Tapping getting louder. Can’t pinpoint and have tried stethoscope to no avail.

[iboughtatahoe23]

Also, can someone explain more in detail about what nick means by rotating the flex plate with a ratchet?

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@iboughtatahoe23 If you put your Tahoe in D does the sound get louder?

 

[wjburken]

Also, can someone explain more in detail about what nick means by rotating the flex plate with a ratchet?

Okay, let me try and explain.

The flex plate is attached the rear end of the motor’s crankshaft and serves two main purposes. 1). It has teeth that the starter engages to turn the motor over to start the motor. 2) it is what the torque converter bolts too and where power (torque) from the motor is transferred (converted) to the transmission.

If you find the crank bolt that is at the front end of the crankshaft and holds the big belt pulley onto the crankshaft, you can put a socket on a ratchet or breaker bar on that bolt and turn the motor by hand slowly, to rotate the flex plate all the way around and see if you have any loose torque convertor bolts or cracks in your flex plate by looking in that inspection hole with a flashlight.

As @NickTransmissions stated, it may not be the cause of your tick, but it’s worth checking out and it lets you learn a little more about your vehicle and how it’s put together.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

@iboughtatahoe23 If you put your Tahoe in D does the sound get louderr?

It actually gets a little more loud and pronounced if I put it in park. In drive it’s not really noticeable. And I can kinda hear it matching the rpms when just cruising down the boulevard and i pass a building for example. Or sitting in the drive thru in park I can really hear it sometimes too.

I hear it when I first start it up, tbe rpms will be high and then rest around 600rpm than I’ll hear it.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Okay, let me try and explain.

The flex plate is attached the rear end of the motor’s crankshaft and serves two main purposes. 1). It has teeth that the starter engages to turn the motor over to start the motor. 2) it is what the torque converter bolts too and where power (torque) from the motor is transferred (converted) to the transmission.

If you find the crank bolt that is at the front end of the crankshaft and holds the big belt pulley onto the crankshaft, you can put a socket on a ratchet or breaker bar on that bolt and turn the motor by hand slowly, to rotate the flex plate all the way around and see if you have any loose torque convertor bolts or cracks in your flex plate by looking in that inspection hole with a flashlight.

As @NickTransmissions stated, it may not be the cause of your tick, but it’s worth checking out and it lets you learn a little more about your vehicle and how it’s put together.

So could a laggy-starter, or my starter not always catching be a sign of a bad flex plate ? It always starts right up but sometimes the last few cranks will kinda slip and roll over if you that makes sense. Still starts tho

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

My car drives fine I think..? No coded, then them awkward shifts that only seem to be an issue when the transmission sits longer than half a day and when the transmission is cold.
The exhaust leak might be that loss of power im feeling? Idk. Maybe it just me. I’m kind of **** retentive about my Tahoe

 

[wjburken]

So could a laggy-starter, or my starter not always catching be a sign of a bad flex plate ? It always starts right up but sometimes the last few cranks will kinda slip and roll over if you that makes sense. Still starts tho

I wouldn't think so.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Opened up the flexplate cover and inspected. Looks fine. Just a little surface rust here and there. Not sure how to rotate it. Look like I have to take a cover off? Not the whole transmission pan though right?

My flexplate cover, not sure what to do next.

 

[NickTransmissions]

Opened up the flexplate cover and inspected. Looks fine. Just a little surface rust here and there. Not sure how to rotate it. Look like I have to take a cover off? Not the whole transmission pan though right?

My flexplate cover, not sure what to do next.

Grab a black sharpie, 1/2 drive ratchet or breaker bar, short extension and (i think) 1-1/16" socket and mark the flexplate with a sharpie. The slowly turn the engine over (go 1/4 of a revolution then reinspect the flexplate. Turn it over again 1/4 rev and reinspect. Keep turning until you see your mark so you know you'vegone one complete turn.

Ill take a video of my tahoe's ticking sound and post it later in this thread so you can compare it to yours to see if they sound the same to you

 

[wjburken]

Opened up the flexplate cover and inspected. Looks fine. Just a little surface rust here and there. Not sure how to rotate it. Look like I have to take a cover off? Not the whole transmission pan though right?

My flexplate cover, not sure what to do next.

You do not need to remove anything from the transmission other than the inspection cover.

You rotate the flex plate by manually turning the motor. Using the tools and process that @NickTransmissions spelled out above and putting the socket on the crank bolt at the FRONT of your motor as I outlined above as well and turn the motor per the process prescribed.