Flywheel ?s

[SMKN97GP]

have a weird noise coming from the rar of the engine. thought it was an exhaust heat shield or a clamp. but its not. i beleive and so does a local mechanic that a tooth on the flywheel might be broken. anyone else have his problem? what the rough cost for that to be repaired? thanks.

 

[Jack]

SMKN97GP:
Is yours an automatic or manual? Does it make the noise only when cranking ... or only when running ... or both?
JACK:gap

 

[SMKN97GP]

its an auto. and it seems to only make the noise when the car is in gear and driving. so that leads me to beleive its the flyhweel.

 

[tcarollo]

Hmm, I would think that the flywheel would make noise when cranking if it was making noise while driving.

TC

 

[Jack]

cracked flexplate (automatic's flywheel)

SMKN97GP:
Automatic transmission's "flywheel" routinely referred to as "flexplate" ... As the name implies ... it does flex somewhat.

It's rather simple to verify a broken tooth ... safety first (jackstands) ... get under car ... remove inspection cover ... have someone lightly tap-bump the starter over as you inspect flexplate's ring gear teeth. 10-minute inspection job.

It may be that the starter drive is too close to flexplate's ring gear ... shims available to space starter out a bit ... shim fits between stater & its mounting flange on engine ... cheap at GM dealer / local parts house. 30-minute job at most.

You might look into possibility your automatic's flexplate is cracked ... OE flexplates do crack ... it's not uncommon given years of use & vettes' ample torque. If flexplate cracked ... it's not uncommon for noise to emanate only when driving/pulling off/accelerating. Nearly impossible to verify smaller cracks without removing it. Flexplate itself is cheap to buy ... labor is not. Replacement-type flexplate about $20 ... HD (unlikely to ever crack) about $50. If I had to hazard a guess ... cracked flexplate is likely culprit here.
JACK:gap