7 3 cracked flex plate symptoms

So, following on from my breakdown the car, then nearly me. The trans has been rebuilt and im thinking this started. Symptoms of a cracked flexplate general discussion. Perhaps someone had the transmission out years ago and failed to torque the flex plate to crank bolts properly. I was driving along the m4 on my way to an important appointment, doing about 60mph in drive, 2500rpm on the possibly inaccurate tachometer, tc locked it locks at 45mph with the 1. If you are breaking a new flex plate in a minimal amount of time, it is probably related to improper installation when bolting up the torque converter.

The classic and most obvious symptom of a cracked flexplate involves the sound it makes. Aside from a manufacturing defect, the only things that will cause a cracked flex plate are improper torque on the plate bolts at the. The problem turned out to be a cracked flex plate which is much cheaper than rebuilding or replacing the engine. In june 2008 the flywheel was cracked again, replaced with a new napa flywheel with spacers inserted. It bolts to the end of the crankshaft and the transmissions torque converter bolts to it.

If you only tow 5% of the time and this is a daily driver, then a 34 ton might be ok but it is no 12 ton as far as comfort and mileage. One of the most common causes for flexplate warpage involves the wrong torque pressure and sequence on the flexplate. Well i made a new clutch pedal bracket i made it out of steel, and it is strong and does not flex. I have had a quick look through the starter motor hole and checked that the bolts that hold the torque converter to the flex plate are tight which they are. Weve got tough yet affordable flexplates for stock and mildly modified street vehicles. The flexplate has cracked twice in the past 6 months. A dropped bolt will definitely make noise but the noise typically doesnt last long since something breaks. Excessive crankshaft flange runout or end plate can also cause flexplate cracking. Broken flex plates can not be repaired, they must be replaced. Aside from a manufacturing defect, the only things that will cause a cracked flex plate are improper torque on the plate bolts at the crank and torque converter and the most common cause of transmission to engine misalignment. It sounded like a big end knock at idle, went quiet when put into drive. Determine from memory, or any past repair orders, if the flexplate has been replaced. Sfi approved billet flexplates from ats will hold up under the most extreme conditions.

Aftermarket springs and shims are available to solve the problem. I welded it and when i went to take the converter off i found the flex plate was destroyed haha so i dont know if the trans builder the first time didnt catch it and thats why it cracked both times. A flexplate consists of a steel, circular disk with perforated holes and, depending on the model, teeth on the outside ring which engage the starter. How to know if a flexplate is warped it still runs. Youll be able to customize your profile, receive reputation points as a reward for. The flex plate replaces the flywheel in automatic transmission cars. Ats billet flexplates are sfi approved, meaning that they stand up to the toughest race application standards. How do i correctly bolt a flexplate to a torque converter. We have that 3 part trans replacement series you could use to get the trans out of. A flexplate bolts directly to the crankshaft flange, and connects to the.

The one that causes the pedal frame and firewall to break into pieces. The 3 prior flex plates have all been cracked starting at the bolt holes. I took it back in at 85k because of noise and vibration problems and the result was a cracked flex plate. Furthermore, if not properly diagnosed it will occur again and often damage to the transmission may follow. When stripped down, the plate had split around all 6 bolt holes. Even if the flexplate was old and reused, the manufactures specifications call for an exact torque pressure and tightening sequence.

Dec 01, 2010 getting the first 3 side bolts in here, along with what youll be seeing on the engine side of things. Learn to recognize a bad flywheel by these 5 symptoms. You can not tighten the first tc bolt until you first hand snug all 6 bolts tightening the first bolt put in will not pull the tc evenly to the flex plate. Changing out transmission due to broken bellhousing, well i get the trans out and discover the flexplate broken. Sounds just like when the flex plate on my 200 tdi auto was buggered. Attached is a video of the startup and idle of the flexplate disconnected from the torque converter. Similar in function to a flywheel in manual transmission engines and called a flexplate due to its. A serious crack can cause a mild vibration when driving, so can a faulty torque converter.

Getting the first 3 side bolts in here, along with what youll be seeing on the engine side of things. There are tough flexplatesand there are chuck norriscaliber flexplates. Symptoms of a cracked flexplate welcome to modern mopar forum. Slight misalignment may only cause a single flexplate to break in the life of the vehicle. I have seen both of these occur every now and then on the caravans. Then whom ever replaced the fp before me didnt catch the peened bellhousing and tightened it down causing a alignment problem. Atp z348 automatic transmission flywheel flex plate. Folks, i have a 2006 dodge ram 3500 mega cab, dually, 4x4, 48re with 77,000miles. A cracked flex plate will usually cause a squeaky sound like a belt but shorter and sharper and changes when in gear or park and under load. If the magnums have offset weighted front dampeners, the elastomeric can give up, and allow the outside ring to slip and cause a shaking issue.

A problem with your flex plate can be very dangerous. The classic and most obvious symptom of a cracked flexplate involves the sound it makes while the engine is running. I was just wondering how many of you out there with the 4. Theres also a chance they didnt gradually torque the bolts that hold the flex plate to the torque converter and maybe its not balanced. Dude, looking at your questions for the past 2 weeks, you should give up trying to fix your own vehicle. This may occur in worn engines or engine that have been poorly rebuilt. Jun 25, 2009 hello and welcome to just answer dodge.

Descriptions of the sound include clanking, chirping and a light knocking. Even though all 6 bolts may be tight, the flex plate will actually be warped and not seated evenly on the tc and it will break. Usual failure mode is the crankcase bolts or the torque converter bolts work loose, allowing the parts to start moving in different directions, the clicking sound you heard. The reason for the sound involves the flexplate s location and its function. Jan 08, 2016 i have a 20 ford escape as well and it is in the shop as well for flex plate issues. Flexplates serve a very important function in vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. Feb 11, 2011 dude, looking at your questions for the past 2 weeks, you should give up trying to fix your own vehicle. Because your flex plate transmits the power from your engine to your transmission, your ability to control your vehicles power can be affected. Mine was inspected through the little inpection hole at the bottom looking for radial cracks, but on full engine removal found it has split into two concentric rings, drive only.

This took my wife rose thank you hon helping me so youll likely need a helper too, to hold the plate or install the bolts. Just last friday my truck sheared off every converter bolt, cracked the flexplate and the debris kocked out holes in my bellhousing. The reason for the sound involves the flexplates location and its function. These do occasionally crack and will need replacing.

Once registered and logged in, you will be able to contribute to this site by submitting your own content or replying to existing content. Mar 26, 2017 like bill mentioned, there is a proper torque sequence to follow to tighten the flex plate to the crankshaft. Covered under powertrain warranty at the time, fixed, but has broken again. Cost of repairing a cracked flex plate land rover forums land.

Symptoms of a bad flex plate on a 2003 dodge grand caravan. A few weeks ago i began hearing a low freq, thumping noise coming from the bottom end of my truck. If the flexplate is cracked, replace the transmission fluid pump, flexplate, flexplate bolts and torque converter refer to workshop manual, section 30301a and 30701 when replacing the torque converter, ensure that the torque converter pilot hub is lubricated with multipurpose grease xl5a esbm1c930b prior to reassembly for claiming, use causal part. This may be due to a flexplate crack around the crankshaft. I investigated it and it sounded like it was coming from the. Had similar noise symptoms but no transmission symptoms in october and was told it was the cracked flex plate. Discovery ii cost of repairing a cracked flex plate my intermittent. Oct 19, 2008 evening folks, my 300tdi auto today developed a nasty intermittant knocking, that seems to be coming from the bellhousing area. Jan 27, 2009 i found this pic of a cracked flex plate is this what ill find if mines cracked and can it be easily seen before parts are removed last edited.

There should be 2 dowels, one on each side, to align the bellhousing of the transmission with the engine block. Those factors ensure that when the engine starts and the driver puts it in. Rattle noise and cracked flexplate 20152018 ford edge. We are so sure of the quality and design of this flexplate that it comes with a unconditional two year warranty. And we also have heavyduty and sfiapproved flexplates for highhorsepower, highrpm race applications.

I have also seen the alignment dowels go missing between the bell housing and the engine block. Compatible with all aftermarket and stock torque converters. And like gearcruncher said, the flex plate does have a spacershim and maybe they didnt install it. A cracked flex plate is almost always a sign of other problems. Like bill mentioned, there is a proper torque sequence to follow to tighten the flex plate to the crankshaft. Broken flex plate or converter dodge cummins diesel forum. Because perfect alignment of the engine and transmission are not possible, the flexplate can absorb the minute misalignment. Rattles at idle but the force of driving jams the bits together so no rattle when driving. Symptoms of a cracked flexplate general discussion modern. I have the back seats out so there isnt too much sound dampening back there, and i have been listening for any odd noises over the past few weeks. A couple of weeks ago i started to get a clicking sound that would speed up slow down with engine speed, but i just assumed was the exhaust.

Attached is a video of the startup and idle of the flexplate disconnected from the torque. The same things that cause the flexplate to crack can also cause transmission problems. As i was driving into work this morning i noticed a sound that seemed to come from the middle of the car. Cracked flexplate so far in two years, ive had to replace the flex plate three times. I first had the engine replaced at 65k as a result of a bolt breaking loose inside the cam shaft and destroying the insides. Then the flexplate and converter welded themselves together trashing it. Gm performance view topic broke my fourth flexplate. Flex plate was broken due to the belt snapped putting a high tourque through the flex plate. A bad flex plate could potentially cause a loss of power to the wheels and result in an accident. A flywheel is a roundshaped mechanical device that connects to the. After checking the flexplate id pull the valve covers to see if theres damage up top that is preventing the engine from turnung over.

Atp automotive z274 automatic transmission flywheel flexplate. It still seems like it takes an awful lot of pressure to disengage that clutch. Approved by all sanctioning bodies for racing and pulling. If you only tow 5% of the time and this is a daily driver, then a 3 4 ton might be ok but it is no 12 ton as far as comfort and mileage.

More severe misalignment can break a flexplate in 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Check out the deal on ats 3059003104 billet flexplate upgrade 9403 7. The first cracked fp for me i ignorantly assumed the missing torque converter bolt was the problem so i missed the bellhousing problem. But i doubt that, so we will say you have an automatic transmission and this means you have a flex plate, not a fly wheel. Register now to gain access to all of our features.