Ok, my mechanic is stuck - and he is usually excellent. So I will send this out to the collective wisdom.
I have a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic. All stock. Bought it about 15 mos ago with 35k; it now has 52k on the clock. No problems until last month. Goodyear Wrangler tires in fairly good shape.
Drove it from Philadelphia to Colorado Springs in 3 days last month. Then drove it about 150miles over the next 4 days, then back from CO (3 more days driving). Jeep drove like a champ - 25mpg, too! Changed the oil before I left & when I got back.
Within a few days of my return from CO (& I'm not even sure it has anything to do with the problem), I started hearing an intermittent rhythmic clunking sound from somewhere up front, as the vehicle moves. Intermittent in that I don't hear it each time I drive the vehicle. But once it starts, I hear it for the entire trip, as described below.
It starts once the vehicle is warmed up. If I am going under 30mph, I can hear it when I am coasting. I can also hear it when I am gently applying the gas; the engine sound seems to drown it out when I am seriously accelerating. But it totally stops when I apply the brakes. The frequency of the thunking is directly related to how fast I am driving.
I also hear it when I have the all wheel drive engaged. I can hear it from both the driver's and passengers seat. Both my husband and my mechanic have heard it as well. It may be going on while going over 30; but I can't tell if the engine/road noise is drowning it out or it stops over 30.
No change in braking, steering, no pulling or anything else. No difference in the ride quality. Just this clunking sound. My mechanic checked underneath and could not find anything loose, dry, needing lubrication, etc. He lubed everything possible, but the sound continues. Tires are ok; no lost balance weights on the rims. I can feel it thru the steering wheel.
Any thoughts?
newjeepr
I have a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic. All stock. Bought it about 15 mos ago with 35k; it now has 52k on the clock. No problems until last month. Goodyear Wrangler tires in fairly good shape.
Drove it from Philadelphia to Colorado Springs in 3 days last month. Then drove it about 150miles over the next 4 days, then back from CO (3 more days driving). Jeep drove like a champ - 25mpg, too! Changed the oil before I left & when I got back.
Within a few days of my return from CO (& I'm not even sure it has anything to do with the problem), I started hearing an intermittent rhythmic clunking sound from somewhere up front, as the vehicle moves. Intermittent in that I don't hear it each time I drive the vehicle. But once it starts, I hear it for the entire trip, as described below.
It starts once the vehicle is warmed up. If I am going under 30mph, I can hear it when I am coasting. I can also hear it when I am gently applying the gas; the engine sound seems to drown it out when I am seriously accelerating. But it totally stops when I apply the brakes. The frequency of the thunking is directly related to how fast I am driving.
I also hear it when I have the all wheel drive engaged. I can hear it from both the driver's and passengers seat. Both my husband and my mechanic have heard it as well. It may be going on while going over 30; but I can't tell if the engine/road noise is drowning it out or it stops over 30.
No change in braking, steering, no pulling or anything else. No difference in the ride quality. Just this clunking sound. My mechanic checked underneath and could not find anything loose, dry, needing lubrication, etc. He lubed everything possible, but the sound continues. Tires are ok; no lost balance weights on the rims. I can feel it thru the steering wheel.
Any thoughts?
newjeepr
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