Weird Noise COming from Engine

[mightymoose_22]

Mine doesn't have a shim.
Still, if something was grinding against the starter it should be happening all the time, not just on decelerating.
You might just mount the starter without the shims and see how it reacts. That is a bit easier than removing it while its running.

I'd still do a compression check though... and doing so will give you an opportunity to have a look at spark plugs.

[dwbailey]

Originally Posted by mightymoose_22

Mine doesn't have a shim.
Still, if something was grinding against the starter it should be happening all the time, not just on decelerating.
You might just mount the starter without the shims and see how it reacts. That is a bit easier than removing it while its running.

I'd still do a compression check though... and doing so will give you an opportunity to have a look at spark plugs.

Thanks big guy. My friend is coming by this afternoon and we are gonna put it on jack stands and run it and see if we can isolate the sound better than tranny shop was able to. Will suggest to him we do the compression test and maybe take the shims out and see if that has any impact.

[AzTumbleweed]

I've never had my starter off so I don't know if I have shims or not. 297,000 miles!

[autotech234]

I would say allmost 100% that it is your flex plate. I have diag. this tipe of noise and you simtoms fit to a T. Trans will have to come out to replace.

[dwbailey]

Well it was in fact the flex plate. The place where it bolts to the engine right around the outside of the bolt holes was cracked all the way around. Heaven only knows why it stayed together. Tranny shop I use charged me close to $400 to replace but I guess being that the tranny has to come out to get to it plus the part, that wasn't too bad. Thanks guys for all the suggestions/info. I love this place!

[Davescort97]

Thanks for coming back and letting us know what it was. Hopefully your thread and posts will help somebody else. Glad you got it fixed!

[dwbailey]

Originally Posted by Davescort97

Thanks for coming back and letting us know what it was. Hopefully your thread and posts will help somebody else. Glad you got it fixed!

I hope it does help others. It was funny how mine just made the noise when revving it up and when especially when I would let the engine slow me down on a down hill situation. I have no idea why it didn't come apart. The good Lord was with me on it for sure. The way it was cracked TOTALLY around the bolt pattern shows that there was nothing holding it together. Oh well. Have a great holiday.

[dlbdata]

Any chance it is the exhaust system? Mine was making a rattling noise, turned out it was a piece at the front of the catalytic converter was rattling around. It was an where the cat attached to the front exhaust, kind of a ring of rusted metal, I guess to strengthen the attachment. I actually cut it off a couple years ago, its been fine.

[denisond3]

I have had the starters off of both of my Escort 1.9's, a 92 and a 94. There were no shims. Also I dont recall any shims being mentioned in the OEM service manual for the cars.

[Carsrcool100]

Is there something wrong with the tranny??? Or is it a problem with the car censor?

[dwbailey]

Originally Posted by Carsrcool100

Is there something wrong with the tranny??? Or is it a problem with the car censor?

I wouldn't say there was something "wrong" with it. Not real sure why the flexplate (flywheel) cracked all the way around the outside of the bolt pattern. Just darn happy I got on it before it broke all the way and who knows what the end result would have been. A lesson to not procrastinate weird noises coming from the car.

[badpoor]

Please check the bracket comming from your tranny to the exhaust pipe.
Mine was making a similar noise and I found a crack in that bracket.....just get it welded and that noise should go away.

[dwbailey]

Originally Posted by badpoor

Please check the bracket comming from your tranny to the exhaust pipe.
Mine was making a similar noise and I found a crack in that bracket.....just get it welded and that noise should go away.

That may very well be a reason they can make a noise but not in my case. It was for sure the flexplate. I made them give me the old one.