[aaron580]

Ok so here goes the saga of this new problem I have. Last week, Tuesday, extreme cold, truck wont start. Dead batteries. Order new batteries. Thursday evening, jump truck FINALLY, let run for a while, shut off until morning. Morning comes, dead truck again, my dumb @$$ left the jump box plugged in the truck all night. Finally got it going (friday), went to town and dropped it off at my local plow shop to get a mount put on. 3pm, they haven't touched it, and my new batteries are at the shop waiting. So I pickup the truck and drive back to my shop. Whole time something was loud and didnt hear it in the morning. I don't think much of it since I didn't let it warm up and figured it was cold, always makes some kind of noise. When I get my batteries in, starting issue fixed, now depending on the surface I am on, and only at idle RPM, I hear and feel a grinding noise coming from the front. It almost sounds like it comes from the bell housing in the cab, but I can't hear anything abnormal standing outside of the cab. I also hear it when I hit a bump or turning as well, but mainly when truck is standing still in any gear. This is new to me. I have done all possible research and did as much checking as I could on the truck and cannot find anything. Filled my power steering fluid back up, it was low, that didn't cure it. Any thoughts? Because I'm fed up with this truck currently. One repair after another...it will never end with a dodge.

EDIT: I really do not hotrod the truck either, as I see no point. Just my incredibly unreliable work truck.

 

[trkklr77]

pull the starter of and see if the bendix is retracting.

some times they can stay stuck out and will spin with the flywheel.

 

[Big Lar]

Just a stab in the dark, perhaps the flex plate ?

 

[aaron580]

Ill pull the starter and see, Im not gonna drop the tranny unless I know for sure that it is the flex plate. The fact it does it on different surfaces and not on some is strange. If truck faces up hill, wont do it. leaning to the right, wont do it. level, facing down, and leaning left, it will grind grind grind all day

 

[verdesardog]

wheel bearing?

 

[aaron580]

wheel bearing?

Considered that, but it wouldn't make noise sitting still.

Looked at the starter, seemed to be all fine there. Guess Ill just run it until whatever it is breaks...

 

[Big Lar]

Remove the inspection plate under the bellhousing and look at the flex plate to rule it out?

 

[aaron580]

Remove the inspection plate under the bellhousing and look at the flex plate to rule it out?

I'm an idiot, Ill pull it today and check. Is it pretty obvious to see? Not much looking room in there it appears.

 

[Big Lar]

Your just frustrated, rightly so.once the inspection plate is out of the way shine a light in there and see what can be seen. I would also check the bolts for tightness while there. May need to spin the motor to check them all. Might not be the problem, but it will eliminate 1 possibility and is free.

 

[steve05ram360]

If the noise is coming from the front, why would you look at the trans??!

Check and or just replace the bearings on the front of the motor, fan clutch bearing, idler arm bearings etc... I had a whine that would come & go, with 240k on the motor I figured I'd swap all the bearings plus the water pump while I was at it, problem gone. I could have spent a lot of time trying to figure out which bearing was bad, this way, truck was only down a few hours & problem solved.

You dont say how many miles are on the truck and how long you've owned it (if you did, sorry I missed it) but stuff doesnt last for ever. Often a trucks problems are related to the care & maintainence of it... deferred maintainence = higher repair bills & more trouble for the next guy. To this day, with 243k miles on my truck, it has left me stranded only 1 time, and that was not the trucks fault, it was mine for neglecting to tighten a ground bolt tight enough (worked its way loose leading to electrical failure, no headlights, taillights etc...). Found it the next day in minutes

Edit: re-read your post and it sounds like you have 2 problems... what I posted ^ may not apply.

 

[JRod_141]

sticky starter bendix is sounding like a viable possibility

 

[Rpadar]

Is there snow packed in underneath?

 

[aaron580]

Ill look at the bendix again, and didn't get a chance at my shop to take the inspection plate off, but Ill try tonight or before turkey tomorrow. Truck has 194K. I have had since august. No snow underneath. Im stumped on how it matters what the angle of the truck is as to if it makes the noise or not. Reason I think its flex plate/TC is because it seems to come from right there, and no noise from the front of motor. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I actually have been working with my local dealer on buying a brand new one. We will see what we can work out!

 

[aaron580]

Pulled inspection plate, bendix is retracting as normal, no real noise other than normal stuff coming from torque converter, cannot see flex plate, I'm even more stumped. Got my backup camera working again...its the little things I guess. No abnormal noises coming from the motor. Makes noise in my shop, stops when its parked on the incline outside the door. Not blower motor, no exhaust rubs, I'm about to give up.

EDIT: Well I am once again, an idiot. Its something rubbing. I was so concerned about the front of the truck that I didn't even check the back. The noise plays out of the bed like a giant speaker. Its loud underneath as well right around the muffler. You can also feel it through the bed heavily as well. Rock the truck, noise goes in and out. Rawr, I love huge simple problems. Now to narrow it down...

 

[Big Lar]

Good to hear you have it narrowed down

 

[dieselenthusiast]

Subscribing for a happy ending. :thumbsup:

 

[jnmr1]

loose exhaust bracket or clamp? possible heat shield making contact with something while in gear and the engine/trans torqued up?