Truck has 46K mi. Tranny was rebuilt 10K mi. ago @ Dodge dealership. I noticed a few days ago a weird 'grinding' or 'vibrating' sound sitting @ red lights. When I started in for work this morning it was obviously louder. When I got to work, which is a 15 mi drive, it was alot louder than ever before. Only does it when it's in park or neutral. VERY, VERY little in drive. Not at all in reverse. HELP! I'm scared to drive it due to it getting SOOOO much louder on my drive in. Any input is appreciated. I'm out of warranty. TIA

 

I took the inspection cover off & I can move the TC & flexplate forward & backwards about 1/2". They seem to move together as a unit. Also, there are metal shavings behind the inspection cover.

 

I wouldn't drive it anymore. Sounds like the bolts from the flex plate to the crank are loose and backing out or flex plate is almost sheared off. There should be no movement in the TC and Flex plate when they are bolted together and bolted to the crank. Also when starting does it make any wierd noise, cause if the Flex and TC are moveing back and forth the ring gear will not track properly on starter and could wipe it out too. Contact dealer and tow it in for an inspection and repair before you are sweeping up parts and lookin for a shoe sale.

 

Sounds like the crank thrust bearing is gone.

 

FIXED IT! I took the TC bolt access plate off & all 6 TC bolts were finger loose. Tightened them & all the 'grinding' sound is gone!! ALOT easier fix than I thought is was gonna be. When I get home in the morning I'm gonna take them all out, 1 at a time, lock-tite them & torque them back in. When they rebuilt the tranny 10K mi ago, they obviously didn't use lock-tite. Thanks for yall's input.

 

You should go back to dealer and get [ maybe all your money back ] , there may be a number of issues that may take some time to show . Right off I would think that the holes/bolts are partly cut from the grinding , then what has happened to other areas with that excess play/movement .
With an 06 , was it under warranty ? If not what did they charge ?

 

It was under warranty when they rebuilt it, but it is not now. I was told you get -0- warranty with a repair except for the 36K/36mo. They rebuilt it @ 35,960 mi. They said it only had a 40 mi. warranty, which was when I would hit 36K mi. To me it sounds like a lie, but others on here have told me it's the truth.

 

If you do have to spend money again , this is the best money spent for an auto , from what is posted on a number of forums , if the quality is equal [ that is just to not argue or inflame ] most agree the costumer service is best of all .


http://www.goerend.com/

 

Dealership told me 12mo/12K mi warranty on all repairs. If you look on Dodge website it says 12mo/100K mi warranty.

 

I would make sure the Flex plate is not broken since you seemed to think that it moved with the TC. They have been know to split and break.

 

UPDATE---:The dealership agreed to pull tranny & check for damage & replace TC & flexplate if need be. All free of charge, what they call a "Good Faith Repair". Once I found the TC bolts were loose, I tightened them but the TC & flexplate still move forward & back about 3/8th's of an inch still. I would think the flexplate bolts to the crank are either loose or it is torn in 2 pieces. It seems to be operating normal other than the fact that I can move them.

 

You are one lucky duck. I will bet 25 Cents it's a broken flexplate.

 

Which dealership did the original rebuild. The same exact thing happened to me a couple of years ago. They didn't use loctite or forgot to use it and the TC bolts loosened. Luckily they did a good faith repair on it also. The only thing i had to pay for was the tow bill back to the dealership. They were supposed to cover that part too but I never got the check.

 

This time it was Bossier, which used to be Smith. When it was Smith, & they did tranny work, they left them loose also, & left 3 bell housing bolts out.

 

not cool! I hope you get it straightened out.