'00 Grand Caravan 3.3L Tranny issue

[Joe911]

I searched the forums first to see if there was a similar problem. In the morning when I start the van there is a lot of noise that basically sounds like a few rocks rolling around in the crankcase or Tranny. Once it warms up or if I rev the engine at all it quites right up. Once warm it sounds like only one rock bouncing around down there, if I kick on the AC it get louder when the clutch engages, sounds like two rocks. Any Idea's? Two shops have said they think the sound is coming from the tranny but wont know until they open it up, I don't want to loose the car for three days so they have me trapped into a complete change out. I haven't dropped the pan yet to see if anything is floating around yet either?

Joe

[Dakotah18]

Sounds like the torque converter, alot of times what happens is the bolts that hold the driveplate to the converter basically work themselves out and it creates the noise you hear, problem is, to replace those bolts (or more depending on the damage that was caused), the engine and the trans need to be separated.

[Joe911]

Turned out to be the flex plate was cracked. I had them change the fluids and filter, rear spark plugs and wires. 125k and the tranny itself is good just a cracked flexplate or flywheel for you standard people.

Joe