New to the forum. New XJ owner. I have a 2001 xj sport 4wd automatic with the aw-4 transmission 187k. Been doing a bunch of little things within my ability to get it road ready after it’s been sitting before I bought it. The flex plate is cracked. I pulled the inspection cover off found 2/4 loose bolts and tightened them however I looked with the flashlight and can see it cracked all the way around the hub mounting area. I’ve spent hours reading these forums and watching videos Google searches etc and cannot seem to find a proper replacement that I trust… everyone seems to say that atp or pioneer has the timing holes in the wrong spot. Does someone out there have any recommendations or suggestions on how to go about getting this replaced with a proper trusted flexplate ? I found a highly rated transmission shop near me in western ny that will replace it but they want me to supply the part. I don’t feel comfortable enough pulling the transmission to do it myself but either way I need one somewhere. Please help!! Thank you

 

Several people here have commented on the poor quality of the aftermarket flex plates, certainly for the early Renix Cherokees (less of an issue for the newer Cherokees?). Hopefully some others can post what brand worked for them and which to avoid. I would recommend having the shop source the flex plate, so if it turns out to be a dud part then it's on them to replace it. Either way, I would make sure they thoroughly compare the old and new before installing it.

 

Yeah good thinking… everything’s closed for the new years but I’m gonna call them tomorrow I think… I did find a used one from eBay motors that the seller has good reviews so I may take a chance on that after talking with the shop. My logic being the shop won’t mark up the part if I bring it (they said I can do that) and just for less headaches or time in the shop if I throw in a used but original equipment flexplate it HAS to work better than the aftermarket shot in the dark flexplate right? 😂 tricky tricky. I will definitely reply to this with whatever route I end up taking because I gotta imagine more people out there have the same dilemma

 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?selc...nkw=flex+plate

there are some used ones you can look at.