Popping noise from somewhere in engine area

[hyde]

I recently started getting another difficult-to-explain, only-in-a-jeep type of noise. After I start slowing down or just slowly coasting, i hear a CLANK! similar to a popping noise, or as if I was driving over a loose manhole cover, very similar to that. SO many times I just looked behind my mirror to see if I actually did.. Well sometimes the noise comes up when I am stationary like at a light or jam. Sometimes it comes from the left side, sometimes near the center.

Jeep runs fine otherwise. Any ideas what this could be? A/C is not on.

 

[offrovering]

checked the driveshaft joints?

 

[LibertyOrDeath]

Umm Yeah, check your lug nuts. Or see my latest thread on why you should check them.

 

[hyde]

Lugnuts were the first thing I checked, because I have some vibration on high speed. I am not sure how to check UBJ or Driveshaft.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Check the upper balljoint kinda like you did the lower. I like to take the lug wrench and put it back into the coils. Use that to pry up and down on the control arm to see if it has any play in it.

For the front drive shaft, grab it and see if it has and vertical or horizontal movement. Rotational movement is normal.

 

[ShafferNY]

SO many times I just looked behind my mirror to see if I actually did.. Well sometimes the noise comes up when I am stationary like at a light or jam. Sometimes it comes from the left side, sometimes near the center.

If it happens when you're stationary you can rule out anything that rotates when you move like driveshafts, CV halfshafts, lugnuts, tires, ball joints, etc

Kinda sounds like a heat shield to me, but then again. You say you can only hear it in the vehicle. Is there anything unsecure in the vehicle? Possibly the jack under the back seat? Just a guess.

My girlfriends mother had an occasional thump she wanted me to look at once and it turned out that she had a jug of windshield washer in the trunk that was being held upright by a bungee cord.

 

[hyde]

Nah, it is nothing from inside. I can clearly hear it coming from the engine area. Once I heard it twice, and thought it is coming from both sides. I didn't hear it today, considering I had the radio on all day.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Check those upper balljoints if you hear it coming from both sides sometimes.

 

[hyde]

I can swear that I heard this popping noise from the rear, somewhere below cargo area earlier today.
I am beginning to worry about this.

 

[ms5490renegade]

you may have a jeep gremlin. i have one. funny unexplained sounds that noone at the dealership can hear

 

[jeepkj02]

Make sure the shocks are torqued down good in the rear. Also check the rear UBJ.