you won't believe this!

servantsalesmen · August 30, 2014

So my 04 2500HD has a cracked flexplate. It cracked and started making noise around 80,000 miles. I bought this truck new and custom ordered from the factory and took delivery on October 9, 2003.

I went to the dealer today to buy new fluids that I need for the transmission and the guy at the parts desk printed out a list of every warranty repair done to this truck. Turns out, they never told me that at 34,000 miles they put in a new flexplate because the original had cracked and put in a new intermediate steering shaft. So I now know that this is the second cracked flexplate on this motor in 80,000 miles.

To me, this is really really messed up. two flexplates? That's not right. I have a case number filed now with GM and am hoping that I can get something in the way of amends for all this. It's absolutely wrong.

I'll be sure to post back with updates! Please if anyone has advice or any opinions or input please share it!

servantsalesmen · August 30, 2014

To add more info, since I have the tranny out right now, sit upright in the Trans tunnel and look at the motor. The motor is leaning to one side pretty significantly. Could this be part of the problem? I know misalignment causes flexplates to break. And if my flexplate cracked when it was under warranty the first time, why was nothing done to find the root cause of it?

txab · August 30, 2014

No need for more than one topic on this subject. So just bump this one instead of starting a new one. You're other thread has been deleted

Turd Ferguson · August 30, 2014

Out of curiosity, how were they able to replace the flexplate and steering shaft without you knowing about it?

servantsalesmen · August 30, 2014

I walked in to pick it up and didn't speak to the tech that worked on it. I just signed the papers and took it home because it was under warranty and I assumed whatever they did was normal. I knew about the steering issue just didn't think my truck was affected. As for the flexplate, I had no idea at the time what it was so I assumed it wasn't a big deal.

servantsalesmen · August 30, 2014

Out of curiosity, how were they able to replace the flexplate and steering shaft without you knowing about it?

However, I was wondering the same thing. I just went through my records of its service (I have them all) and can find nothing of regards to a flexplate or steering shaft..

8.1HD/ALLISON · August 31, 2014

Motor leaning to one side is not an issue. What do you have supporting it at rear since tranny mount is disconnected? Possible motor mount bad? But that won't cause engine to transmission alignment issue.

servantsalesmen · August 31, 2014

I have some wood under the oil pan and the suspension cross member.

My real question is what, if anything, will GM do about this? The fact that the truck eats a flexplate every 40,000 ish miles is not normal maintenance.

gmtech4 · September 1, 2014

You never got your receipt when you picked up the truck , it would show the added jobs and what the tech did ,

Gm has more time to blow you off unfortunately , nothing will come of it , maybe a free oil change or something

Is your truck all stock ?

servantsalesmen · September 1, 2014

Yeah truck is bone stock. It's just incredibly frustrating to see this. Unless I want to replace a flexplate every 40k, I need either a new motor or transmission. Incredible let down.

servantsalesmen · September 1, 2014

There is obviously a flaw with the casting of the motor or transmission. Since I'm sure I'll be replacing one or both, how can I find out which one is defective?

servantsalesmen · September 1, 2014

You never got your receipt when you picked up the truck , it would show the added jobs and what the tech did ,

Gm has more time to blow you off unfortunately , nothing will come of it , maybe a free oil change or something

Is your truck all stock ?

Govtech, in your opinion, what could have caused this thing to crack twice? The truck is bone stock and never been abused. It is rated to tow 9,900 pounds and has never been at or above that number. It was used to tow a 12 foot construction trailer (about 4000 pounds) regularly for about 3 years. It saw a bobcat and trailer a few times when we rented one for a job. Bobcat was not towed long distance and was about 8,000 pounds. And lastly, it has pulled several cars out of ditches in winter weather. Where we live is pretty flat as well.

I ask you this because I talked to a mechanic that said it was probably abused and that's why it broke. I don't buy that though because my 4l60e equipped suburban towed a 19 foot boat for years towed lots of mulch etc and has never broken a flexplate but my HD has broken 2. It seems like abuse wasn't a cause unless towing a trailer with an HD truck is abuse now lol!

gmtech4 · September 2, 2014

Govtech, in your opinion, what could have caused this thing to crack twice? The truck is bone stock and never been abused. It is rated to tow 9,900 pounds and has never been at or above that number. It was used to tow a 12 foot construction trailer (about 4000 pounds) regularly for about 3 years. It saw a bobcat and trailer a few times when we rented one for a job. Bobcat was not towed long distance and was about 8,000 pounds. And lastly, it has pulled several cars out of ditches in winter weather. Where we live is pretty flat as well.

I ask you this because I talked to a mechanic that said it was probably abused and that's why it broke. I don't buy that though because my 4l60e equipped suburban towed a 19 foot boat for years towed lots of mulch etc and has never broken a flexplate but my HD has broken 2. It seems like abuse wasn't a cause unless towing a trailer with an HD truck is abuse now lol!

The first thought is that the torque converter , maybe it's not right inside and is shocking the flex plate IDK ,

Misalignment is impossible because of dowel pins and not leaking TC seal /bad fitting TC to. Flex plate

Every tranny guys knows of the one flex plate to TC mount hole that's not elongated and allows for the centering of the remaining mount holes so you turn the crank once to install and tighten the bolts instead of twice

I never had a cracked Flexplate to fix , I may suggest an aftermarket plate if avail to handle the stress , idk what else to say ,

Hope it helps

September 2, 2014

Find one rated for racing that is certified to handle the stress.

servantsalesmen · September 2, 2014

Man this has turned into a sloppy mess. I really can't understand why I'm having this problem. Maybe my truck accidentally got a corvette motor and truck tranny and flexplate and it can't handle 600 hp! I'm taking the plate to a transmission specialist to see what he can tell me.