This is an odd one.....

had a problem with a trans leak...took the trans out...looked to be the seal....put a seal in it... the torque converter had a hair crack in the neck of it...replaced it..2 weeks later the flex plate cracks around all the bolts holding it on the crank...replaced that then ...trans locked up 2 weeks later....put a rebuilt from ford..lasted 1 night and the flex plate cracked again the same way...the crank has no play ...it has about 160k on it...
its a V10 btw

any ideas anyone??? Thank you in advance
im at witts end.....

 

I cant help you much other than to tell you its called a flex plate if you have an automatic transmission and its a flywheel if its a stick. But I am sure somebody will be along to help shortly..

 

thanks for the heads up....edited...

 

Just a WAG, but it sounds like something is either not torqued right or not lined up correctly. I'm thinking that the driveline not lining up correctly could cause this...?

 

I saw a post a while back with the same exact issues only it was a diesel and it ended up being the crank bearings and the crank moving forward and backward and destroying the flex-plate..

 

sounds about right for how is busting...

just got it back tonight...the guy was washing it and went to move it and it died...he said it did that a few times...I told him to park it till I get in in the morning..this is turning brown hairs grey..

 

Yeah, crank endplay would also be a suspect here. How many miles are on it?

 

about 160k

 

Just went through this same problem starting in early October. I (the shop that did the work) went through 3 flex plates before getting it correct. (Less than 300 miles on each of the replacement flex plates). After consultation with FORD, the shop replaced the flex plate - again - the block that fits to the crankshaft, all of the bolts that hold the flex plate to the crankshaft, the thin plate on the TC side of the flex plate, and the engine spacer block. (the large horseshoe shaped AL block next to the engine).
The mechanic that started the project swears that there were no alignment pins on the trans bell housing, but FORD insisted that there should be. Ford didn't have any, but gave the shop the specs and the shop and had them made locally.
My truck was is a 2000 SD with 108K miles. I bought the truck with 76K miles and know that the transmission hadn't been out in the last 35K miles, before that I can't say. So far, I've got almost 2K miles since the last repair in early December. There was a service bulletin (don't remember the number) that specifies that those parts need to be replaced. At least, in my case, the shop stood the cost of the extra parts and the labor. My original problem was a failed TC. Good Luck.
Bob Miers

 

If the alignment dowels are not there it WILL crack the flex plate. The purpose of the dowels is to align the trans to the engine. Without them there will ALWAYS be a misalignment and the flex plate will crack. The bolts can't align the trans fine enough to save the flex plate.

 

do you think the crank walking could have anything to do with it....the first thing I noticed was the trans leaking from what looked to be the front seal...it was the converter had a hairline crack

thanks for any and all help....

 

I agree... what is confusing in my case.... the mechanic stated that there were no guide pins when he took it apart the 1st time......

 

the pins are in there.....just asked the guy who did the trans.... now I cant seem to get the truck to idle....took the cables off for 10 mins reconnected and let it idle for about 25 mins...everytime I come to a stop it dies...last time I seen this it was the alt on its way out....

 

Is it throwing any codes this time ??

 

Does it die when you are in Park, or just while you're in gear?