Why did my car say its flex plate was broken?

Why did my car say its flex plate was broken?

Bingo! No movement of the engine confirmed that the flex plate must be broken. Basically, the starter was engaging and rotating the torque converter but, since the flex plate was broken, the crankshaft was never spinning due to the fact the entire center section was broken. But why did the customer say it quit running on the freeway?

How does a flexplate work in an engine?

A flexplate bolts directly to the crankshaft flange, and connects to the torque converter with large mounting bolts. A flexplate, as the name implies, serves as a flex-shock device between the torque converter and the engine crankshaft, and many flexplates have balancing weights to provide smooth engine RPM.

How can I tell if my flex plate is warped?

Diagnosing a warped flexplate requires some keen observation and process of elimination. 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.

What causes a torque converter to miss align the flexplate?

Broken or loose bolts on the crankshaft end of the flexplate, or on the torque converter side, miss-align the flexplate, causing a high side of the plate to strike or rub against internal components.

What causes a flex plate to crack on a Ford Explorer?

Then check the crankshaft end play. this will also cause the flex plate to crack. It will cause undo movement of the flex plate against the torque converter. Basically causing the flex plate to press against the converter and cause stress fractures that will break the flex plate.

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.

What causes a car flex plate to warp?

One of the most common causes for flexplate warpage involves the wrong torque pressure and sequence on the flexplate. Even if the flexplate was old and re-used, the manufacture’s specifications call for an exact torque pressure and tightening sequence.

Broken or loose bolts on the crankshaft end of the flexplate, or on the torque converter side, miss-align the flexplate, causing a high side of the plate to strike or rub against internal components.