Diagnosing cracked flex plate noise

The sound is very similar to a bad engine rod and is often misdiagnosed. I was able to get the scope in between the drive plate and the flex plate. Then noise may change when the clutch is engaged or disengaged. A loose bolt on a flexplate or a crack between its bolt holes. A cracked flex plate can often make a knocking noise. Symptoms of a cracked flexplate general discussion. The flex plate i have heard that look like the ones in the pic really mess with the idle.

A metal probe could figure out where the noise comes from. So if you have a knocking noise and an automatic transmission, its a good idea to check the torque converter bolts to see if theyre tight. When i logged it, it pulled timing like crazy thinking it was engine knock, but in reality it was just a little dowel pin banging around. A harmonic balancer is a counterweight that is used to reduce engine vibrations. View from inspection plate back of inspection plate. There are various situations which can create rear differential noise. Loose torque converter bolts and cracked flex plates.

Attached is a video of the startup and idle of the flexplate disconnected from the torque. Ah, well, this is the first real money ive put into keeping the old girl on the road. The flex plate replaces the flywheel in automatic transmission cars. Another member just pretty much verified my assumptions.

Start your vehicle as normal, but pay particular attention to the noise of the starter while it spins and engages the flexplate, or torque converter if your vehicle does not have a toothed flex plate. I have a 97 subaru outback that keeps cracking the flex plate 3 times now, and makes an inconsistent ticking noise. Cracks can sometimes appear around the bolts at the crankshaft. The reason for the sound involves the flexplates location and its function. Dude, looking at your questions for the past 2 weeks, you should give up trying to fix your own vehicle. The classic and most obvious symptom of a cracked flexplate involves the sound it makes while the engine is running. Excessive wear will result in an offcenter torque converter and possible vibration. Automobilesdriven by exploding fuel, pushing through the air at upwards of 100 mphare noisy.

Most often, this noise is caused by low ring tension, broken or worn piston rings, or worn cylinder walls. The frequency seems too quick to be valve noise, sounds like harmonic balancer or cracked flex plate noise. They seem more apt to replacing stuff til the problem goes away as opposed to actually diagnosing the problem. But, there are some ways to narrow down where the knocking ticking noise is actually coming from. I have a knocking noise coming from underneath of the vehicle. As a result, this can cause the flexplate to wobble.

The first cracked fp for me i ignorantly assumed the missing torque converter bolt was the problem so i missed the bellhousing problem. If you notice that the howling noise only occurs during deceleration, then it is a good indicator that. Sometimes the flex plate will crack and as a result it can cause noise. Then whom ever replaced the fp before me didnt catch the peened bellhousing and tightened it down causing a alignment problem. Pull lower pan,check rod movement,or remove bearing cap. 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. 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. A cracked flex plate is almost always a sign of other problems. I got a brain teaser for ya, im thinking broken flex plate in my 73 blazer however when im in gear low rpms and rolling down the street i hear the consistent pinging, but if i put the truck in neutral while still moving the noise quits. A driveshaft is a cylindrical shaft that transmits torque from the engine to the wheels. Knocking ticking noise is this the end of your engine.

The noise appears to be coming from the bottom of the motor or the bell housing area. Well, the tranny shop tells me that its a cracked flex plate. Flex disk goes on each end of the drive shaft, could only make noise if car was moving. The under valve cover harnessuvchwould stop communicating with the glow plugs or injectors. I have a 1991 jeep cherokee limited 4x4 with the inline 6 cyl4. This rubber part can separate from the balancer, causing the other parts to make a rattling noise. Damaged and leaking front seals and front transmission pumps are common symptoms. So while youre in there, check the flex plate for cracks or damage, you might just find the source of your noise this way. How to know if a flexplate is warped it still runs. Many assume this knocking ticking noise is the end of their engine and just move on. So, following on from my breakdown the car, then nearly me.

As the output shaft of the transmission rotates it spins the driveshaft, which then turns the differential ring gear to rotate the wheels. Diagnosing a warped flexplate requires some keen observation and process of elimination. It costs nothing to get under the car and eliminate that possibility. I would have picked her up today, but the shop got the wrong replacement flex plate shipped to them supplier had the wrong plate in the box. The sound is very similar to a bad connecting rod and is often misdiagnosed. How to fix a broken flex plate flywheel, how to find a engine knocking noise duration. Flex plate diagnosis and replacement requires transmission removal, which can be expensive. No doubt you enjoy a quiet ride, and automakers and tire manufacturers spend millions trying to reduce noise. That leads me to believe either the torque converter is out of balance, or the tranny is bad somehow. Understanding and diagnosing rear differential noise. Descriptions of the sound include clanking, chirping and a light knocking. If you logged it while it was making rattling noise, theres a good chance its not in the flexplate area.

I had a cracked flex plate on my 1999 land rover discovery 2, but before i knew what it was i had trouble finding information on diagnosing what it could be. Once the new one was installed the noise disappeared. Try to identify if the noise is from the front, center or. I actually took a few pictures of the cracked portion if you are interested. My chevy started this tick noise out of now where thought about it and yea its the flex plate. At the center of the plate, bolts connect to the crankshaft.

Furthermore, if not properly diagnosed it will occur again and often damage to the transmission may follow. I just dont want to take it to a runofthemill shop to do a diagnosis like this. Symptoms of a bad or failing driveshaft yourmechanic advice. Before removing the torque converter, inspect the torque converter pilot and mating surface of crankshaft for wear. Dont confuse all of this with the sound of a bent or burned exhaust valve, a loose timing chain or a cracked flex plate, though, which can also make all sorts of ugly noises but wont be as rhythmic as that bad rod bearing. It bolts to the end of the crankshaft and the transmissions torque converter bolts to it. So, internal mechanical problems can cause engine knocking ticking noise. Well it started to get more noticeable so i got looking for the cause.

Come to think of it, its a good idea to also check the flex plate for cracks. Piston ring noise is also similar to the valve and tappet noise above. A dropped bolt will definitely make noise but the noise typically doesnt last long since something breaks. Have them flex the parts while you listen and feel for noise. Your problem could be the starter drive gear is loose and hitting the flywheel, a loose flywheel bolt, or a cracked flywheel. Being an auto, it will be fluid balanced by the torque convertor, so babancing it wont be an issue. This would cause a loud whining, jetengine noise to come from the exhaust. Im just glad it didnt do any damage to the engine or transmission. With child support killing my paycheck i can barely afford gas in my car to go to work and food for the week. Cracked fly wheel usually gets louder as it gets hotter, or under heavier load. When a flexplate cracks, it often produces a loud knocking noise as it rotates.

It creates its own wifi network and you can see the images and record them on an iphone. Creaking will often resonate enough to be felt as well as heard. Got a new plate on and transmission bolted up, just need to connect everything else back up and were good to go. Diagnosing noises in your car page 3 ericthecarguy. They are most commonly found on rearwheel drive vehicles and connect the rear of the transmission to the driveshaft. Extinct, it certainly could be cracked near the center. The engineer put a triangular file on it and had no trouble marking the plate, he said it is just plain old mild steel, and welding would be no troubles. Why your car is making a rattling noise, and what to do. A muffler is an important component of an engines exhaust system. During one of the engine removals, the mechanic disassembled the engine and checked the crankshaft, said it was not bent. Your starter motor cranks your engine and gets it started. The flex plate usually makes a tinny or clanging some times chirping sound while starting,shutting off, accelerating or decelerating. There is an access hole on the drivers side of the backing plate to access the bolts. 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.

To troubleshoot each cylinder, remove the spark plugs and add a tablespoon of engine oil to each cylinder. A few weeks ago i started to notice a rattling noise at idle and i figured it was a heat shield or something to do with my exhaust. Need help ticking sound from flexplatetorque converter. Noise in my chevrolet silverado sounds like flywheel. The same things that cause the flexplate to crack can also cause transmission problems. Knowing that the l99 was in need of a rebuild, i swapped it out for the lt1 and in the process found the cracked converter.

I guess it could be a flex plate but sort of seems more like the sound that could come from the converter. My 06 chrysler sebring got a knocking noise from under the engine hood. I have a 97 subaru outback that keeps cracking the flex plate. I do not want to consider it a rod knock yet, because as soon as i put the vehicle in gear, it goes away, and it only returns once in a while when driving, but definitely is present when i am slowing to make a turn or stop. For example, howling of gears is a sure sign of wearing. If during a ride you hear a creak or squeak once per revolution, it is probably located in the crankset and pedal area.