Jeepman659

I have a bent flexplate on my 94 cherokee so the mechanic says i know somethings up because you can hear it and see it when you take the crank shaft position sensor out. It leaves a very small abrasion mark on it. And im just wondering what would cause it to bend? A deeper rooted problem should i be looking at getting a whole new trans or just fix this flex plate?

Diesel

Loose mounting bolts, since you didn't remove it, I doubt thats the problem.

Loose flexplate/torque converter bolts, or loose starter bolts.

Loose tranny to engine bolts and the tranny/engine has been flexing, warping the flexplate.

You must pull the torque converter and flexplate to inspect and replace. While you have them out look for damage. No need to remove the tranny from the truck completely. Take a bellhousing bolt to ACE Hardware and buy 4 bolts about 6"-8" long. Remove the lower 4 bellhousing bolts and replace with he longer versions. Remove the top two bellhousing bolts, remove driveshaft(s), t-case/tranny support bracket, tranny cooler lines, unbolt torque converter from flexplate, and anything else in the way. Then slide the tranny back as far as possible, you should have enough room to remove both the flexplate and torque converter. Lay the torque converter on a flat level surface and take measurements to see if its warped. I hope you didn't damage the tranny pump. That isn't cheap to replace, and it only takes a scratch no thicker than your finger nail to damage the face. That scratch will lead to total tranny failure.

Jeepman659

the jeeps got about 250k on it should i be looking at replacing the whole trans while it's coming out anyways? i'm probably going to have a mechanic fix it...

Turbo X_J

Thrust/main bearings could be wiped out.

DFlintstone

I can't help but be curious. What is the problem again? Doesn't go right? Doesn't stop right? Noise? Smoke? Overheating? Mileage? And, X2, taking 1/2 an hr. to check the torque converter to flex-plate bolts. Makes sense anytime there is any question.

freegdr

X2^ Something wrong ????

Jeepman659

Well the flexplate is rubbing on the cps. Theres a groove forming on it as mentioned before which was causing a no start problem on it for a while. And the mechanic i took it to seems to believe that the flexplate is bent and making it hit the cps. Which is making a ticking sound when the engine is running. And just considering the cost of fixing this one up to be as reliable i want it to be is almost as much as just buying a new car.i deffinetly want another xj but there arent many options ive found in az so far only one in tucson and the seller hasnt contacted me back yet.

tvarney26

have you checked the flexplate bolts to see if they were loose? and i haven't heard of a flexplate warping before i heard time and time again of them cracking but never heard of one being warped

DFlintstone

Quotes got messed up maybe. Anyway some of us might be suspicious of some shops. Just "stuff happens" this does seem a bit odd. Was me? I'd pull the little cover on the front of the bell-housing and check the flexplate bolts and take a good look with good light. In the top link in my Signature cruiser exlpains how to make it a tad closer. Maybe you have a faulty CPS is all? A problem with it's mounting on the bracket? I'd pull that plate and check the bolts and flexplate...and maybe try a Napa or OEM Cps. Or drill that one and hold it OUT! Just tossen out ideas. Call me "unlucky" but I have seen what happened when my mom or girlfriend needed to go to a shop. Rarely was that good.

cruiser54

Here's what I'd be doing for a half hour to eliminate this as a possibility:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/ho...ocking-125547/

Jeepman659

Thank you cruiser. Yes I had the mechanic check the flexplates bolts and he said they were all tight. I deffinetly could just check this myself. as I will so so this weekend. and I'm pretty sure it's not a faulty CPS. because as I got one out of my parts jeep (this one is in it and makes it run currently) and two others that wouldn't even allow the engine to spark that I bought brand new.

Jeepman659

how does he move the flexplate to get to the next bolt?

cruiser54

3/4 inch socket on the front crank bolt works. Or, pull it around using the bolt you just tightened. Either way.

Jeepman659

thanks man!

OregonXJ91

Mine has the same problem i just installed a new flexplate and it is warped and makes a horible vibration what could it be?!?