09 tacoma. Flexplate keeps breaking every 4 ton6 months

Hello tacoma world. I need help. My 09 tacoma keeps cracking the flexplate or flywheel. Its an automatic. This is my third time it cracked in over a year. Bought it at auto zone. Please help out. Thanks

 

I think you meant to post in the 2nd gen section.

Nonetheless, flex plate cracking?
How? Where? When?

The autozone part might be the issue, as it quite often is. Try OEM.

 

there is a issue* with how the trans bolts to the block or the thrust bearings on the crankshaft are shot.

Not being there to look and see... The trans does sit flush with the separator plate/block and the alignment dowels are there, right?

 

While it’s possible it is the aftermarket part, I would also look for missing dowel pins and a possible bad torque converter.

I would probably let a professional trans shop have a look at it.

 

trans shop needs to check the torque converter. Also its a MUST to install the BLACK BOLT FIRST. silver bolts go after torquing the black bolt, there is also a dowl that needs to line up correctly in the crank, if thats off you will also crack the plates, spacers could be missing... ETC. a trans shop should be able to figure it out

 

Who is doing the work?

Are they torquing the bolts in the correct order to the correct spec?

This is highly unusual.

 

Agree with all of the above. Are you 4x4 ?
are both dowel pins in the engine block ? How is the torque converter being installed ? the converter and transmission are installed as 1 piece . Missing spacers between the engine and transmission ?
Have you pre-fit the torque converter into the crankshaft ? sometimes the pilot hub on the converter makes for a very tight fit . Emery cloth the pilot hub on the converter and the crankshaft .
Some guys not knowing , accidently install the converter to the flywheel and then raise the transmission into place ....not good
Once the transmission is bolted up with a couple bolts , that converter needs to free spin . If the converter is tight , something is not correct .
When torque converters get hot , they can balloon increasing in size . Hows your transmission cooling system functioning ?
Was the transmission ever rebuilt ? do you have an aftermarket torque converter ?
Are your driveshafts phased properly ? no vibrations in the driveline ? Does your slip yoke plunge ? Hows the engine running ? nice and smooth when your locking converter applies ?
The transmission flexplate is the weakest link .
I would take your aftermarket flex plate to the dealer and match it up with a new flywheel .
After 3 times , this issue should have been figured out

 

There is a reason I never learned to drive a Automatic transmission this is part of it.

 

in my experience, manual transmissions have many more potental mis-install issues than automatics, most people just havent experienced them yet or what is worse, just keep ignoring them. Bell housings mis indexed, none existant or dry pilot bearings/bushings, friction plates installed backwards, wrong/no lube on the T/O bearing shaft, bargain pressure plates... gearcrucher, tell us some of your horror stories...

 

I dont have to travel far to find horror stories
This happens about once a week at Tacoma World $$$$$$$
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...340f-bellhousing-update-truck-is-dead.528432/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2006-tacoma-trans-problem.540510/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ned-transmission-fluid-instead-of-oil.685600/

 

I went through 3 or 4 flexplates. I was told the dowel pins were missing. Haven't had problems since

 

But I can rebuild manual Transmissions expect for when the other techs put extra shafts and gears on the table to have a laugh.Over a long weekend.

If I learned to drive Automatics I would need to go to school to learn how to rebuild and test them.

Buy those interesting tools to do so.

But I like the smell of gear oil much better then ATF

 

I know what it is. I can bet money on it.

You have a warped torque converter. The mating surface is no longer even. Have a shop use a runout gauge on the TC while someone spins the crank pulley.

This happened to me but more quickly. My flex plates would last only a few miles.

 

Its that dastardly magic black bolt again..... at least you didn’t destroy the pump....

 

understood... I know my limitations. I had a 928S4 5 speed with under 2k miles that was rear ended and locked in 2 gears. The trans assembly guy back in Germany forgot to put in a spring and a interlock ball. When is got hit the inertia forced that particular shift rail forward, essentially locking the trans. Porsche sent a guy down from Reno to take a look as they didn't believe me. Porsche air freighted a spring and interlock ball overnight as this vehicle was so new that there went any spares in the system yet.

to me, automatics are essentially a controlled leak.

 

Was the proper air gap of 3/16th to 1/8th set between the torque converter tabs and flexplate before tightening the mounting bolts ???

If not you also may have damaged the the thrust bearing on the crankshaft

 

Typically if the torque converter isn’t fully seated (3 clicks, can’t fit fingers behind)!the pump on the trans is destroyed on Toyota’s.