Help!: Drivetrain Problem??

[teh hoff]

So yesterday on my way home from work, I had a pretty scary experience. Truck was driving fine along the highway, 50 mph. Suddenly, I heard a loud squeal/grind and my RPMs shot way up and I felt slipping. I quickly pulled into a parking lot, attempted to throttle a bit to get out of the way- RPM increased, nothing got to the wheels. I stopped, put it in nuetral, and heard a rotational grinding coming from under the car. It seemed to be idling okay. I shut the truck off.

It now does not start. The starter spins super fast, and doesn't appear to be turning the crank.

I have no idea where to even start. There have been no warning signs whatsoever. Any suggestions or ideas? I ditched the car in the lot yesterday, and plan to get it towed, but I need to decide if it's getting towed home or a shop.

Happy 4th of July to me.

 

[alumarine]

Is it a standard?
Almost sounds like the clutch and flywheel went out.

 

[thegipper]

If it's a manual, it sounds like the flywheel broke.

If it's an automatic, it sounds like the flex plate broke.

Either would require the transmission to be removed to fix it. You can remove the inspection cover on the bell housing to get a look at it.

Was it making a clicking/ticking noise prior to this happening?

 

[teh hoff]

It's an Automatic. No noise prior to the issue, truck was running great. Flexplate makes a whole lot of sense though.

 

[thegipper]

I'd put my money on a broken flex plate especially since you said the starter spins super fast but doesn't turn over the motor.

They usually crack before they break and will make a ticking noise that you can hear at idle.

Plan on buying a new flexplate (OEM) and you might as well do the rear main seal while the transmission is out.

Removing the transmission is not "easy" per say but it's also not rocket science. If you have some tools and can rent/buy a tranny jack, it can be done in your driveway. If you have a buddy that can give you a hand, that would be even better.

Hopefully nothing else is damaged and you can just replace the flexplate and rear main seal.

I would still pull the inspection plate and take a look to be certain. A long handle flex head ratcheting 12mm wrench helps with the four bolts on the inspection plate. Two of the bolts are a PITA to get to especially if you have large hands.

 

[dogtail]

It's an Automatic. No noise prior to the issue, truck was running great. Flexplate makes a whole lot of sense though.

I had this happen a few years back. I broke a flex plate on a former 3rd gen I had. Its rare. Unfortunately welcome to the club.

 

[gamefreakgc]

3rd vote on flex plate. That's how the starter engages with the engine and transmission.

When starters go bad they just "click" so yours is working like it should, just not turning over the engine.

 

[curryT4R]

When starters go bad they just "click" so yours is working like it should, just not turning over the engine.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I have seen starters go bad where they just spin really fast in place, but they do not plunge forward to engage the flex plate.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I have seen starters go bad where they just spin really fast in place, but they do not plunge forward to engage the flex plate.

Yeah it is possible the gear on the starter is the problem. Removing the starter and inspecting the gear would confirm this or not. However like you said it's pretty rare. I've seen more broken flexplates than starter gears.