tic tic tic bang! :(

ChemeXJ · 01-22-2008, 11:02 AM

Well I got in the xj today and started off to do a few errends. Well I made it about a mile and noticed this interesting tic tic noise. Just as I thought maybe I should turn around and check this out the tic ceases with a bang. Well I checked some other threads naxja and the best I can determine it was a time bomb.

Anyway I lost power, all electrical equipment and nothing at all happens when I turn the key. I can also smell coolent pretty strongly although only a few drops made it to the ground. Maybe the bomb got my altenator?

Anyway I just needed rant about it and I thought the internet might want to know.

severous01 · 01-22-2008, 11:24 AM

pull plugs...check for coolant. pull valve cover, check for bent/dropped valves

ChemeXJ · 01-22-2008, 02:46 PM

Ya it was the motor only 130k on it.

So much for bulletproof.

SoloCamo · 01-22-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChemeXJ

Ya it was the motor only 130k on it.

So much for bulletproof.

As stated, check things out before you completely give up hope on it. They are pretty bulletproof motors, if basic maintenance is kept up. (and I'm not saying you didn't take care of it, but if it was used, possibly the previous owner just didn't take care of it)

**aircruiser** · 01-22-2008, 03:10 PM

has this sound just started recently or has it been going on? id go with serverous01's idea and check the valves..hard to tell what the sound was without hearing it..

tntempest · 01-22-2008, 03:27 PM

Look for big holes in the side of the block with a rod sticking out, but could be something small.

ChemeXJ · 01-22-2008, 04:25 PM

One of the pistons went and the motor is basically gone. I hadnt had a chance to look at it before because I just had the tow truck take it to the closest sevice station so the insurance would pay for the tow until I could find somebody with AAA and was stranded at my place where the tow truck dropped me off.

The mechanic there looked at and also said the motor is gone and needs to be rebuilt or replaced. I did the regular maintance as I do with all my cars this is the first engine I ever blew. My last car went to 250K and is still going according to the guy who bought it from me.

**aircruiser** · 01-22-2008, 10:30 PM

sounds like you just had bad luck. sorry to hear man, you gonna replace it?

peacekeeper · 01-22-2008, 10:31 PM

Dang. Sorry to hear man. Did the tech say what he thought caused it to go?

ChemeXJ · 01-23-2008, 09:14 AM

No I need to go get it towed away today, I am not sure what to do with it.

**tjwalker** · 01-23-2008, 09:37 AM

If the motor is shot and you don't want to put a ton of money into it, look for a salvage motor if you don't want to fork out for a rebuilt or remanufactured. A lot of people think the vehicle is shot when the tranny or motor goes. Those items are "COMPONENTS" (albeit big ones) and can be replaced relatively easily.

4.0 motors are plentiful and not very expensive. Try to find one with relatively low mileage as the difference in what you are going to pay isn't that much. IE: don't buy the first one you come across. Spend some time snooping all around your state for the best deal. If you could do the work yourself, this wouldn't be too hard on the pocketbook. Even if you have to pay somebody, may still be the best option if the rest of the vehicle is in reasonable condition. How is rust, interior, etc?

You're not going to get much for it if you sell it as is anyways and then you have to find another vehicle; and sometimes that turns into buying somebody elses problems.......my 2 cents!

ChemeXJ · 01-23-2008, 10:41 AM

The body is in good shape and it has 29" BFG A/T on it that are in good shape, I am hearing a thunking when I brake as well which makes me a little worried. If I fixed it back to where it was with a good engine Id say it was in fair condition. I can find engines for about $1400 and I know a mechanic who will do the swap for $600. But my car only blue books for $3,300 in fair condition and we all know bb prices are high. Its hardly worth it.

peacekeeper · 01-23-2008, 09:00 PM

$1400 for a scrap yard engine is absolutely gouging the price. $200-$500 should get you one from a yard, or off of craigslist. For $1400 you can get a remanufactured engine from green leaf with a lifetime waranty!

xjh3 · 01-24-2008, 12:58 PM

I didn't read anywhere what year your Jeep was, but im geussing 96 or up.

I had this exact same thing happen. Piston started tapping, broke and put the rod through the side of the block. I've heard that the 96 and up (I think) had the NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) improvements and aluminum pistons were part of it. I geuss one of the pistons in particular has a tendency to wear rather quickly and end like this.

I don't think the early 4.0 HOs are as bulletproof as the Renix 4.0s and I don't think the newer HOs are as bulletproof as the earlier ones.

Anyoone else been in this boat? Heard anything similar?

I ended up with a 98 4.0 with 88k going into my 97. $700 for the motor and $400 for putting it in because I know the guy who did it and I helped him so he charged me half for labor.

Meltedmechanic · 01-24-2008, 10:49 PM

im sure this thread is dead BUT i have a friend whos 4.0 did this and it just died. Well it was a wrist pin in the piston.. the hole wobbled out and then POW it went last saturday kinda funny cause i was just riding with the guy and told him it was going to go boom then when he dropped me off and got home he called to tell me it was my fault

01-22-2008, 11:24 AM	#2
severous01 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hamilton, NJ Posts: 2,118 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	pull plugs...check for coolant. pull valve cover, check for bent/dropped valves __________________ 1994 jeep cherokee, xj, 3" rough country springs / bilstein 5100's, 31" tires with trimmed fenders, aussie locked front diff, herculined ext, hella FF75 driving lights on factory fog location [COLOR="Lime"]soon to be[/COLOR] 4.11 gear and and a ford 8.8 LSD rear and herc'd interior

01-22-2008, 10:31 PM	#9
peacekeeper Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 135 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Dang. Sorry to hear man. Did the tech say what he thought caused it to go?

01-23-2008, 09:00 PM	#13
peacekeeper Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 135 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	$1400 for a scrap yard engine is absolutely gouging the price. $200-$500 should get you one from a yard, or off of craigslist. For $1400 you can get a remanufactured engine from green leaf with a lifetime waranty!

01-24-2008, 12:58 PM	#14
xjh3 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 60 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I didn't read anywhere what year your Jeep was, but im geussing 96 or up. I had this exact same thing happen. Piston started tapping, broke and put the rod through the side of the block. I've heard that the 96 and up (I think) had the NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) improvements and aluminum pistons were part of it. I geuss one of the pistons in particular has a tendency to wear rather quickly and end like this. I don't think the early 4.0 HOs are as bulletproof as the Renix 4.0s and I don't think the newer HOs are as bulletproof as the earlier ones. Anyoone else been in this boat? Heard anything similar? I ended up with a 98 4.0 with 88k going into my 97. $700 for the motor and $400 for putting it in because I know the guy who did it and I helped him so he charged me half for labor.