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If you applied voltage directly to the S terminal on the starter and the problem remains you do not have a wiring problem, assuming of course that you have a good cable from the battery of adequate gauge.
Is there any chance that the torque converter became unseated when you swapped the flex plate? That would push the ring gear away from the starter. Have you driven the truck since the swap?
My head is screaming thats its electrical, but I dont know for sure. Yes I've been able to drive it once or twice since I did the flexplate, one of the few times it's started. Truck runs great when it going, its the getting going which is the problem.
Next weekend I'll start tracing everything back from the starter to the ignition & double checking the flexplate / torque converter position. Something is wrong that wasn't before the old plate died & I know its dead. Front of about a dozen or so teeth on the ring gear are worn off stubs.
well it's a flexplate, you don't have a flywheel of course. I'd turn the motor and see how the rest of the teeth look. Show signs of misengagement???
Since I think it's another long weekend from work again this week, I've pretty much decided to just pull the engine again and make 100% sure the flexplate is in correct. I'm confident that it is, but the plate is also new production from....... China. Which does not inspire confidence in me due to past experiences. Had an 83 Jeep Cj5 that I had to put 4 clutches in 3 months that were all Chineseium quality. The little pins that connected the pressure plate to the finger for the throw out bearing kept snapping off. Thought it was me doing something wrong until my parts guy said that there was recall on them due to bad heat treatment of those particular pins on a large lot of clutches.
So I wont rule out that the plate itself is out of spec. If it is I'll be super irritated with myself, because I've a brand new TCI for a 400 / C6 flexplate that I talked myself out of using & setting aside for another project.
Factory one is on the left. Mexican replacement on the right. Probably 3/16" difference between the two on the engagement side.
Parts store is supposed to have another one in the morning. I'll be smart enough to take the old one in and check it first this time. Really would prefer to not have to yank the engine for a third time.
In case anyone needs the parts number. Pioneer FRA-201
Much more betterer than the others.
This engine wanted to go back in. From the time I put in the first flexplate bolt to having it ready to start was maybe an hour. Even stabbed the retarded torque converter studs on the first try.
Glad you got that figured out. Congrats and enjoy.
I think we would all be well served to remember this…
Originally Posted by 440 sixpack
Whenever I have a new problem after I've done something my first suspicion is what I've done has caused it. in your case that's the flex plate and it's installation.
… especially when dealing with the offshored parts that are forced on us these days. I know I have a bad habit of not bringing the original part to the store to compare the two before I go back home. This thread is a good reminder that I always need to do that in the future.
Last edited by Viper Pilot; Jan 10, 2026 at 07:57 PM.
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