I Reached in the Starter Hole and...

[FuelJetA]

Hi All!

Ok, strange situation. I was driving along and there was a vibration and a squeeking noise, then no forward motion. Get off the road and the engine is idling fine, but making an eek eek noise. It was obvious that it was coming from the trans or there about. The truck would not move in 2 wheel, 4 wheel or reverse...I thought, probably not the trans...Good oil pressure and the truck had been just fine. The trans seemed fine too. Anyway, I roll back it home yesterday and try to start it today. I crank it and the starter just zings. Well, I push it over the pit and remove the starter...I can turn the flex plate by HAND!!! WTF?!? I am in the process of removing the trans (after cutting the Y Pipe off with a torch, due to broken bolts.)

(It's a 96 XLT, 4 Liter)

Does anyone know WTH happened?

I am really familiar with Ford Trucks, have worked on a variety of vehicles over my 27 years, yet I have NEVER seen anything like this!

BTW...Hello everyone, I'm new here!

Shanon

 

[sunbum]

Squeeking noise, no forward motion around the starter hole?

*bite lip* ... I'll resist this one... I think...
must...log...off.....before....getting.... banned...

 

[Opera House]

I think you know. The flex plate has cracked and the TC is no longer conected to the engine. Never had it happen to me but a couple others have posted it. I'm guessing from the Y pipe story that the engine and transmission haven't been seperated recently. Sometimes an alignment problem can cause this if the tranny has been worked on. This sounds like just bad luck.

 

[Alec]

Maybe you broke the flywheel? Did that in mine right before I sold it.

 

[bikerboy4lif]

yup, sounds like the center broke out of the flex plate. Just pull out the tranny and bolt on a new or used flex plate and your all set too go. Not too expensive if you can pull the tranny yourself.

 

[FuelJetA]

I can pull it, at least I am in the process as we speak. It should take a while. Then to the muffler shop for a new Y pipe and such...

Does anyone make headers for the 4 liter? That would be best at this point.

Shanon

 

[Alec]

Originally posted by FuelJetA
I can pull it, at least I am in the process as we speak. It should take a while. Then to the muffler shop for a new Y pipe and such...

Does anyone make headers for the 4 liter? That would be best at this point.

Shanon

JBA ceramic coated are the best. They won't really help power that much, but if you need to replace the stockers anyway.....

 

[410Fortune]

I disagree hahaha the Borla headers are superior to the JBA's!!

4.0l Headers are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and typically not worth the $$$ unless you get a deal or really really want them

Good luck with the flywheel, if it did brake this is the 5th one I know of.....I have a 93 flywheel so I have my fingers crossed......

 

[Bronco638]

410,
My best friend had his flex plate go in his '96 X at about 120K miles. So, now you know of 6. Based on his analysis (masters degree in mechanical engineering), one of the spot welds that hold the thick center section (where the bolts hold the plate to the flywheel) to the flex plate created a weak spot (stress riser) in the metal. This weak area eventually failed.
Dave.

 

[knight explorer]

Mine has Broken 2 flexplates in 1 year!!! 91 4x4 sport

 

[Robb]

Closed: this situation is over.