Hi all! I have already successfully used info from the forum to fix a few more issues but this one has me very confused. My son bought a 99 XJ8 L for $1k that needed tires and brakes. Car sounded great on the test drive and for the day after purchase. Yesterday he stated it was severely lacking power and that the check engine light blinked on and off. He managed to nurse it to a friend's house (should have towed it) and couldn't get the hood open due to an unseen mouse nest jamming the latch on the passenger side.Anyway he found there wasn't much oil in the car so he bought a new filter and oil. Did the change tonight and now it sits just slightly above Max level. After the oil change it makes this crazy noise, sounds like the top of the engine. https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ao0n5efM7C3g0wZlhM_UwO6Qo_GG That's a link to the video. The clinking or whatever is the noise. Thanks for the help in advance. He just needs the car until he can get his truck on the road. Got rear ended in his other car and this is the only thing he could afford. The car itself is very clean and even the engine bay is clean for having sat for 2 years.

 

It sounds just like a loose torque converter bolt. Your best bet would be to get a mechanics stethoscope and start probing.

 

Checked them all and they are tight. Sound is coming from the top of the engine right in the middle. Have to purchase a stethoscope later today. Unfortunately I'm a VW guy, but we should be able to figure it out. Now to calm down an angry 17yo

 

When you rev it a little, does the frequency increase with rpm or does it go away? How much oil was added to top it up?

 

Waterpump bearing going bad ?

 

A2B...timing chain slapping the cam cover?

 

🤷‍♂️ Anything’s possible given the years, miles and lack of oil.

 

For those wondering he did a full oil change he and topped it to just above the max line. He pulled the rubber covers off the trans housing and the sound is definitely coming from inside there but we can't tell exactly where. It's 90 degrees out today and we only have a concrete pad to work off so there's that. Can't feel anything rolling around on the bottom of the housing and there is a line worn into the outside of the TC. We put wax pencil for marking steel all around it and then ran the engine for a bit. Maybe some of it wore off but who knows.

Video from below the car​​https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ao0n5efM7C3g0wc3jRWe7Fp4_X2V

 

Sound is definitely between the engine and the trans

 

​​​​​​The sound is definitely between the engine and trans.

 

Did the previous owner say why it sat for 2 years?

Is that oil level you’re showing us with the front end up off the ground or a level surface?

Maybe the flex plate bolt(s) are loose on the crankshaft? If someone replaced the rear main seal and didn’t quite tighten them up, I can see that being possible. Possibly a cracked flexplate?
The transmission would have to come out though.

Did the car get scanned for the restricted performance? If so, what was the code?

 

By any chance did your son jack the engine oil pan while trying to do an oil change? How was the car lifted to do the oil change? I don’t mean to ask such questions, I’m just trying to put the oil change and new noise together for an evaluation to what happened.

 

Sounds like the the noise is coming from the torque converter. Did you check the ATF level?

 

If the trans had had some service to it or had been removed, perhaps a bolt wasn't tightened down to torque and has backed out. I say this because it's a constant sound whenever a complete revolution is made it tings with a rhythm.

 

So he kept driving it after I told him not to answer whatever was rattling finally let go and took out a chunk of what looks like the block. Engine was still running great after and didn't seem to lose any oil. I'll try to get pics up. And no he didn't jack on the oil pan. He knows to use the jack points on a car.

So the car is now for sale as a parts car, but I have a feeling he'll be parting it out.

​​​​​​Need to find me an exploded diagram of how the engine and trans were connected. I'm hoping it's just the trans and not the block. If so I'll replace stuff and keep it.

 

I am surprised to hear he kept driving it with that noise. It reminds me of the time
I finally discovered I had paired a solid lifter cam with Hydraulic lifters in a Chevy
454. What a difference it made when the situation was fixed!

 

He's very independent and hasn't learned to take advice yet.

 

So I am now parting out the car and apparently I can't do a traditional part out post as I have to list each item individually. Sadly I'll have to find another forum to list on if that's true. If anyone wants anything let me know.

 

So many of these cars fall to the "parting out" scenario when they just needed
to be maintained a little better. Too bad it wasn't found earlier.

 

I agree. Just don't have the funds and there's nothing local to repair it.