Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 17:45:41 -0400
Reply-To: "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: 2.1L engine failure - Update #2
In-Reply-To: <007201cb0295$7d4270c0$77c75240$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
They are quoting $3,000 to replace the plate and auto-trans.
Parts and labor.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Robert Fisher
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 4:52 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 2.1L engine failure - Update #2
If one torques down each bolt before moving on to the next one, it will bind
up the flex plate. I forgot that the last time I worked on mine, and then
remembered it when I got a vibration on start up. I loosened the bolts, and
on the third one I got an audible "pop" as the plate sprang back into
shape/place.
It's no stretch to think that running one off-kilter like that for any
length of time could deform, fatigue or crack the thing. Even if it was
properly re-set later, something like a flex plate with a crack in it could
be something of a time bomb. It's occurred to me more than once that it's
not a particularly stout piece of metal for the job it has to do.
OTOH, if the bolts were not tight enough you could leave enough play in
there to eventually damage the area around the bolt holes without it being
super obvious, particularly if the engine wasn't running smoothly.
Also, have them check the neck of the torque converter very carefully.
Sometimes they crack at the base and it's very difficult to see. If there
was sufficient wobble in the TC it would be hard to detect at speed and
still be enough to cause accumulative damage. I think I'd replace it just
for GP after an incident like that.
We'd have to know what "big bucks" means to give any feedback there.
Personally I wouldn't want a welded-up bell housing after that kind of
damage.
I wonder what effect that kind of lock-up might've had on the crank bearings
and so on?
Cya,
Robert
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jim Akiba
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 1:16 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 2.1L engine failure - Update #2
I've seen stress cracking on a couple stock and one KEP subie flexplate
before, but never a complete failure. They were starting to crack around the
bolt holes just beyond the clamping area. Where did the van in question
"live"?
Jim Akiba
On Wed, Jun 2, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Jake de Villiers <
crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> That's a strange occurrence for sure. I don't have any experience with
> automatics so I can't help with those questions.
>
> But I do have a flex plate here if you can't find one locally.
>
> Seeya, Jake
>
> On Wed, Jun 2, 2010 at 7:36 AM, Jack R. <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > The mechanic pulled apart the motor / trans on our friends 90 Westy 2.1,
> > discovered that the "flex plate"/ Fly wheel
> > blew up! Basically ruptured and caused everything to stop abruptly...
> auto
> > trans bell-housing
> > cracked in 5 places, and needs a new Flex Plate. (anyone have a source
> for
> > this?).
> >
> > Motor still turns, haven't tried to start it.
> >
> > They are quoting big bucks to change auto trans or weld bell housing, if
> > trans is OK.
> >
> > What could have caused the flex plate to break-up?
> >
> > Any suggestions on a course of action?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jack R.
> > Friends 90 Westy in Grand Ledge MI.
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