Guest molar Posted June 25, 2003 Report Posted June 25, 2003 I refer to my previous posting below and the kind help from Ivor E Tower. Ford identified the "bag of nails" as a faulty starter motor. As the car was not making this racket when left with them to have a new auto box I complained that I was not happy. The Manager agreed to fit a replacement starter motor as a gesture of goodwill. Just received a call saying new starter motor fitted and noise is the same!! They are now telling me that the "drive plates" are worn and they now have to strip everything out and check!! I need to know where these "drive plates" are and whether or not they could have been the cause of the original slipping problem and not the actual gearbox. The manager told me that the gerbil who fitted the box had checked the "drive plates" and they appeared ok. Please advise where I stand and could this all be down to the incompetence of the dealer and it's staff. I will not pay for new "drive plates" if the problem could have been diagnosed at an earlier stage. I suspect this whole sory saga is set to continue!! A pissed off Galaxy owner. Quote
Guest SA Intruder Posted June 25, 2003 Report Posted June 25, 2003 Drive plate used to connect crankshaft to torque converter. This is a thin metal plate, about 15" dia, much like a standard flywheel in shape. At its centre are around 6 bolts that bolt it to the crank. There are usually reinforcing plates (only about the dia of the crank flange) on each side of the drive plate that the bolts also pass through to maintain strength. Toward the outer edge of the drive plate there are 3 or 4 holes which bolts pass through to connect the drive plate to the torque converter. The drive plate also has the starter ring gear on its periphery. Again, much like a standard flywheel. There are numerous accounts of the crank or torque converter bolts coming loose. This causes the holes to elongate, and the plate to become increasingly loose and noisy. The cause is usually: Sometimes stretch bolts are used on the drive plate. These are intended to be used once only. - I need to check The bolts have to be torqued precisely and in order. They usually require loctite too, to prevent them from coming undone. They have to be immaculately clean and grease free to allow the loctite to work correctly. The correct loctite should be used....there are many different ones for different applications. I cannot check which system is used, but will check the tech Info later and edit this piece.....unless Fred gets here first. Quote
Guest SA Intruder Posted June 25, 2003 Report Posted June 25, 2003 The torque converter is retained by 3 nuts - the torque converter has studs. The nuts are special - they are self locking (not Nyloc). The drive plate has to be shimmed up using the reinforcing plates mentioned above...of various sizes. This has to be accurate and requires the ability to use a vernier gauge. The drive plate is retained by no less than ten stretch bolts - these HAVE to be replaced EVERY time and are tightened in two distinct stages in a set sequence. As far as I can gather, the new stretch bolts come coated with locking compound. Bet you pound to a pinch that the muppets that did yours were "deviant" from the spec. Quote
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