Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Rattling Noise From transmission/Bell Housing

[JTitone]

With this truck's engine being so loud, it's unusual to hear any other noises that may be happening. But yesterday I heard noise originating under the truck which at first sounded like a loose exhaust clamp rattling on the exhaust pipe. I shut down the truck and climbed under only to find all the clamps tight. I re-started the truck and again went under and found that the rattling sound was coming from either the transmission or bell housing. The truck drives OK so I'm not sure what the problem could be. Anyone else here ever come across the same issue and what was the outcome?



Thanks for any assistance.

 

[RonaldLarson]

Pull the inspection cover from the bell housing. Turn the engine and look for loose bolts on the drive plate, or a cracked drive plate. If you find loose bolts, remove them all and replace with the proper bolts, and install using Loctite blue thread locker.

 

[JTitone]

Ron, Thanks for the reply. The work you describe in your post, can this be done from just pulling the inspection cover from the bell housing or does it involve a much larger process? I also failed to mention the truck has an auto trans and not a manual. Does this make a difference as well?

Jim

 

[RonaldLarson]

Jim, you shoulld be able to see and observe all that's in the bellhousing. Accsess to the bolts and drive plate is sufficient for tightening and/or replacing the bolts. Be sure you get drive plate bolts, which are specially heat treated. I you drive plate is cracked, you must pull the transmission to replace it.
Ron

 

[JTitone]

Jim, you shoulld be able to see and observe all that's in the bellhousing. Accsess to the bolts and drive plate is sufficient for tightening and/or replacing the bolts. Be sure you get drive plate bolts, which are specially heat treated. I you drive plate is cracked, you must pull the transmission to replace it.

Ron

Hi Ron. Yesterday I did remove the inspection plate at the bottom of the bell housing. I'm not sure if bell housing is the right term here. I'm describing the round housing where the transmission bolts to the engine. There's a plate bolted to the bottom of this section of the transmission. On opening the cover all I could see was the ring gear where the starter engages, and the fly wheel. I couldn't see any bolts. I tried reaching up to bolts but couldn't. I looked through my manual to find another area where an inspection plate could be but I didn't find any. Am I missing something here?



Thanks again for your replies.



Jim

 

[cerberusiam]

You won't be able to see the bolts let alone remove thru the inspction plate on the bottom of the trans. About all you can do is look for metal filings or pieces coming out of the inspection cover when you remove it. If you have anything like that there the flex plate is coming apart and you will have to pull the trans.



Now before you do anything else, check the trans fill tube and make sure it is tight and not contacting ANY piece of the body, exhaust. That tube touching anything will cause a horrendous rattle.



In order to check if the bolts are tight you need to remove the cover plate on the passenger side of the engine adpater right behind the turbo. You will have 2 holes there, the inboard one is for the TC bolts, the outboard one is for the barring tool to turn the engine over to get to each bolt.



You can use the alternator to turn the engine over and that is way easier with the down pipe in the way of the barring tool orfice, but, be VERY CAREFUL with your finger in there feeling for the bolt head and an assistant turning the engine over. If your finger gets caught the aassitant cannot back the engine up to free finger. You have to bar it back on the flywheel teeth. Ask me how I know this.



One reason why I don't like to tell people about the alternator trick, its a little dangerous. However, with the exhaust in the way you cannot get to the ports in the engine adpapter to see anything, it all has to be done by feel.