Common questions

What can cause a flex plate to break?

What can cause a flex plate to break?

The following causes for cracked flexplate failures: 1) Out of balance engine or torque converter. 2) Bad starter drive can cause teeth or ring gear to wear rapidly or break off. Teeth can also break when engine is running and starter is engaged.

How much does it cost to replace a flex plate?

Also, some cars require several hours to replace the starter and hundreds of dollars, for a replacement part. However, if your car needs a new flex plate, it’s a much bigger issue. Because, the transmission must come out, to replace the flex plate. For instance, it’s $1,500 and up, to replace a flex plate, in most vehicles.

Do you need to replace plugs on Ford Focus?

Ford calls this a wiggle test, and it is still as good now as it was when it was named. If the dash now behaves properly or gets worse while wiggling, you have found the culprit. However, in many cases, you don’t need to replace the plug and connectors.

Where are the electrical connectors on a Ford Focus?

If you recall, or even if you don’t, the older Fords have a three-wire electrical connector at the rear of the alternator that included the battery positive lead. Due to the fact these consisted of all flat connectors, they would work loose and/or start to wobble over time.

What happens to the flexplate on a torque converter?

The torque converter used with an automatic transmission, acts like a flywheel, smoothing out engine pulses. The cracking on these flexplates can be seen, either around the crankshaft or torque converter bolt hole patterns. Out of balance engine or torque converter. Bad starter drive, can cause teeth or ring gear to wear rapidly or break off.

Also, some cars require several hours to replace the starter and hundreds of dollars, for a replacement part. However, if your car needs a new flex plate, it’s a much bigger issue. Because, the transmission must come out, to replace the flex plate. For instance, it’s $1,500 and up, to replace a flex plate, in most vehicles.

Ford calls this a wiggle test, and it is still as good now as it was when it was named. If the dash now behaves properly or gets worse while wiggling, you have found the culprit. However, in many cases, you don’t need to replace the plug and connectors.

What happens to the flex plate when the engine is running?

The flexplate can become cracked over time. As a result, this can cause the it, to wobble. So, you might notice rhythmic clunking or grinding noises, while the engine is running. A misaligned flex plate, can also keep the engine from running smoothly.

If you recall, or even if you don’t, the older Fords have a three-wire electrical connector at the rear of the alternator that included the battery positive lead. Due to the fact these consisted of all flat connectors, they would work loose and/or start to wobble over time.

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Ruth Doyle