Cracked fly wheel

northstar11

northstar11

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Well I have bin complaining on hear for a while now about some noise seemingly related to the transmission.( the strange ratle) Well, today I went in to get a transmision flush, and the dude told me he thinks the fly wheel is cracked. I have a couple questions bout this
1. If it's cracked, why doesnt it break? the noise has bin there for over a half year now

2. Has eny one gotin into this and know what I'm looking at as far as cost?

3. Does enyone want my LS? NO charge, free shipping:(


Anyway, as a 18 yr old, I dont have alota loose cash, so I hate to tell the shop to just fix whatever is wrong with it, without doing my research first.

Any help would be great, thanks.
 
What you are giving your car away? explain that too me what exactly are you talking about.
 
If you're giving away a LS, I'll be the first to volunteer to pick it up and take delivery of it..

But what makes you think that the flywheel is cracked? What symptoms have you heard or noticed? I don't think I've ever heard of anyone cracking one of these parts.

To replace it, you'd have to drop the transmission.
 
Cracked flywheels (known as Flexplates on auto trans.) aren't common, but it does happen. Usually when someone turns the key to start the engine when its allready running. But it can also happen just from heat and stress on the flywheel caused by the rotation and vibrations of the engine and torque converter/clutch disc.

Most times a cracked flexplate will make a clicking sound while the engine is turning, and it will follow along with engine speed. It may go away at some speeds and then return at others, and it can also depend on engine load.

Have to drop the tranny to replace it, which means about a grand or more of labor charges, for a $100 part.
 
97stscaddy said:
Cracked flywheels (known as Flexplates on auto trans.) aren't common, but it does happen. Usually when someone turns the key to start the engine when its allready running. But it can also happen just from heat and stress on the flywheel caused by the rotation and vibrations of the engine and torque converter/clutch disc.

Most times a cracked flexplate will make a clicking sound while the engine is turning, and it will follow along with engine speed. It may go away at some speeds and then return at others, and it can also depend on engine load.

Have to drop the tranny to replace it, which means about a grand or more of labor charges, for a $100 part.
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Yeah it is rare but does happen. Friends Astro had it happen.
 
o3sonicbluexlt said:
if you want to sell it cheap though, let me know. has the noise gotten worse over that time frame?
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Well guys, I would like to sell it, but I wana figure out this problem first. Accepting offers tho, It's a 2000 with 104,000 miles on er. Anyway, no the noise has not goten worse in the last 6 months. I take it into the shop, and they say they wouldnt recomend moving it off the spot.

Well here is a few pictures. Sorry, it realy needs a good wash and wax.
HPIM4808.JPG

HPIM4809.JPG

HPIM4812.JPG

HPIM4810.JPG

HPIM4813.JPG

HPIM4808.JPG


HPIM4809.JPG


HPIM4812.JPG


HPIM4810.JPG


HPIM4813.JPG
 
northstar11 said:
But If worse comes to worse, has enyone rebuilt this tranny and know aproxamite casts?
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If it's really a cracked flex plate, a tranny rebuild is not on the agenda. All they have to do is pull the transmission to get to the flex plate. How much it'll cost, though, I have no idea.
 
I take it into the shop, and they say they wouldnt recomend moving it off the spot.
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You've been driving it for 6 months that way... dont you think if it was gonna break it would've done so by now? :p

IMO, the car should be fine as long as you're not wailin on it, and driving like a bat out of hell. Just normal everyday driving probably wont do any harm. What WILL cause harm however, is driving the engine hard, running high rpms, and putting an excessive load on the flexplate and torque converter (like towing something)

The flexplate is designed to flex when put under load by the engine to turn the torque converter. (hence the name) It will bend and twist (to a certain extent) when the engine has a sudden change in speed relative to the speed of the torque converter. Example: If you use the engine to brake coming into a turn, then you immediately floor the throttle upon exiting.

Like I said, as long as you're not beating the crap out of the engine, dont worry about it.
 
97stscaddy said:
You've been driving it for 6 months that way... dont you think if it was gonna break it would've done so by now? :p

IMO, the car should be fine as long as you're not wailin on it, and driving like a bat out of hell. Just normal everyday driving probably wont do any harm. What WILL cause harm however, is driving the engine hard, running high rpms, and putting an excessive load on the flexplate and torque converter (like towing something)

The flexplate is designed to flex when put under load by the engine to turn the torque converter. (hence the name) It will bend and twist (to a certain extent) when the engine has a sudden change in speed relative to the speed of the torque converter. Example: If you use the engine to brake coming into a turn, then you immediately floor the throttle upon exiting.

Like I said, as long as you're not beating the crap out of the engine, dont worry about it.
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Yea, I always take care of my car, but it would be nice to not worry about something breaking if I get my RPM's up there. And the noise is realy anoing.
But I'm still confused as to why that would ratle. I guess there is no way to tell exacly what is ratling, without droping it down and looking at it.:(
 
I'm really curious how they could tell it's a broken flexplate without actually being able to see it. considering the rattle it could simply be debris that worked it's way into the bellhousing somehow (perhaps through the t/c access plug)
 
There are a few rubber popouts on the bottom of the bellhousing, one of which allows you to see part of the flexplate. They could've popped that out and turned the engine with a breaker bar to inspect it.
Just a thought.

Just how loud is it? Anyway you could make a sound clip/video so we could hear what it sounds like?
 
another q....is there a flywheel AND a flexplate? I know when I replace my trans there is a big plate on the motor (flywheel?) and it bolts to another plate (flexplate??) that you first bolt onto the torque converter. Basically there are two plates between the crankshaft and the t/c. Just curious
 
No, there's not a flywheel in the slushboxed LS. According to AllData, there's a flexplate and a flexplate adapter between the crankshaft and the torque converter.
 
SoonerLS said:
No, there's not a flywheel in the slushboxed LS. According to AllData, there's a flexplate and a flexplate adapter between the crankshaft and the torque converter.
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So your thinking one of those is whats rattling? Whay kind of labor are we looking at to get to it?
 
northstar11 said:
So your thinking one of those is whats rattling? Whay kind of labor are we looking at to get to it?
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Sorry; I was just answering beaups's question about there possibly being both a flywheel and flexplate.

According to AllDataDIY, the labor to remove and replace the tranny at a private shop is 5 hours, plus another 0.2 hours each for the "driveplate" (a term which is not defined, and I'm guessing means the flexplate assembly) and torque converter, for a total of 5.4 hours. (The listed estimate for a dealership is 3.4 hours to R&R the tranny, plus 0 hours for the driveplate and TC.) This is without a transfer of parts in the tranny (and there shouldn't be any).

FWIW, calling a flexplate a flywheel seems just a little bit odd--they're structurally and functionally different. I can see calling it that if you're talking to someone who (in your opinion) knows a little bit, but not a lot, about drivetrains, but it's still sounds a bit fishy. But maybe it's just me. :D

If the flexplate is really cracked, I don't see how it could have lasted six months making the noise--remember, it's transmitting the engine's full torque load to the torque converter. If it's broken enough to make noise, I just don't see how it could be not broken enough to fail. It's certainly possible, it just seems unlikely.
 
SoonerLS said:
.


FWIW, calling a flexplate a flywheel seems just a little bit odd--they're structurally and functionally different. I can see calling it that if you're talking to someone who (in your opinion) knows a little bit, but not a lot, about drivetrains, but it's still sounds a bit fishy. But maybe it's just me. :D
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Yea, since I took it in, I heard some real horror stories about that shop. So I'm deff guna get another opinion. All the shops closed today, but hopefuly I can get that taken ccare of this week. I just dint have a good fealing bout the guy, seemed like he was just guessing.
What is the going rate for a new tranny now days?
 
you can pickup a rebuilt/dyno tested trannie for about $1500.

The labour to swap may be nearly as much....
 
I'm in the same boat you are, I've been taking it to shops and so far the cheapest I've been quoted is 425 but still alot less than a couple grand
 
TDUB said:
I'm in the same boat you are, I've been taking it to shops and so far the cheapest I've been quoted is 425 but still alot less than a couple grand
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I would be happy to pay 425 at this point. What did they say they are fixing?
 
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