5.4 diagnosing a bad flywheel

Quick diagnostic check of a cracked/broken flywheel

[@stopbeingstagnant]

If I close my eyes, I hear Hank Hill from King of the hill talking about flywheels! awesome video. Actually replacing the flywheel on my f150 as I'm getting vibration at certain RPMs after getting my transmission rebuilt; we thought it was a defective torque converter but even after swapping the converter, vibration is still present. that leaves us with the flywheel or Harmonic balancer.

[@AutomedicGarage]

Not the first person to tell me I sound like Hank.

[@Jbuddaho]

Or driveshaft

[@Meechmanbino]

I was thinking the same exact thing😂

[@stopbeingstagnant]

it does it at most rpms most pronounced in lower rpms, still is even after changing the flex plate. it wasn't doing it before the transmission rebuild@LiveShqip247

[@tonybickham2554]

I have a question I have a 04 Lincoln Navigator 5.4 v8 would I have to drop the whole transmission to replace the flywheel on it?

[@nunisantander5933]

What can cause that the flywheel is braking, i have to replace 3 in one month

[@clearwater9118]

Hi guys.😀 Does the transmission need to be removed on a 98 gmc safari van to replace a flywheel or flex plate?? My van is rubbing on the flywheel but when i leave the car running and loosen starter bolts and tilt the starter slightly, it stops grinding. Makes me think its a starter spring issue. But just in case, does the transmission need to be removed or just disconnected and moved back to remove the flywheel? Appreciate your video. Thanks.

[@AutomedicGarage]

Clear Water it should just need to be moved back for enough clearance to get to the crank bolts like most.

[@sethadow8]

Good morning, How did you move the transmission back, that's the issue I'm having I could use some help. Same make and model truck

[@AutomedicGarage]

kurohime take all bell housing bolts out, remove drive shaft(s) take trans mount loose, trans wire harness, trans dip stick, and torque converter bolts and use a trans jack and lower it and move back from engine till you have enough room to get your ratchet in between the engine and trans.

[@sethadow8]

@@AutomedicGarage thank you 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

[@chriswells4404]

Ok so how did you separate the trans without dropping it?

[@AutomedicGarage]

Unbolt torque converter bolts, remove bell housing bolts, remove trans lines from transmission, remove rear driveshaft, unbolt trans cross member and slide trans back as far as you can until it hits the firewall.

[@clearwater9118]

They should invent a two piece flywheel. 2 half moon shaped pieces that are balanced, so that one half can be installed at a time without removing the transmission. Open end box wrenches could be used. Im not shure if this is a good idea, but it sure would lower the cost of labor.

[@codyramos3200]

Sound like a good way to lose your feet.

[@anthonys7534]

Or Ford should just quit half assing everything. And I’m a Ford guy

[@LosProduction2006]

What does replacement of fly wheel cost .. on 2007 Ford f150 5.4

[@AutomedicGarage]

$630 labor + parts

[@giovannyluque6034]

can you tell me what you guys had to take off to get this done

[@AutomedicGarage]

Giovanny Luque bell housing bolts, driveshafts, torque converter bolts, trans mount and cross member, trans dip stick and trans wiring

[@lbizzy77]

Hello y'all I have a question did the truck make a clanking sound when it was cranked up before it finally rounded off thanks

[@AutomedicGarage]

When the truck was dropped of I was told they were driving it down the interstate and it revved up and stopped pulling. When you tried to start it, it sounded like a bad bendix on a starter sound. You could tell the starter had no load on it. So I can’t really say what it sounded like leading up to the total failure of it. But I do know 7.3 diesel flywheels make a clanking sound when they are about to fail.

[@lbizzy77]

@@AutomedicGarage I have a 99 suburban it would make a clanking sound when I cranked it up and one day it was like in a bind then it cranked up with no clanking sound but it wouldn't move no matter what gear it was in

[@almathornton7806]

@@lbizzy77 bro that happened to me 3 days ago on 59 the noise stopped then dragrace heaven thanks now iknow the problem

[@bradjohnson6260]

I have a 05 ford expedition some teeth are gone on the flywheel is this the same technique to replace it has the 5.4l also

[@AutomedicGarage]

Will be mostly the same. Thanks for watching.

[@CHRONOS-ict]

Mine started sounding like a rod knock or something I came to conclusion it was a cracked flexplate...kept driving it with that terrible knock.....then I lost power to tue wheels...shit off won't start....so I crawled under...I can spin my flywheel with my fingers pretty sure that means I have a broken flywheel indeed...correct? Thanks

[@AutomedicGarage]

Yea

[@-All5ofus-]

Can you tell me how long it takes to separate the transmission from the flywheel?

[@AutomedicGarage]

An hour for me.

[@refoilion]

I have a 2003 ford f150 super crew with a 5.4 im having trouble with getting my transmission off how do you get to the top bolts on the transmission?? I cant see or reach them

[@AutomedicGarage]

I use several long extensions and a impact.

[@refoilion]

I have been trying to see how to get to them so I can drop my transmission i have all the other bolts off and the cross member unbolted something is holding it up

[@purplebooger6410]

Probably that hard to see starter bolt. Got me the first time. 😅

[@explicitreality312]

How much should this service generally cost?

[@evangonzales4848]

what causes the flywheel teeth to break and wear out?

[@AutomedicGarage]

This didn’t have any teeth broken, only the middle mounting surface broke but worn teeth are usually due to a bad starter or misaligned starter

[@AK475886]

What’s the price on labor looking like on that exact truck ?

[@AutomedicGarage]

$500

[@Yaboii.Drewskii]

Are y’all in Atlanta? I got the same problem I need fixed the noise offs aggy af!!!

[@AutomedicGarage]

No we’re outside of Memphis.

[@user-pu8ls8yv9i]

Hey do a transmitter needs to be removed on a 2009 for fusion?

[@AutomedicGarage]

Typically the transmission must be unbolted and slid back at a minimum to gain access to a flexplate or flywheel. Not sure the details on a fusion.

[@sonofsteve566]

have a question. can a flexplate jam up? and create symptoms that "appear" to be seized engine?

[@AutomedicGarage]

It would have to be bent or have something stuck inbetween it and the motor but I’ve never seen or heard of that. Thanks for watching.

[@sonofsteve566]

@@AutomedicGarage thank you for your response, yes this one is strange. engine appeared seized, pulled starter off crank freed up, so I figured issue was starter, replaced with new, truck fired right up..ya-hoo, but shortly clink-clank-clickty clank engine dies. frozen again. can't budge crankshaft. pull new starter off, breaker bar crank free up. repeat over and over. problem appears to be in flexplate area -may be a bolt come loose or broke jamming it up, no visibility in this area....

[@Smash_That_Like_Button]

@@sonofsteve566 What did you Find? I read on a forum that a guy had a broken flexplate and it prevented the engine from turning. I'm taking a gamble on a 04 with the same symptoms I am hoping it's just the flexplate.

[@sonofsteve566]

@@Smash_That_Like_Button make sure you check valve train, mine had a roller fowler gave out, completely destroyed engine, dropped valve in cylinder, mass destruction, these motors are known for major problems.

[@Princepullapart]

I have a 04 5.4 4x4 I think the trans went bad I was on the highway and it was kicking into O/D by itself in and out then it completely stalled on the highway so the rpm was raising but the transmission isn’t picking it up. So I made it off the highway and at the light it was stuck i revved it really hard it and it threw me back so I said I need to replace this transmission. I put a used transmission with warranty new oil filter and oil and it was the same problem I thought maybe it was the transfer case replaced that same thing. Now I’m thinking it is the torque convert and my transmission was still good. My warranty expires in 9 days idk what honestly any help?

[@AutomedicGarage]

If it still starts it isn’t the flexplate

[@gusanderson5046]

What’s the average cost in fixing something like this?

[@AutomedicGarage]

Flywheel was $89 think I charged $500 for labor.

[@capri8225]

@@AutomedicGarage good price

[@cedricwilson4771]

Man I put mine in three years ago it just went out I put one back in bought it from O'Reilly and it broke in three days so now I have to put the heavy duty 1 in😢😢🙋🏿‍♂️🙋🏿‍♂️nice video.. did you have to take off the transmission line

[@AutomedicGarage]

I believe so, it’s been a little while.

[@purplebooger6410]

Literally going through the same exact problem with an O’Reilly flywheel right now. Who ever heard of such nonsense, junk flywheels?! What is really going on? We gotta stop selling china our recycled cans, they really don’t understand how metal works.

[@giovannyluque6034]

I have to do this as well and not sure if I have to take everything off the transmission to remove it. Of I can I would like to remove the least amount of stuff to get it done.

[@AutomedicGarage]

Giovanny Luque-1. I took the inspection plat off. 2 I unbolted the torque converter 3 unbolt the hanger for the trans lines at the front of the engine if it’s a 4.6/5.4 platform. 4 remove the driveshaft 5 removed the trans cross member bolts 6 use a floor jack or trans jack like we did to support the transmission 7 remove the bell housing bolts 8 work the trans back until you have enough room to access the flywheel to crankshaft bolts. This was on a 2wd f150 so if it’s 4wd of course you have extra items to address such as transfer cases and front drive shafts

[@giovannyluque6034]

@@AutomedicGarage Thank you very much ima have to give it a shot tomorrow. Do I remove all the electrical connectors off of it as well?

[@giovannyluque6034]

@@AutomedicGarage sorry but did you guys have to remove the dipstick tube?

[@AutomedicGarage]

Giovanny Luque I think we did sry I didn’t think of that bud

[@giovannyluque6034]

@@AutomedicGarage That's ok your explanation helped put a lot I was able to get the job done thanks for responding.

[@benjaminpace6942]

What did u all have the transmission on

[@AutomedicGarage]

Transmission jack

[@florin26balalau]

That flywheel broke on me the exact same way and I thought it was the Bendix on the starter I replace the starter three times and then I stuck my finger at the flywheel and turned it by hand then I said that's not right I almost bought a dealer starter for $500

[@AutomedicGarage]

Customer who had it towed to me said I need the starter replaced and was blown away when I told him we had to unbolt the trans and replaced the flywheel. Thanks for commenting.

[@robinlangois8852]

I put a new one on 3 days later looks just like the one u pulled off the truck What would cause that

[@AutomedicGarage]

Must be a flaw in the flywheel or you have something twisting the flywheel so hard it’s sheering it off

[@bradblevens]

The pilot on the torque converter and the crankshaft is damaged. It loses its centerline and will continue to break the flexplate.

[@jasonkoonce7951]

Thrust bearing on the crankshaft is worn. This causes the flex plate to flex in the middle as the crankshaft moves front to rear. Look it up, thrust washer wear 5.4 3v.

[@dinerosecreto152]

No oil seal replacement 🤣😀🤣

[@AutomedicGarage]

No, it was replaced about 3 years prior when the last flywheel went out.

[@twanger1994]

Any idea what cause a perfect break like that?

[@AutomedicGarage]

It’s just a weak point due to the way the metal is shaped seen it happen several times

[@travismorris8253]

@@AutomedicGarage how inplay is the 5.4 suppose to have

[@AutomedicGarage]

Travis Morris “how inplay”? I don’t follow

[@TheLuis0823]

@@AutomedicGarage i have a 6.0 power stroke and it's broken 3 times in one year. We are out of ideas.

[@AutomedicGarage]

@@TheLuis0823 are you using a oem flexplate? If so get a billet one holds up to a lot more abuse.

[@shaunbergen5610]

That’s a flex-plate not a flywheel. 🙄

[@AutomedicGarage]

Yes you are correct, but did you not understand what I meant?

[@michaelp.3369]

Instead of just talking you should show what your actually doing. Thumbs down because I couldn't see what you were doing and how you did it.

[@AutomedicGarage]

Michael P. Ok thanks for the thumbs down, it was a last minute decision to video on that day and I was simply showing how to diagnose a bad flywheel not the entire process of the the repair. That’s why the title is diagnosing a bad flywheel and explaining how we determined it was the flywheel. If you watch any of our other videos as time has gone on we have improved our videos. Thanks for the comment.

[@oblivian1308]

Flexplate *

[@AutomedicGarage]

Flywheel/flexplate same thing

[@kevc3148]

flyplate 👌🏻😂

[@tonybickham2554]

I have a question I have a 04 Lincoln Navigator 5.4 v8 would I have to drop the whole transmission to replace the flywheel on it?

[@AutomedicGarage]

Should be a similar situation as this, just move a trans back enough after unhooking all the necessary components.