I've got a 2001 E350 van with the 5.4 triton and 4R100 transmission in it. Has about 130,000 miles on it.

I was doing some work under it a couple of days ago and noticed a rattling noise coming from the front of the bellhousing. I can't hear it sitting in the vehicle or standing next to it but it's pretty scary sounding with my face under the inspection cover.

Shifting is smooth no noticeable problems there. Tranny fluid looks good, not burnt.

After further investigation the noise is only present in park or neutral. In drive it goes away. In park it takes a few minutes of warm up for it to begin starting as a light tap tap, eventually working its way up to a clatter once warm.

I know the 99 4r100 had some TC issues that sounded like this. Anybody ever have anything similar? It sounds like it's in front of the TC so I'm thinking the flexplate maybe?

 

Yes, I think you have a cracked flex plate.

 

Thanks for the input Mark. I was hoping that was probably the case, a bit less catastrophic on the wallet than the TC. I'm going to bring it by a Tranny shop and have them take a look at it.

 

Update:

Took the van to local recommended transmission place. Owner can't find the exact source of the sound but dropped the pan and found about a 1/4 cup of clutch and metal . He suspects the TC but can't prove it unless the trans is dropped.

Told me it was probably good for another 20k miles but that it would fail in the near future especially since changing the fluid would allow more chance for slippage. Rebuild is 2000-2700 depending on what they find when they open it up (ie needs new pump ect.).

I'd like the van to be reliable enough to take couple hundred mile trips without worry about being stranded so I feel like a rebuild might be the best idea.

Would y'all go with the rebuild or try to get them to drop in a re-manufactured transmission at that price?