engine vibration after some wheeling

barley00 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:10 pm

I did some great wheeling in VT this weekend and the KJ performed beyond my expectations considering all I've done thus far is take it on the beach. However, after many rock crawls, spin-outs and bottom scrapes I now have a pretty nasty vibration coming from the engine. It happens at idle the worst then settles out a little bit when I get moving. While sitting in the driver's seat I can feel and hear it but from the outside all sounds pretty much normal. I drove home on the highway for about 6 hours and everything performed well but the vibration may have gotten a little worse, hard to tell. I don't hear any clunking upon acceleration or putting it in gear. I am suspecting motor mounts but would love to hear some feedback from you all. I did get under there and inspect and didn't see any damage. Is the damage on the motor mount visible?

amslube · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 8:18 pm

Sounds like motor mounts. I had a louder than normal diesel rattle noise primarily when idling with the brake on and in drive. Also a clunking when shutting down the engine. Just didn't sound and feel right. I replaced both mounts, the driver's side was shot. Nothing you can really see when the motor mount is bad, only when you remove it...it will rattle when you shake it.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 8:42 pm

+1 on motor mounts. Probably shot.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 9:56 pm

Well - motor mounts should be fairly obvious - sound at idle changes drive/neutral/reverse -

Wheeling induced sounds tend to include stuff added that you didn't intend - mud/dirt/sticks ect
don't underestimate the noise rocks can make stuck between the engine/skid plate
or differential/guard or mud in a pulley.

Clean/clean and clean some more.

or things bent - typically around fans or belts - occasionally skids

inspect while you clean.......

barley00 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 23, 2013 6:23 am

Thanks a lot folks, will be breaking out the P washer soon to give it a good cleaning. In the meantime will probably get some motor mounts working their way here.

barley00 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:12 pm

Got it sussed out, problem was twofold, left engine mount and transmission skid jammed up against the transmission causing one hell of a vibration in reverse and a shudder at shut down. All are fixed and she is now purring like a kitten again!!

4x4kingx889 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:42 pm **Posts:** 235

mine is same way not sure which one is bad so I was going to order both...how hard of a job to replace the mounts?

barley00 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 11, 2013 6:57 am

It's really not bad. You'll need 6-point 3/4" or 19mm sockets both long and short (need long for the bottom nut), universal joints, lots of extensions. I got to the top nut on the mounts from the top of the motor with extensions. The passenger side bottom nut is pretty accessible from the bottom with extensions and u-joint. The drivers side I ended up getting just with a 1/2" ratchet and long socket. I was able to work the tool up in there and get it on the nut. The throw for the ratchet was short but I had good leverage on it to get it loose. I used my floor jack and a piece of plywood right next to the oil drain to lift the engine. My fan shroud is already off so I didn't need to deal with that. It would probably be a good idea to get under there and shoot the nuts with some lube beforehand to loosen things up. Given my experience and from what I've read on here you should probably just go with the driver's side mount first as they tend to go first. Can't tell by looking at them if they're shot but they'll rattle when removed.

Good luck! Where are you located?

4x4kingx889 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:42 pm **Posts:** 235

barley00 wrote:

It's really not bad. You'll need 6-point 3/4" or 19mm sockets both long and short (need long for the bottom nut), universal joints, lots of extensions. I got to the top nut on the mounts from the top of the motor with extensions. The passenger side bottom nut is pretty accessible from the bottom with extensions and u-joint. The drivers side I ended up getting just with a 1/2" ratchet and long socket. I was able to work the tool up in there and get it on the nut. The throw for the ratchet was short but I had good leverage on it to get it loose. I used my floor jack and a piece of plywood right next to the oil drain to lift the engine. My fan shroud is already off so I didn't need to deal with that. It would probably be a good idea to get under there and shoot the nuts with some lube beforehand to loosen things up. Given my experience and from what I've read on here you should probably just go with the driver's side mount first as they tend to go first. Can't tell by looking at them if they're shot but they'll rattle when removed.

Good luck! Where are you located?

Northeast PA and I will try just the drives side mount then.

4x4kingx889 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:42 pm **Posts:** 235

Replaced them today was not to bad

engine vibration after some wheeling

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