Well, I am at the Dodge dealership right now. They said it is the water pump and only the water pump thank god. Guess we will see if that knock goes away. I actually didn't hear it this morning on the ride here.

 

My wife's Jeep was doing just what you described last summer and it turned out to be the water pump. It was pretty obvious when I opened the hood though as the bearings were so shot that the fan was wobbling as it spun around and it was blowing coolant all over the engine compartment. I'm no mechanic either but I've swapped a few water pumps in my day (had a mustang that went through them like crazy for some reason) so I bought the part and swapped it out. I'm afraid I got out a lot cheaper than you are going to having the dealer do it. But, better safe than sorry sometimes.

 

Got my fingers crossed for 'ya, although usually a water pump is more of a squeel sound to me. Hopefully the knock won't come back...

 

^^^^^ +1 hoping for the best bud!

What part of NC are you from?