Possible Flex plate failure? - help

[Ryansmiller]

I drive a 1998 Eddie bauer 4.0l sohc with 4wd, about 5 months ago I changed the starter, and didnt have a problem with it until about 2 weeks ago when I noticed that when I turned it over and only when turning it over it would sound like someone was banging a hammer against my transmission. First thought was maybe a bolt on the starter was loose and wasn't flush. I got under it and the starter was firmly seeded and wasn't budging/shaking when turning over. I kept driving like that for about a week and it went away. The next day after it went away I was turning onto a local highway and accelerating, (mind you this all happened really fast) when my truck shuddered at like 50 mph and the rpms just flew up probably to like 6.5k, It kind of freaked me out so instantly I jumped off the accelerator and let my rpms fall down, when I pushed my accelerator again my rpms jumped up really fast but I had no power to my wheels. I coasted about a tenth of a mile and down a hill into a parking lot and turned it off. When I went to turn it over it sounded like my starter was spinning but nothing else. My engine didn't turn over or anything. I have video with sound of what it sounded like 2 weeks ago and what it sounds like now, I will upload them if it will help, Let me know your thoughts.

 

[koda2000]

I think there's a good chance you are correct in that the flex plate is broken. No easy fixes. Trans will have to come out to confirm and repair.

You can try removing the starter and check it and see what you can see in the starter's hole in the bell housing.

 

[XLTrunner]

I owned a '93 XLT that I bought new and was on my third flex plate before I had 100K miles on it. For some reason, the first two cracked (one just before the warranty ran out) and made that same kind of sound when cranking the engine. Not beyond the realm of possibilities that yours eventually suffered a complete failure. As mentioned, you should be able to remove the starter and peek inside to see what's going on.

 

[Ryansmiller]

I think there's a good chance you are correct in that the flex plate is broken. No easy fixes. Trans will have to come out to confirm and repair.

You can try removing the starter and check it and see what you can see in the starter's hole in the bell housing.

thanks bro, just wanted a second opinion