I’m being told my engine is bad

[swathdiver]

The video finally uploaded

Sorry not a great video. It was taken very quickly before work yesterday. I’ll try to get a better video and get the camera underneath the truck

Oil pressure has been fine. I think 40psi at idle and 60psi on the freeway.

That ain't no bottom end problem, that's the flywh... err flexplate. Tighten the bolts first and then look for cracks. Don't go back to them guys, they are either ignorant or thieves and care more about what's in your wallet than fixing your truck. If they succeed in scamming you out of an engine, replacing a cracked flywheel is cheap and you'd never know.

Guys like this is how I learned to turn wrenches!

 

[Michigan]

You say Fly wheel. I say flex plate. LOL!
A Fly wheel is used on a standard transmission where you have the pressure plate.
Flex plate is used on an automatic transmission.
2 different chunks of steel.

Thanks for the clarification. I just read about it here

https://akmicorp.com/flywheel-or-flexplate-whats-in-your-ride/

 

[Michigan]

That ain't no bottom end problem, that's the flywh... err flexplate. Tighten the bolts first and then look for cracks. Don't go back to them guys, they are either ignorant or thieves and care more about what's in your wallet than fixing your truck. If they succeed in scamming you out of an engine, replacing a cracked flywheel is cheap and you'd never know.

Guys like this is how I learned to turn wrenches!

I think the first shop was trying to get me but honestly feel like the second shop was ignorant if this ends up not being an engine problem because they weren’t even aggressive in trying to service it. They said they would do the job if they can locate a used engine from a place they deal with. Not sure why it would be hard to locate a 5.3 anyways but they don’t rebuild engines at the second shop.

How much should a flex plate job cost at a shop if this turns out to be the problem?

Also one more question, if I drive the truck 30 miles to a shop is that ok? Although I may stay local.

 

[iamdub]

I wouldn't let any shop touch my truck if they couldn't determine if a noise was caused by something mechanically broken or an exhaust leak.

Since exhaust was brought up, broken chunks of catalyst in or from the converters or even a baffle inside the muffler could rattle around and make a similar sound that could lessen or go away once the parts expand from heat. But your sounds seems much too loud to be that.

 

[Jeff Groves]

That ain't no bottom end problem, that's the flywh... err flexplate. Tighten the bolts first and then look for cracks. Don't go back to them guys, they are either ignorant or thieves and care more about what's in your wallet than fixing your truck. If they succeed in scamming you out of an engine, replacing a cracked flywheel is cheap and you'd never know.

Guys like this is how I learned to turn wrenches!

Exactly! They want to soak you for as much as they can get out of your wallet!
You don't even have to drop the transmission to fix this.
Remove the drive shaft and move the trans back a few inches.
If done right? It's maybe a days work on a 2 wheel drive.

 

[iamdub]

How much should a flex plate job cost at a shop if this turns out to be the problem?

About the same as a rear main seal replacement, plus the cost of the flex plate. You should have the rear seal replaced since it'll be torn down to that point. Actually, you could call around to shops to get a quote on a rear main seal replacement and just have them install the new flex plate you'll so conveniently have in the passenger floorboard.

 

[ivin74]

I think the first shop was trying to get me but honestly feel like the second shop was ignorant if this ends up not being an engine problem because they weren’t even aggressive in trying to service it. They said they would do the job if they can locate a used engine from a place they deal with. Not sure why it would be hard to locate a 5.3 anyways but they don’t rebuild engines at the second shop.

How much should a flex plate job cost at a shop if this turns out to be the problem?

The flexplate is no expensive its the labor, you have to drop the transmision or move it out to replace it. I have seen shops charge between 400 to 600 to drop the transmision.

 

[Michigan]

The flexplate is no expensive its the labor, you have to drop the transmision or move it out to replace it. I have seen shops charge between 400 to 600 to drop the transmision.

Yeah I figured the labor would be the cost. Do you recommend taking to a transmission shop specifically or any reputable all service shop will do?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Happened to my 1st Express van, and I think my present van is having the same issue. Sounds just like yours.

Broken flywheel/flexplate.

 

[Jeff Groves]

I'd ask around to see if I could get leads on a good shop.
The transmission does not need to be dropped if it's a 2 wheel drive.
If it's 4 wheel drive? Your gonna pony up some bucks.

 

[iamdub]

Somebody send me their broken flexplate. I need it for a project...

 

[Michigan]

I'd ask around to see if I could get leads on a good shop.
The transmission does not need to be dropped if it's a 2 wheel drive.
If it's 4 wheel drive? Your gonna pony up some bucks.

Yeah it’s a 4x4

 

[swathdiver]

Yeah it’s a 4x4

Labor is 7.1 Hours for a Rear Main and 6.8 Hours for a Flex Plate.

Part number listed for mine is 12602448 and full retail is $158.49. Rear main gaskets and seals would add another $55 (list price) in parts.

 

[jeffsyukon]

My truck sounded just like that when the catylitic converter failed. The ceramic internals were rattling around inside the cat. Try hitting the cats with a rubber mallet and listen for a rattling sound.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[Big Mama]

Same here. Just got done with s thread where the bottom end was suspect then u joints and it turned out being a bad cat. The insides where spinning at low rpms and clogging at higher. Do what Jeff just said. You can do it yourself. Go to each cat with a rubber hammer and hit them. If you hear rattling start there. It just might be the problem now that I think of that echoing sound.

 

[Michigan]

Thanks for that swathdiver

And thanks I will try the what you guys suggest with the catalytic converters

So I parked the truck Wednesday night around 1 am and have not drove since so it sat for about a day and a half and this was a cold start Friday morning. Again sorry it was just a quick video before leaving to work in a different vehicle so I rushed the video

Oddly enough this time when revving up the engine it did not really make the noise but on Wednesday when I showed it to a few people the noise was there every time I revved the engine. I may have to wait till Tuesday till I get it into a shop.

 

[SnowDrifter]

TBH that's normal IF it's the flexplate. The thing is broken. It'll turn and bind and do all sorts of odd stuff.

And I'm surprised I've not seen it mentioned yet, but stop driving the thing! Just asking for trouble IMO

 

[swathdiver]

Thanks for that swathdiver

And thanks I will try the what you guys suggest with the catalytic converters

So I parked the truck Wednesday night around 1 am and have not drove since so it sat for about a day and a half and this was a cold start Friday morning. Again sorry it was just a quick video before leaving to work in a different vehicle so I rushed the video

Oddly enough this time when revving up the engine it did not really make the noise but on Wednesday when I showed it to a few people the noise was there every time I revved the engine. I may have to wait till Tuesday till I get it into a shop.

I've had cats sounds similar to that too come to think of it. Grab a long extension or stick and crawl under the truck with it idling and rattling. Stick the stick in your ear and the other end touch the cats and flywheel cover and you'll know right quick the source of the noise.

 

[Big Mama]

As James brought up too that really sounds like the honeycomb in the cat has come apart. Try his stick test if you don’t have a stethoscope and like Chris said don’t drive it. A new cat isn’t super cheap but a lot better than a lower half. Like your question earlier this can happen all at once as can the flex plate.

 

[PG01]

Thats either in the pan or exhaust, actually sounds like the pickup tube is banging the side of the pan.

And i hear slight lifter tick, its slight but its there.