Popping sound when starting/engine "suffocating"

[auxSwitch]

So, something odd happening - tried to do searching, but maybe i'm searching for wrong keywords, because I can't find anything:
This morning I remote-start the engine while cleaning the snow right outside the garage and here is what I observe:
- the engine starts at first and immediately starts to struggle for air - rpms drop and are unstable
- after a few seconds of struggle, I hear a pop come from upfront, and the rpms stabilize to what I expect.

- no issues for the rest of the day
- I did not see anything out of place under the hood after the above incident


Add'l info:
- Truck sits in the garage
- I drove the truck one day prior w/o any issues.
- I don't have any air intake mods.
- I have not so much as opened the hood for the last 2 weeks and I did not mess with any part of air intake
- I HAVE heard this once before on an average day when I was starting while in the driver's seat (also first thing in the morning)

Any thoughts/ideas on what to look for/check?

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[Kevin_D]

Clean the squirrel's nest out of the airbox?

Kevin

 

[auxSwitch]

Clean the squirrel's nest out of the airbox?

Kevin

checked. none to be found (unless I should be looking for them further up the air intake :-D). This is a 2022 vehicle with 1600 miles on it. The air filter is still clean (and original)

 

[Hootbro]

I assume no check engine light posting? Almost sounds like a lean condition on the intake side either fuel, ignition and/or timing causing a small backfire pop.

You probably have had a few ignition cycles since but I would suggest keeping a OBD2 reader handy and see if there is any pending codes for misfire if it happens again.

 

[Hootbro]

Did your electronic start/stop disable icon pop up? That will usually post also if there is a pending but not posting misfire code.

 

[auxSwitch]

nope, no "check engine" light. and no issues with ESS.
I am not a person who spent a lot of time around combustion engines, but I've heard a few backfires, and this didn't sound like it - much quieter, the best i can describe is it sounded "plastic"-y, like something that was preventing airflow then popped open. Hence my thinking it's something with the airbox. I looked at the airbox, removed/reinstalled the air filter - didn't see anything obviously wrong with it.
Dumb request - can somebody post a picture of their stock aribox, especially around the intake area? On mine, I see that there is some clearance between the hood and the intake, but it's not a ton

 

[ShadowsPapa]

 

[auxSwitch]

Thanks, yeah, mine looks the same -nothing is out of place/misaligned.

 

[Initial-Jeep]

I would check the entire intake: the box, the plenum, the throttle. There might be plastic baffles in the plenum that might be removable for inspection (and better airflow).

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