cracked/broken flexplate

slvr98gt · Sep 1, 2007

anyone ever run across this? my car is knocking like crazy and im starting to think maybe my flexplate went. origionally it sounded like it was comming from inside the drivers side valve cover so i removed it and everything looks fine. i started to do a little research and from what ive read a cracked flexplate sounds similar to a broken rod. figured i ask around. thanks for the help

Mr. OAM · Sep 1, 2007

The flexplate thing, while not impossible, is less probable. In my experience I have found for everything that goes wrong with your car (knocking in this case) there is at least 5 possible causes. Without being there to hear it I can't help any beyond that. If you've never had any problem cranking the engine I would say your flexplate is fine. I would also think you would get a nasty vibration with a cracked or broken flexplate.

Steve

slvr98gt · Sep 2, 2007

i have no problem cranking the engine and there's no vibration i can feel. i think ill drain the oil and see if there is any metal shavings in it. im kinda stumped to tell ya the truth. i have good oil pressure, it drives fine, shifts fine, idles fine, but there is a loud knock and my tranny is leaking a little bit.

Mr. OAM · Sep 2, 2007

The tranny leak most likely has nothing to do with the knock. I would stop driving it while it is knocking. Each time it knocks that is another dollar in cost to repair it.

If it is a rod knock that would be a siginificant reason to stop running the engine. Right now you don't know what the cause is so better safe than sorry. Try to tell if the knock is louder on top of the engine or at the bottom of the engine. Where do you hear it best? Standing over it or lying under it? It usually runs fine even with a spun bearing, but it's doing it's damage in the meantime.

Without actually being there to hear it it's hard to tell what the problem is. Stop driving it, only run it to diagnose where it's coming from.

Steve

slvr98gt · Sep 2, 2007

oh im not driving it at all. i babied it home and its been in my garage since. ill throw the valve cover back on and start it up to see if its louder under the car. ill try to get a video too if that will help any.