Sheasta

I have the 4.6L 03 Ford explorer. I believe I have the 5r55w trans. It has 126k on it. I have a rattling/chattering metal on metal noise coming from the front of the transmission. It makes the sound in park starts at about ehh 1500 rpm (and is faster the higher the rpm), and in drive on light acceleration it seems to do it just before shifting Im sure its not the engine its the transmission. I have no drivabillity concerns its just a noise (an awful noise). Ive owned it since 98k miles and the sound started at maybe 105 or 110k miles. I've heard it could be the torque convertor but Im gonna assume that would cause a lot more problems then just a noise. So I was thinking maybe loose flex plate bolts or something? Any other ideas let me know. I wasn't sure if the flex plate being loose would cause a noise in park but my problem does. Also I have never done a tranny flush and im not sure how long ago the last one was. Also heard after not doing a tranny flush for so long its better to just not do one. So could me cracking the tranny to check if it is a flex plate cause me more problems? Or do you think I'll be ok?

R.S.LOGAN

I've had a few auto boxes where the flex plate rattles were caused by either the bolts loosening off or plate cracking .Sometimes if you remove the starter motor you can see / confirm the fault .

Bert

It does sound like the flex plate if it's from that area. You did check the cats and exhaust for something loose? As for chenging the fluid after many miles, I've heard different stories on that. No experience and all hearsay for me. If the fluid looks pretty good yet, it probably won't hurt. You may bee able to see the flex plate through the starter hole.

__________________
Bert

Sheasta

Yes I thought I might add that you can hear it on idle too just not as obvious. Also when I move from park or neutral to drive or reverse the noise slows down a little bit and vice versa (from drive or reverse to neutral or park it speeds up a little bit) because its something rotating I guess. So Ill check through the starter hole tomorrow because its dark now. I checked my exhaust already and removed the only loose heat shield on there which fixed one of my noises. Now I have this last remaining noise.