1998 Jeep Cherokee....undercarriage damage?

Ken C.

Ken C.

Jack of all trades, master of none.
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I drive a 1998 Jeep Cherokee. It's a great vehicle and can pretty much get me through anything I put it through.....except large roadside puddles.

I was going to work this morning down Rt.3 doing about 50MPH when I hit a large flooded area under and underpass. It came up on me so quick I didn't have time to slow down to get through it and I hit it hard. It had to be at least 8 inches deep.

After the initial shock I was pretty sure I was ok as far as any damage until I got off the highway and started hearing a banging noise under the passenger side floorboard. I pulled over and in the rain I got on the gorund to check things out but I can't see anything that may have come loose. My first thought was that I tore off the wheel well liner but that wasn't the case. The control arm, wheel, and anything I can see look to be intact. I have no idea what the problem might be.

Anything I should be looking for in particular? Is ti possible that the muffler hangers broke loose?
 
Some part of the exhaust system would be a good guess. Maybe a heat shield. The exhaust system is hot so it can't be firmly attached to the vehicle but has to be hung below the vehicle and there have to be all these heat shields. It's a lot of ratttley stuff that likes to come loose but often looks to be in place when standing still.
 
I was thinking the same thing. I won't know for sure until I get under there tomorrow morning. I notice it at speeds above 30MPH so maybe the air flow is causing it to rattle.
 
Check to make sure that it didn't possibly break a motor mount or even a transmission mount but it's probably the exhaust hitting the floor like Gollnick said.If it's steering ok,it shouldn't be anything with your steering linkages or anything.I just thought of something else,that has leaf springs,correct,check and make sure it didn't break the rear spring shackle,that would leave the spring hit the floor.
 
I had a 95 Cherokee, and the exhaust mounts near the transmission cross-brace gave out, and I got clunking from the exhaust hitting the brace. Maybe that's the problem
 
arcteryx79 said:
I had a 95 Cherokee, and the exhaust mounts near the transmission cross-brace gave out, and I got clunking from the exhaust hitting the brace. Maybe that's the problem
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Did it sound like it was right under the passenger side floorboard?
 
I had a '99 and traded it on a wrangler, still miss her:thumbup:

Once I drove it through a flooded area fast for fun.
It blew out a couple of panels under the front designed to deflect water out of the engine compartment
I thought I had broken somthing important by the noise:cool::cool:
 
Could also be that some of the honeycomb inside of the cat convertor broke lose. I hate that. Usually doesn't impair the vehicle at all. Or maybe a skidguard got loose (don't know if '98 Cherokees have anything like that).
 
After further investigation I have determined that the rubber liner under the engine had ripped free and was flipped back under itself and hitting the transmission crossbar at high speeds. The problem was solved by replacing the plastic frame rivet. Total cost: $1.07.
 
That makes perfect sense. I forgot they even came with that since I ripped mine off ages ago. But my rig isn't anywhere near stock anymore and that thing was just in my way.

I'm glad you got it fixed and cheap!
 
I'm glad you fixed your problem. Just out of curiosity did the truck stall when you hit the water? And if so, did you pull the plugs and crank the motor to ensure there was no water in the valve train?
 
The Jeep did not stall. I checked the plugs when I got to work as well as the cap and rotor. I didn't notice any hesitation in starting it either.
 
next time it goes for service don't forget to have them check the diffs and t-case, probably no water with a little puddle like that, but never hurts. I've seen some diffs with massive amounts of water in them.
 
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