Hello, New member. I joined because of all the great info on this site.

I also have to vent with a problem I have with my truck. I had a real bad knock when the truck was at idle it happened Friday night before opening day of deer season. I can only describe it as marbles banging around in the motor.
I got the truck into my driveway. Then got the truck towed to an Albany, NY dodge dealer on Sunday and they called me today and said that the flex plate had cracked and it will not be covered under warranty because I installed an aftermarket trans. So I flipped out. They gave me the diagnosis and voiding the warranty before they really could figure out what was wrong with it. I then threatened to lawyer up.
then called the dealer that did the install of the ATS Trans 6000 mi ago. at 64,000 mi. He said the new trans did not cause the flex plate to crack and should not void the warranty and told me to call Chrysler,which I did and I filed a complaint.
After I filed the complaint I called the dealer in Albany and he said I should not have gotten them involved. He also said that it might now be a dowel pin and not the flex plate from an improper install from the dealer who installed the Trans. So hopefully on 11/24 I will have an answer who will have to pay for the repair. I don't think it should be on me.
I allready dumped over 7000 into the truck in the last 5 months between b joints,front universals,ATS Trans. This truck has no engine mods and is not beat on at all. I pulled a 6000 lb toy hauler 3 to 4 times a year and towed a couple of sleds and atvs with it that is it and all mileage is highway driving.

 

What year is it?

Sorry for your troubles.

 

2006, thanks

 

The sound of a broken flex plate is really loud... that could be the noise. You can probably pull the inspection plate off and try to look up in there and see.

Did the truck move after it started making this noise? I bet a built tranny could tear up a flexplate, the way that an ATS TC locks up, it's pretty rough. If the flexplate was already strained, it's possible.

ATS won't touch it, they don't warranty stock parts. I doubt the dealer will touch it either.

Let us know how it turns out. ATS has a laminated flex plate that I've used for years, I recommend it.

 

It was real loud at idle,when you gave raised the rpms it went away.
The truck would still move. I was driving at 65 mph and you would not anything was wrong.
Hoping to hear from chrysler today.

 

Chrysler agreed to tow my 06 ram from Albany NY to the dealer in Carmel NY that installed the trans and they would cover the 120 mi trip.

The dealer also agreed to do the repairs under warranty. I guess the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

 

Ah yeah, the dreaded flexplate issue. It could be loose bolts connecting it to the converter, or as was stated a cracked/broken flexplate. You should have upgraded the flexplate when you had the tranny installed. This is a very common issue with a modded tranny with a tighter TC and a stock flexplate. They will let go and leave you stranded most of the time.

 

Chrism69

I've pulled a fair amount of transmissions in my time and I've NEVER heard of a dowel pin coming out after the tranny is installed. It just can't happen since the pin fits into a drilled recess. I think yor're being slow rolled by the dealer. More likely it is a cracked flex plate, a loose flex plate or a flex plate mounting bolt that wasn't torqued correctly and worked out. If the rattle changes with the RPM, I'd look for a partially unscrewed bolt contacting part of the housing. I haven't seen my truck yet, it arrives tomorrow, so I don't know if you have an access plate under the TC to view the bolts. The one thing I would do would be to put the dealer on notice NOT to remove anything until you have a chance to see what they are talking about. I'll bet the cracked flex plate morphed into a dowel pin because they couldn't find a crack....................now they have to find the dowel pin!

Which dealer is it, Albany Dodge?

 

Inspection plate for the TC bolts is on the passenger side, up by the block. Can't miss it.

 

Thanks, Spooler. Now I know where to look.

 

Yes, it is where you would put a barring tool to spin the motor over by hand. There is also an inspection plate on the bottom of the tranny. Hard to tell anything from there.

 

v Spooler is a lot smarter than I am, let me say that...


Unless you crank the truck up and see the center mass spinning, and the FP sitting still. Wear safety glasses.

If the truck is still moving, the flexplate is not broken, but the bolts could be loose.

It could be a lot of things. It's hard to diagnose a sounds over the internet.

 

sur5er it is Albany Dodge and they wouldn't work with me at all.

 

Spooler, Cummings should have a flex plate that can handle the torque.I dont know how a company with the rep of Cummings can put their motor in a truck that with such a weak tranny,tc and flex plate.

The tranny is a stage 1 ATS I towed a 6000 lb toy hauler a few times a year and the truck is not beat on the flex plate should not fail, The TC should not of failed. Heavy Duty is not so Heavy Duty.

 

The dealer is going to install another flex plate under warranty. Should I try to get an ATS flex plate installed?