CherokeeMan90

Q1. How many bolts are there on the inspection plate?

Q2. Can I rotate the plate by hand to get to the other 2 bolts?

I noticed mine is making a that familiar noise. Also i driving it 6 miles to inspection then back to a buddy's shop for fix. Should i be safe to drive it that many miles. As i'm limited to a time frame to get my vehicle inspected and i won't have a chance to do it before hand.

CherokeeMan90

Also does any know the torque specs for the flex plate access panel and bolts for 1990 cherokee? I found a how to on here but the user stated he got the values from somewhere else and wasn't sure.

Also the how to doesn't say how many bolts are on the access panel.

DFlintstone

There might be 6, (or 5). Yea, it will rotate. I think I used a deep well socket, just as a spacer to jamb between a gear tooth and the housing to STOP it from rotating. Pulling the dust cover and tightening the bolts COULD take just minutes. You can put the cover back later. I wouldn't drive it myself. My luck it would turn into a pretzel or something! 15mm?

There's just 3 or 4 maybe 1/2 inch bolts. You don't need to torque them. Just don't ape/brake them!

5-90

There are two or three fasteners for the inspection cover - it should be one screw and two bolts with nuts. Installation torque for all is German torque ("gutentyt" - say it out loud to yourself...) with light-duty threadlocker (LocTite #222, clear fingernail enamel, RTV, whatever.)

I don't recall torque on the screw through the flexplate to the torque converter, but it should be on my site in the Tech section. I believe they're a 17m/m socket, the screws are M10-1.5x15m/m "place bolts" (which isn't a regular hardware store item. Dealer or fastener supply house, if you go to the latter, tell them you want "place bolts." They're designed to hold a clamping load in shear, rather than simple tension.) Consider the use of LocTite #242 (or equivalent) to be mandatory - if you buy new screws from the dealer, they'll usually come with threadlocker already applied. They number four

If you have to go in and replace the six screw that hold the flexplate to the crankshaft, they are also "place bolts," and I've used the ARP kit for Pontiac for those (kit of six screws, 1/2"-20x.590".) Threadlocker here is mandatory as well - LocTite #242 will serve.

The engine may be rotated with a 3/4" deep well socket on a breaker bar (a 1/2" drive will work better, by dint of being stronger,) and you can either have the breaker bar held or jammed, or reverse the ratchet and hold it, to apply torque to the screws. I don't like wedging against the ring gear teeth - they're relatively soft, and replacing the flexplate is a pain.