I'm having an intermittent chirping sound that I'd like some feedback on. I'll preface this post by saying that I'll upload a video later, but wanted to go ahead and get the conversation started.

About a month ago, I left to go to work in the morning and was certain I had a bird trapped somewhere in my Jeep that was being tortured to death. No joke. Within a few feet of pulling out of my driveway, I had a very high frequency chirp/flutter noise as I drove down the road. Within about 1/4 mile, the sound was gone. (Was the bird dead?!?!) When I went home from work that day, the sound came back... same scenario, started as soon as the vehicle moved and it came and went for about 1/4 mile of driving and then was gone again. I was able to capture a video of the sound that I'll share later. After some attempts at diagnosing the issue, it went away and didn't come back until a few days ago. Oddly enough it seems more likely to happen when there has been a big drop in outside temperature i.e. happens on cold mornings, but won't come back if it has warmed up throughout the day. Rattling off what I know so far:

1. high frequency chirp/flutter/tortured bird sound during forward movement (I think it does it in reverse as well)
2. goes away after about 1000-2000 ft of driving
3. not constant even when it is happening, kind of comes and goes
4. only happens when first driving the vehicle, in other words, won't happen 10+ or 100+ miles down the road
5. seems to happen more often when it is cold out
6. does NOT happen in park or neutral when revving the engine.
7. frequency is much faster than the wheels are turning, although the frequency does seem to increase with speed

As far as what I think it ISN'T... I have RCVs front and rear, so it's not a front axle u-joint and it's not a bent rear axle flange (again, too high frequency for that). I have an Adams 1310 front driveshaft, but with the solid joints, not the greaseable ones. Only have 5000 or so miles on that. But from my reading it does seem that driveshafts can make these noises. Still have the stock rear driveshaft. I don't think it is an exhaust flutter or anything since it only happens when I'm moving. Wheel bearing? Maybe? But again, way too high frequency for that. Also I find it strange that it just goes away so quickly when it happens. And as far as I can tell, I don't have any other "symptoms"... other than the noise, nothing seems wrong. If you are using the app and can't see my signature, I have a 2012 JK Rubicon with about 24,000 miles and lots of mods.

That's all I can think of for now. Hit me questions or suggestions. I'm open to anything at this point.

 

Nevermind.

The sound is called "angry sparrows" and it's apparently a thing. Lol. Learn something new everyday. It was my driveshaft CV joint. Gave it some grease and I should be good to go.

 

Yep. Same thing happened to me--Woods DS. Got to grease that joint about every 6K miles.

 

Ya, funny... It was on for only about that long! Glad I know now. The noise was hilarious when it happened though. Poor birds......

 

Yup, I went through the same thing... took me a week to find the and chirp.

 

Does the angry sparrows sound only happen when the jeep is moving? I have a noise that could be similar but it happens upon start up when it's cold and last's for about a minute or two while idling.

I would guess that if the angry sparrows sound is from a driveshaft it would only make noise while the vehicle is moving?

My rattle could be a heat shield or something. It is very high pitch though.
Thanks

 

Yep only when moving.

 

When mine occurred I was driving through Shenandoah--yes, the Civil War battlefield. At first I thought it was birds. And I couldn't figure out why there were so many all around me that I couldn't see. After I while I realized it was something wrong with the Jeep, so asked another visitor if he'd point at the Jeep where the noise came from as I drove by. And he wasn't able to figure it out. I continued on to Great Smoky Mountains and in the KOA removed the front driveshaft and the noise went away. Since this trip didn't involve 4WD, just left the shaft out. After return home it proved necessary for me to send the shaft to Tom Woods, who repaired it for the cost of parts and shipping only (about $80).

 

I'm on the East Coast so don't worry, I'm familiar with Shenandoah!

When I spoke to the guys at Adams, they said it usually happens if the joint gets too hot, either from the nearby exhaust or the joint is at too extreme of an angle. Well, mine is not at an extreme angle at all, so that's not it. Not to mention, there is no way it was hot seeing as how this happens when it's freezing cold outside and upon first starting it up for the day. He said that was very odd, but perhaps with the temperatures fluctuating (yay, Maryland springtime) it could me a moisture buildup causing the squeak and then it just goes away when it's dried out. Who knows. But I'm hoping it didn't go so long that anything needs to be rebuilt. I'm sure it had 5000 or less miles on it, which is the normal greasing interval anyway.

 

Did you have trouble greasing that joint. I'm using a regular needle fitting and that sucker won't take grease for shit