I was driving my 96 explorer xlt, at, 4.0....I was doing about 80k/hr and accelerating to about 90k. When suddenly I heard clunk in the front end...and then there was no more accelleration, and now she won't even start. At first I thought it was the tranny then the gentleman who towed her home suggested something about the flywheel....could this be a possabilit and if so how much does this usually cost to repair?
Thanks
Patrick

 

Sorry to hear about your problem! It sounds like a flywheel to me too and I have experience with that problem since I have had to put 5 (five) yes, that's right, FIVE flywheels in my '91 Explorer over the last few years! Cost of the flywheel (actually called a flexplate) isn't too bad at $45-$60 (USD) if you shop around. Labor is the big thing at $300-$400 (USD). I had 3 different garages perform the procedure and I finally traded it in right after replacing the last one!

The only theory we (myself and the various mechanics) ever came up with is that the torque converter may be expanding as it heats up and putting pressure on the flexplate causing it to crack. The crack gets bigger and bigger and pretty soon it breaks completely apart in a circle around the mounting bolts. Apparently, the expanding torque convertor has been a problem in some Ford 1/2 ton trucks, but has never been confirmed as a problem in Explorers, so its just a theory.

A word of advice...when the flexplate breaks apart, the sharp edges can make burrs on the shaft and collar to which the flexplate bolts. Make sure whoever installs the new flexplate checks for these burrs and cleans them off or they can cause the new plate to fail prematurely also (so I have been told, anyway).

If you are planning on keeping the Explorer, I would try a new torque convertor when you replace the flexplate. It shouldn't add much to labor and a new convertor will run $100-$150 (USD). Not real cheap, but definitely worth it if it fixes the problem!

Hope this helps!