I have random pinging on startup... as in there is no pattern to the noise, so it can't be engine. Also, I took my dust cover off of my tranny to make putting a starter in easier, and now the car has a random growl to it, a pretty distinct mean sounding growl, from everything I've read, this definetley sounds like a flexplate issue... (the noise appears to be coming from under there too) anyways, my question is if it was just a loose flexplate, would the looseness be real obvious? like should i be able to wiggle it? cause i can't move it at all and it doesn't appear to be cracked anywhere, ive never had one of these go before so i really don't know what im looking for and i just didn't wanna go tightening it if it was already.... thanks.

 

The whine sounds more like the front pump. Could be normal, may be sign of something not so good. Depends upon the degree.

A cracked flexplate can make some weird sounds and not move when wiggled by hand. About the only way you can know that is remove it and inspect.

I haven't seen it personally, but I've heard a bad sprag can make weird noises as well.

 

oh yeah.. mine defently made some strange noises.. sounded like a cracked flexplate at first.. then turned into an aweful screaming sound.. intresting noises to say the least.

 

my flexplate just went and there were no symptoms just dashboard started to shake hard and then i shut off car went to restart and the car just made a grinding noise. the flexplate broke a clean circle around the center bolt holes. i saw a little stress crack in the center which split to one of the bolt holes then from there went one hole to the next. use a flashlight and look up there to see any small cracks..maybe thatll give u some piece of mind..