
HEATHENSTEPHEN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hi there CJ Medevac,
I'm actually on the other side of the country in California buddy--I'm in the Los Angeles area.

Gotta admit my fluids were changed the same time I had the clutch replaced--which was probably back in 2003 (maybe 2004).

I also checked the Master Cylinder last weekend and it was ever so slightly down but not much.

This Wrangler has been good to me but it was went through far too many water-pumps (4-6) and this here is my 3rd clutch which might not be too bad. But the clutch is such a costly repair.

I'm mechanically inclined but I'm a weekend grease monkey (definitely not on your level). I change my own oil, do the wimpy tune-up (plugs, wire etc.). Also, if needed I can change the brakes, water pump and things of that nature. However, I am a web developer/designer by trade and for me to do a brake job would probably take me 3 times as long as you. Plus, I do not have a garage nor the tools to do anything more then the basic stuff.

I appreciate your enthusiasm for Jeeps--I too love Jeeps but when I'm running on fumes (financially) it's a little nerve racking especially since a clutch job around this area is anywhere from $800-$1200 maybe a little more.

But besides my up coming issue with the clutch, I also have to do a tune up, fix my tailgate that has a broken lock (key won't open the tailgate) and replace the emergency brake handle.

I have already found a tailgate assembly and the emergency brake pedal on ebay but I cannot find a evaporative charcoal canister.

I'm pretty sure I need the canister because I also have a vacuum leak and I'm pretty sure the valve that's on top of the charcoal canister is not working because every time I decelerate I here a chirping noise coming from the canister. I was wondering if you knew where I could pick-up a charcoal canister for my Wrangler?

I'll talk to y'all soon!
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Friday, March 4th, 2011 AT 3:36 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
I'M NO BIG OPERATION AT ALL, JUST IN MY GARAGE, I FIX MY STUFF, FAMILY AND FRIENDS (LITTLE CREDIT). OVER THE YEARS I HAD TO FIX THINGS OUT OF PURE NECESSITY, OR WALK! SO I LEARNED WHAT I COULD FROM OTHERS (NOT ALWAYS CORRECTLY) BUT THE COOL THING WAS, I COULD NOW UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REPAIR MANUALS MEANT, AND DO THINGS EXACTLY BY THE MANUAL (THE LOCAL FELLERS WERE JUST A STEPPING STONE). YOU JUST GOTTA DO GOOD RESEARCH AND JUMP IN AND FIX STUFF---YOU CAN'T BE "SKEEERRD"!
MY STEP-DAUGHTER AND HER BOYFRIEND (THE NEW BREED IN AMERICA) HAD ME WORKING ON HIS VEHICLE, THE COMMENT WAS MADE ON HOW MANY TOOLS AND SPECIALTY TOOLS I HAD, THEY WERE IMPRESSED AND WANTED TO KNOW HOW I GOT THEM.I TOLD THEM, "THAT ONE KEPT ME FROM BUYING AN "ATARI", THIS ONE WAS NO BEER FOR 2 WEEKS, THAT ONE WAS 3 MONTHS OF NO BEER, THE OTHER WAS 6 MONTHS NO BEER. BUT LOOK I'VE HAD THEM OVER 20 YEARS, AND CAN STILL USE THEM. HAD I BOUGHT BEER, THE LAST TIME I WOULD HAVE SEEN IT WOULDA BEEN A FEW HOURS AFTER I DRANK IT. IT WOULD BE OF NO USE TO ME 20 YEARS LATER! (I STOPPED DOIN' THE BEER THING IN 1986, WHEN I WAS STILL IN THE ARMY, AND GOT MARRIED)

THAT LAST LINK "IRON MAN" IS WHERE I HAD TO GO FOR A TRANSFER CASE, MINE LOCKED UP AND SPLIT THE CASE--BAD SNOW, I HAD TO TRAVEL 60 MILES TO MY MOM'S (ROUND-TRIP, IN "WILLY" W/ SUMMER TOP) AND GET MY HARD TOP, THEN BRING IT HOME AND MAKE IT FIT OVER "WILLY'S" SUMMER TOP HARDWARE. THEN I DROVE HIM ABOUT 130 MILES ROUND-TRIP TO "IRON MAN 4X4" TO GET A CASE.I DID HAVE MY HOMEMADE HEATER (THE "SAHARA BREEZE", I HAVE ONE IN MY CJ 5 ALSO, FOR EXTRA HEAT!)"WILLY" IS MY 1946 WILLYS JEEP, HE WAS ALL I HAD LEFT TO DRIVE (WIFES RIG WAS DOWN TOO, REVERSE WAS SHOT IN HER ESCAPE), TILL I GOT "MR. JEEP" GOING AGAIN.I TOOK A PIC AS I WAS LEAVING, YOU NEED TO FIND A PLACE LIKE THIS NEAR YOU. LOTS OF JEEPS AND TRUCKS ON SEVERAL ACRES. IT'S RARE TO FIND JEEPS IN A REGULAR OLE AUTO SALVAGE YARD.

YOU NEED TO PHYSICALLY CHECK AND TOP OFF YOUR FLUIDS IN THE ENTIRE DRIVE-TRAIN. I HAD SOMETHING, WE SUSPECT WAS A GLOB OF SILICONE SEALANT (PREVIOUS OWNER MUSTA USED TOO MUCH) GOT IN THE WAY OF MY LUBRICATING HOLES ON MY TRANSFER CASE'S TAIL SECTION, CASE WAS FULL OF OIL, JUST COULDN'T GET TO WHERE IT WAS NEEDED. AT 55 MPH IT LOCKED UP (ALMOST ROLLED OVER), TORQUED AND BROKE THE CASE, LACK OF OIL IS NOT A GOOD THING! SO CHECK YOUR STUFF, DO IT ON SCHEDULE!

WANNA SEE MY MODS? SEND MESSAGE

SOME OF THE PICS ARE: THE ORANGE ONE GOT BUSTED (SEE THE CRACK) SEE THE RUINED SHAFT, RUINED HOUSING (RACE SPUN), SEE GOOD OLE RELIABLE "WILLY" W/ TEMPORARY HARDTOP, ORIGINAL "WOODEN" "SAHARA BREEZE" IN "WILLY"---SHEET METAL VERSION IN "MR. JEEP"---THE REBUILD-ABLE TRANSFER CASE THAT "IRON MAN" GAVE ME A DEAL ON, REBUILT AND INSTALLED NOW "RED"

THE MEDIC
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Friday, March 4th, 2011 AT 5:13 AM

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