I have a sound coming from my car that sounds just like an exhaust leak, or cracked flexplate. Are there any ways to confirm one over the other?

I have gotten under the car, pulled the inspection plate and checked for cracks, and didnt find anything. I checked for play on the TC and the FP, and not finding either. I checked the 3 TC bolts, and the were as tight as can be.

While replacing the plugs, i saw on the Y pipe where it looks like there could be a leak where the y pipe welds togeher, but didnt look at it too much.

Its a pretty loud ticking while idling, and doesnt go away after the car is warm, so i dont think its an exhaust leak?

I hear it the most when standing behind the front wheels, and low to the ground. NOT in the engine bay area (so its not the lifters, rockers, injectors)

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Have you checked the headers? Mine leak on #7 and it makes that same ticking sound. Drives me nuts!

 

One way to find out if its the flexplate/flywheel will be on the torque converter try and rotate the torque converter. Because i couldn't see no cracks until i actually took the transmission out. It actually broked in the center and it would tick/clatter. If you can move the torque converter as if it was rotating itself which ever direction. And its sloppy like moving back and forth and not tight immovable w/o moving the engine then its ur flex plate. Now some cracks are invisible again and if it broke down on the side of it only best bet to find out if it is. Take the transmission unbolt it and use a jack and unbolt the torque converter and slide it back and look. I hope you find out what it is.

 

So you mean that if i tried rotating the TC with it still bolted to the FP, and there were some movement, that would mean that my FP is cracked?

I did that, and no movement.

 

Could take the bolts out the torque converter to flexplate and run the motor with the converter uncoupled. Mine was cracked and only seemed to make that noise with converter connected to the flexplate. With it loose it didnt make the noise.

 

double check your spark plugs.... also if you have emission stuff connected to the exhaust, check that... the sound does it change when you put it in gear? could possibly be a torque converter on its way out... best method would be to get it on a lift...

 

Yes, it ticks in every gear except for reverse (foot on brake, not moving, just idling)

 

Actually, if i do unbolt the TC i would be able to see if the FP is cracked. Thats a pretty good way of confirming if its the FP or not. With the TC unbolted, does it slide back (into the trans) very far?

 

My flexplate cracked closer to where it bolts to the crank. I could get my hand up there and feel for it and I could faintly see the crack if the light was shinning right. My flexplate had a bunch of holes for weight reduction purposes. Between the holes is where it cracked. Unbolt the converter and slide it back. it shouldnt move back too far but it will move back alittle.

 

"Yes, it ticks in every gear except for reverse (foot on brake, not moving, just idling)"

To me, this statement all but verifies the problem is the flexplate. The reverse circuit of the trans puts different stress on the flexplate and converter. Mine did the same exact thing only opposite. It would squeak or tic but ONLY in reverse. My plate was cracked but you couldn't see it. I actually had it magnfluxed to find the problem.

 

Not what I was hoping to hear, but thats what i had figured.

BTW, whats magnafluxed?

 

dude, count your blessings... it's an inexpensive repair compared to a damaged torque converter and the rebuild of the transmission...

 

Your right. I am happy its not something major. Then again it will probably become major since i have never pulled a tranny before.

 

Thought my flexplate cracked turned out the crank broke same exact noise wouldnt make a sound at idle as soon as I get going tick tick tick tick now Im just watin for the boom lol so yeah it could be worse

 

How do you figure that?