Thank you. I will check It out and get back to you. All the shops I have talked to are telling me that either the transmission or the transfer case Is out.All I know Is the engine Is not turning when I engage the starter and the engine was running fine until the transmission or something went out..

 

James - I'm still trying to catch my breath from the last round with your truck.

If you know the starter is good and it's throwing out the bendix. Pull it and look in the hole at the ring gear. There might be teeth ripped off it and thus the starter is not catching it.

Try to rotate the ring gear by hand. It would be a fluke but the ring gear may have come loose from the flex plate - in which case it's probably sitting on the torque converter.

Lastly, another fluke, the flex plate bolts may have sheared off the crank and the flex plate might have shifted out of position.

Your problem has nothing to due with the trans or transfer case - who are these people you talke to? The mechanism is very simple. The flex plate mounts to the crank and the torque converter to the flex plate. If the flexplate with the ring gear attached to it are mounted to the crank, the crank will spin when the starter engages. If everything is bolted up right and the flex plate is spinning but the front engine pulleys are not, your crank is broken.

This is also easy to test. Remove the little cover plate on the bottom of the bell housing. Have some one crank the starter while you are under the car and see what is turning or not.

 

I will check It out and Let you know.. Things just seem to be getting worse..

 

Well I know when It broke down that I was getting noise coming from the transmission when I put It In gear but the engine was running fine.. I can turn the flywheel with a wrench and It seems to be attached maybe a little loose but I don't have a frame of reference to say. Now when the starter Is engaged the flywheel seems to be turning but faster than normal and the pulleys up front will move just a bit every so often.

 

Pull the tranny. Something wrong in interface between the starer/flexpalte and the motor. If this is OK, then the crank is busted and the tranny needs to be pulled anyway.

 

I understand. Do you think a $1000 can fix this problem or Is this going to cost me too??

 

Actually I think Dailtone is on the right track!! The flexplate sounds to me like your problem and it is a much more common repair than thought. I have seen many of these flexplate issues. I would remove the starter and do a VERY thorough inspection of the flex plate. When the flex plate turns there should ALWAYS be movement of the pulleys as the flexplate is directly bolted to the crank. So if the pulleys are moving ocasionally with the flexplate movement or not in sinc with the flexplate movement then I suspect the flexplate. this shouldnt be a $1000 job. The labor should be about 5-6 hours times their labor rate and about $150 for the flexplate. I would also replace the torque converter and the input seal while your at it.

 

Thanks again. That's what I think It Is too because as I said up until It broke down the engine was running ok.. I am going to get It to a shop. I just have to find one I can trust..

 

Go with the flex plate it's broken at the hub, just changed one on my 91 this weekend, had all your symptons now we're happy, good luck.
P.s. I got lucky cos the guy I bought it off thought the problem was the starter so the old gal came with a brandy new one.

 

Dude, if you're gonna do this yourself get a good tranny jack or go to a bay and tool center that supplies such tools. The job itself is easy on paper but it gets fiddly so spend some dosh and do it right, you'll save time and aggro, trust me I tried to cut corners and paid the bitter price.

 

Folks - I've been helping James on this little project of his for what, 6 mo's now? We'e gone through motors, PCM harnesses, control systems...you name it.

James is not the mechanical type. Just laying the facts out. I don't think James will refute this. So I've been trying to give him the basics on how the parts are all connected. I think, based on his last post, that he's had it on the most current issue and is looking at finding a mechanic.

It might take a few months, or maybe less, but I'm waiting now to see what he comes up with. Always willing to help but sometimes, I'm not there to do the actual work - wish I was but we be a long ways apart.

 

Sorry It has taken so long for me to get back to you guys. I have not yet been able to get the truck Into the shop. I got laid off for a month but I am working again and I am going to send It to a shop next friday..

A little recap

I bought this truck used In febuary of this year. I have been able to drive It a total of maybe 60 days In that time. I have had not one but two backyard mechanics work on this truck. The first one replaced the engine because there was a crack In the block and the second tried to correct the problems from the first guy only to make matters worse.
It now will not start. The starter will spin but the engine will not turn and If I did get It running It will miss, overheat, have problems shifting and not want to restart after It has been running for a while. It now has not ran for 4 months.

What can I do?

I can not sell It In the condition It Is In and I have already spent over $1500 trying to get It running again.

The only thing me and my wife can think to do Is to just take It to a Ford Dealer and pay them to put It back together.. I know If I take It to a Ford Dealer It Is going to cost me big time but will they not fix It right??

Please tell me what you think. I know I can't fix It myself I am going to have to send It to a shop but I have been screwed so many times now. Should I send It to the dealer or should I try to find a good shop somewhere here In Dayton? How do I handle these guys to make sure It Is fixed right and I not taken for everything they can get out of me??

 

You know when you hear those dealer ads -"push it, pull it, drag it in" and they give you $5K trade in value for any car - that's what you need to do. Go buy a new one with a warranty and put this thing to bed.

 

Thanks for getting back to me. That sounds good but I nor my wife have anything close to the credit needed to get a new car.. I also don't have the money for a new car nor can I afford the payments.. I know It will cost me to get this truck fixed that's why I am asking what you you guys think. I am some what able to come up with the money to get It fixed I just what to know the best way to do It so I don't get screwed for a third time and I can get this truck fixed right once and for all.. Does anyone know of a good shop In the Dayton, Ohio area that can be trusted??

 

Well after all this time I finally got my Truck running and running good..It was the Flex plate that broke on my Flywheel thats why It would not start.

The shop dropped the transmission, replaced the Flywheel and Flex Plate and put It all back together. It cost me $1700 when It was all said and done.
They also had to replace my Catalytic converter (It was completely clogged)
the Neutral Start Switch and the vacuum diaphragm.

Now as I said after all of this for those of you that have been helping me with all the problems with this Truck, It Is running great. It does not miss anymore, It does not overheat and the transmission does not slip anymore, I can now start It after It has been running for a while and I am no longer losing battery or alternater power.

Now for the problems that are left.

First and most Important. I have a transmission leak. I am losing transmission fluid right were the transmission and engine come together. I took It back to the shop and they told me they checked the pump and the front seal when they had the transmission off and everything looked good so they did not replace anything so I would have to pay to get the transmission dropped again to check and fix the front seal..

What should I do? Is there anything I can use to seal the leak or should I drop the transmission and replace the seal?? I have read alot on here how the seal can be replaced and then go out a few months later, how should I handle this problem??

Second.. It Is still running rough. It Is not missing. It Is just not running right. I was told that my entire EGR system has been removed. Could that be causing the problem?
The shop told me not to worry about the EGR system. What do you guys think??

Third.. My 4x4 does not work. The shop told me that the transfer case and the 4x4 system were fine but that the motor that engages the 4x4 Is out. What motor Is this? were Is It and how hard Is It to replace?

And Last.. Is there any way of fixing my gas gauge without replacing my hole pump and sending unit?? I was told I could just replace the float but I have called almost every Ford dealer In my area and they will not just sell me the float and I have been told by more than a few people on here that I can just by the float and replace It. Can someone please tell me were I can buy just the float??? Please..

Let me know what you guys think. I could really use your opinions and suggestions..
It Is almost all fixed..