Just posted a dark green 01 xj I picked up the other day, and I have a question.. I'm getting a faint knocking noise at, and just above idle. Cold, hot, doesn't matter. It's not the flex plate bolts they've been checked. It is almost definitely coming from the bottom end, you can hear it well through the pan. I have fantastic oil pressure at idle and cruising, hot or cold. Motor runs smooth as can be, and has tons of power. I'm wondering if this is likely a tired rod bearing, main bearing, wrist pin issue etc.. my gut tells me it is. Should I pull the pan and inspect or drive it as is and plan on a rebuild at some point? My parents 98 wrangler has had this same sound since about 75k and has 200k on it now, always well maintained but it hasn't gotten any worse. It's not a loud "oh sh*t that's a rod knock", more of a faint clatter that seems to be in time with the bottom end. 160k on it btw.
Thanks for any advice.

 

Did you check for a cracked flexplate?

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/ch...xplate-172081/