Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) rattle comming from trans. area

[TNowak]

hi, I've recently developed a very loud rattle type noise comming from what sounds like my transmission. I have a 48re and it is quiet and normal in park and nuetral but when I shift into reverse or drive it rattles. It sounds to be a heat shield of some sort but I don't see any. It goes away when I step on the throttle or may just be drowned out by the engine noise I can't tell. I'm wondering if I just may be overlooking a simple fix or if this is the beginning of a larger problem.

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2002 quad cab auto, 4x4,K&N intake, 4 inch turbo back, mag-hytec transmission pan

 

[TNowak]

so i guess nobody has ever had this problem

 

[johncameron]

I had a tie-wrap that rubbed underneith my floor once that I thought to be the transmission. It was terribly loud and I actually took all the cup holders off and the shifter to find a freekin tie-wrap!!!! Hopefully it's somethig simple like mine was!

 

[TNowak]

thanks for the idea ill take a look

 

[jhoughton]

Check the torque converter bolts to the flywheel. I have seen that on other types of autos. One more place to look. Jim

 

[EBung]

Spray some lube on the trans linkage at the bellcrank. Lube at the bushing at the trans.

 

[Cummins Thunder]

Transfer case?

As has already been said, check the converter bolts.

Also check the bell housing bolts (ones that hold the trans to the motor)



CJ

 

[Leroy D]

I recently had a very loud noise coming from the transmission bell housing area and it turned out to be very big trouble. I had a cracked flex plate that had taken out the thrust bearing inside the engine. It turned out to be almost 4k in repair cost. Have it checked out by a good diesel shop ASAP. :--)

 

[TNowak]

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions, but just after the first reply I was about to dig into it a little deeper, when it happened to simply go away and I havent heard it or had any other problems in about a week (knock on wood). thanks anyways and I will let you all know if I do encounter a disaster.

 

[.44 mag]

I know this is an old post, but I'm having the EXACT same problem as the original poster described. It appears to get worse as the transmission gets hotter. When at idle in neutral, it sounds OK. Shift into either drive or reverse (no added throttle), and it rattles for a couple of seconds before it grabs the gear. Trans seems to shift alright still when driving it and I don't really feel any slippage. I'm worried that my converter might be starting to fail or something. I will check my converter bolts though. I had trouble with them coming loose after J & H installed it originally. I took them all out and re-torqued them with blue Loctite and have been good since. I'll go check them again, but thought maybe someone might have some other input to the problem if that's not the case.



Thanks

 

[.44 mag]

Well... . Looks like it was those @%**! torque converter bolts again!!!

#@$%!



What is the deal with this? I've got a Suncoast converter installed in this rig. I know that when J & H installed it, they used grade-8 bolts that had a std. head style to them. The bolts fit loose in the holes of their modified factory flex plate. I had a Suncoast flexplate on there originally, but when this happened the first time it wiped it out and they only had their modified stockers on hand to replace it with. Any thoughts on swapping out the bolts to something different? Maybe something with a wider head profile? I'd figure that the stock converter had a metric thread; the Suncoast unit is a standard 3/8" fine thread.



What are you guys with aftermarket converters doing to keep these darn bolts in place??

 

[.44 mag]

Nobody has a "fix" for this?? I'm suprised that this is not so common an occurance. Pulled out the bolts on mine and the underside of the heads were all worn and the flex plate holes opened up a bit again. Don't know what to say. Need to find some real converter bolts I guess. Nobody around here readily has them of the correct dimentions; might have to cut down a set with longer threads. Either that or add a hardened washer under the head of those grade-8 bolts, just don't know how much clearance there is before they will hit.

 

[Cummins Thunder]

I use a small bit of red 3M Threadlocker P/N: 051135-08730



You need to use a good name brand locker or it will fail quickly.



BTW, I use a modified stock flex plate in my 800hp truck. I have never had a bolt come loose.

 

[.44 mag]

Well, I'm trying a hardened washer under the bolts this time. When I pulled it apart and looked close at things with a mirror, it looked like the 1/2" long bolts that were in there might be a bit too long and bottoming in the blind holes of the converter. Probably should have used a red thread locker on the bolts, but didn't; blue Loctite brand 242 was all I had available. I'll plan better for the next time this thing lets loose.



Thanks!