Weird sounds after engine bay detailing

D-ran903

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Oct 24, 2023
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Austin, tx
I recently bought an 06 jeep rubicon and everything’s been running great. I decided to take it to a professional detail place for an engine bay cleaning because the person o bought it from lived down a dirt road. After the cleaning was done i had it in neutral and it wouldn’t even roll down the small hill leaving the shop. As i continued the 5 minute drive home i noticed loud sounds coming from underneath the stick shift, middle console area. The engine brake doesn’t seem to work at the moment either. The engine sounds fine but when i put it neutral or anything else i hear a grinding/whining sound. Has anyone had this problem? I would like to fix myself before i call a mechanic shop if it’s an easy fix or just need to let it sit for a day.
 
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Just to be clear and I know you said coming from underneath the stick shift, middle console area so this is definitely a manual transmission, not automatic right? Manuals that are noisy when clutch is in usually means throw out bearing, when clutch is out can be a number of things including pilot bearing and even the clutch itself, or transmission problems. An automatic can make grinding and whirring sounds when shifting into park when in lo range. Is it possible that they accidentally shifted your transfer case into 4WD?
 
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Just to be clear and I know you said coming from underneath the stick shift, middle console area so this is definitely a manual transmission, not automatic right? Manuals that are noisy when clutch is in usually means throw out bearing, when clutch is out can be a number of things including pilot bearing and even the clutch itself, or transmission problems. An automatic can make grinding and whirring sounds when shifting into park when in lo range. Is it possible that they accidentally shifted your transfer case into 4WD?

Come to find out after messing with it. The people at the detail shop obviously didn’t know how to drive a stick. When i got in they left it in gear with no parking brake on. Forgot to mention that. When i was going to leave to head to a friend for help i had to put it in 4wd to back up. The problem was whoever moved my jeep at the detail shop also messed with the 4wd lever and that was the problem. I feel like an idiot
 
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Just to be clear and I know you said coming from underneath the stick shift, middle console area so this is definitely a manual transmission, not automatic right? Manuals that are noisy when clutch is in usually means throw out bearing, when clutch is out can be a number of things including pilot bearing and even the clutch itself, or transmission problems. An automatic can make grinding and whirring sounds when shifting into park when in lo range. Is it possible that they accidentally shifted your transfer case into i feel like an idiot.
I feel stupid. This was the problem after messing with it. It was slightly moved and not in the correct position. To be fair this is my first month driving a stick. You live and you learn i guess
 
I feel stupid.

Don't. We all start out unaware of things that eventually become obvious. It's part of the learning process!

To be fair this is my first month driving a stick.

Look on the bright side - you had the stones to learn a manual transmission. That's a very rare trait in your generation!

And...

Welcome to the forum!
 
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Come to find out after messing with it. The people at the detail shop obviously didn’t know how to drive a stick. When i got in they left it in gear with no parking brake on. Forgot to mention that. When i was going to leave to head to a friend for help i had to put it in 4wd to back up. The problem was whoever moved my jeep at the detail shop also messed with the 4wd lever and that was the problem. I feel like an idiot

I still have a lot of questions about this whole paragraph.

  • leaving it in gear w/o the parking brake should not be a problem
  • how did putting it into 4WD allow to you back up?
  • what was keeping you from backing up in 2WD?
  • why would an engine detail have touched the 4WD shifter?

Glad you got it sorted out.
 
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I'm assuming someone at the detail shop didn't know how to drive a stick.

They grabbed the 4wD lever and pulled...but not much. Then they probably detailed it right where it was.

OP jumped in and popped the clutch... grinding noise from half engaged transfer case. Panic, posted this thread.

Pulled the lever back to 4wD high and was able to engage reverse...and all the other gears. Could have pushed it forward... doesn't matter.

Speculation. We'll see.

I don't let many folks drive my Jeep... mostly because the locker buttons I installed are right in front of the gear lever and just about everyone manages to accidentally turn lockers on at bad speeds.

-Mac
 
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I don't let many folks drive my Jeep... mostly because the locker buttons I installed are right in front of the gear lever and just about everyone manages to accidentally turn lockers on at bad speeds.

-Mac

That's why my override buttons are under the 4WD lever. ;)

IMG_0840.JPG
 
I wouldn't go back to that detailer either. Any experienced detailer should have experience driving a wife wide variety of vehicles, and if they can't drive a manual that tells me they likely have very little experience in general, and you don't want an amateur detailing your engine bay, lots of ways that could go wrong.
 
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