Vibration noise at higher speeds?

[glorifiedb]

I've got a 2001 Wrangler with a stick shift and a week ago I was making a sharp left turn when I heard a somewhat loud pop sound. I thought it might have been the tire but I checked it and it was fine. Well, since then I've been having this vibration noise when I use the throttle at high speeds (ie. higher than 40 mph). It's only there when I push on the throttle, when I release it it goes away. Other than that everything seems fine. I have not noticed any change in performance, shifting or anything else.

Anyone got an idea on what it might be? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[fredjacksonsan]

Is this a rapid vibration or slower? Have you checked all your tires?

[glorifiedb]

Fred, thanks for the reply. I have checked all the tires and they are fine. I don't think it's the tires because it only occurs when I push down on the throttle.

[fredjacksonsan]

Hmmm....I usually go from the simplest things to more complicated. So it only occurs when you press the throttle. Have you checked all the spark plugs and wires(I think the distributorless started in '02?), and looked for leaks in the head? Sounds like you're not firing on one (or more) cylinders.

[glorifiedb]

I have checked them and they are fine. I haven't noticed any change in performance since this happened, so I'm not sure if it has to do with not firing a cylinder.

Maybe I should clarify the noise. I described it as a vibration noise because it's constant and sounds like vibration. However, there is no actual vibration that I can feel in the driver seat. I hope that's not too confusing, it's just hard to explain the noise.

[fredjacksonsan]

Does it sound like, "chika chika chika chika", and go faster the faster you go? Sounds a bit like a problem someone described with the front drive shaft. Check this forum (search "front drive shaft" w/o the quotes) and you should find it. Sounds like what you're hearing, and the other post described the noise as being right under your feet, like you did.

Hope that helps.

[fredjacksonsan]

Sorry, also meant to say sounds a bit like universal joints also.

[twisterTJ]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

Sorry, also meant to say sounds a bit like universal joints also.

I agree. I have a '99 TJ and experienced a similar problem. Turned out a cap on the rear U-joint had partly broken off. Unfortunately it's a fairly common problem, especially in the offroading realm (at least in my experience).



TwisterTJ