What happens if a flex plate fails?

What happens if a flex plate fails?

A warped flexplate won’t engage properly, with the starter motor. So, when you are starting your engine listen for, rhythmic bogging down of the engine, during starting. Consequently, the teeth of the ring gear, can become damaged over time, causing a grinding sound.

What is the purpose of the flex plate?

A flexplate (or flex plate) is a metal disk that connects the output from an engine to the input of a torque converter in a car equipped with an automatic transmission. It takes the place of the flywheel found in a conventional manual transmission setup.

Can a bad flexplate cause a misfire?

A bent flexplate can cause an erratic crank sensor signal and cause a misfire.

What causes bad flex plate?

A warped flexplate wobbles around the outside ring teeth, even if the warp is slight. Determine from memory, or any past repair orders, if the flexplate has been replaced. One of the most common causes for flexplate warpage involves the wrong torque pressure and sequence on the flexplate.

Will a car start with a broken flex plate?

Generally the answer is no. A flex plate takes the place of the flywheel and is used to connect the engine to the torque converter of an automatic transmission. It also has the ring gear attached to it that the teeth on the starting motor engage.

What causes broken flexplate?

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. 4) Some applications may require starter shims to be used.

Can you drive with a bent flexplate?

Can you drive a car with a warped flywheel? You can, but it will almost certainly damage the engine or transmission starting with the rear main engine seal or transmission input shaft seal..

Can I drive with a bad flex plate?

A problem with your flex plate can be very dangerous. Because your flex plate transmits the power from your engine to your transmission, your ability to control your vehicle’s power can be affected. A bad flex plate could potentially cause a loss of power to the wheels and result in an accident.

Why would a flexplate break?

Aside from a manufacturing defect, the only things that will cause a cracked flex plate are improper torque on the plate bolts at the crank and torque converter and the most common cause of transmission to engine misalignment; sometimes caused by missing alignment dowel pins that mate the transmission to the engine.

What causes broken flywheel?

This is often a direct result of a clutch that’s worn out. You may start to experience grinding noises from the pressure plate and eventually, the flywheel other parts in the clutch assembly will overheat and cause them to warp or even crack.

What causes a flex plate to break?

Slight misalignment may only cause a single flexplate to break in the life of the vehicle. More severe misalignment can break a flexplate in 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Excessive crankshaft flange run-out or end plate can also cause flexplate cracking. This may occur in worn engines or engine that have been poorly rebuilt.

How long does it take to break a flexplate?

More severe misalignment can break a flexplate in 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Excessive crankshaft flange run-out or end plate can also cause flexplate cracking. This may occur in worn engines or engine that have been poorly rebuilt. An engine, transmission or torque converter that has been dropped may also have damage that will cause misalignment.

Can a cracked flex plate cause transmission problems?

A cracked flex plate is almost always, a sign of other problems. So, if not properly diagnosed, it will occur again and often damage to the transmission may follow. The same things that caused the flexplate to crack, can also cause transmission problems.

How do I know if my flex plate is bad?

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. So, if you suspect you have a flexplate problem, there are a couple ways to investigate further.