Rattly Flexplate.... ????

I had all my exhaust heat shielding removed to get rid of the rattle, but it turns out it's coming from between the engine and transmission. Guy says it's probably a cracked flexplate. I'm not real clear on automatic transmissions... what's a flexplate do? Will anything bad happens if it rattles? It's been doing this already for years... so.... uh... yeah. Any flexplate info you have, hit me up.

- Jim

[lee]

the flexplate sits between the engine & tranny - it's function is somewhat like a flywheel for a manual shift car. The teeth around the edge are what the starter uses to engage & spin the engine. The bolt holes in the face of the plate (probably what is cracking) is what couples the torque converter to the engine.

what would happen if it let go totally I couldn't guess, but you would have pieces of iron/steel spinning around in a place where the surrounding pieces are aluminum - my guess is it wouldn't be a fun situation.

[Phast SVX]

Originally posted by lee
the flexplate sits between the engine & tranny - it's function is somewhat like a flywheel for a manual shift car. The teeth around the edge are what the starter uses to engage & spin the engine. The bolt holes in the face of the plate (probably what is cracking) is what couples the torque converter to the engine.

what would happen if it let go totally I couldn't guess, but you would have pieces of iron/steel spinning around in a place where the surrounding pieces are aluminum - my guess is it wouldn't be a fun situation.

the starter teeth are NOT on the flexplate. Tehy are on the tourqe converter.
phil

[lee]

Originally posted by Phast SVX

the starter teeth are NOT on the flexplate. Tehy are on the tourqe converter.
phil

You are correct, I've had the stupid tranny out my car two times, and I still said it wrong...beating head against desk now.