Flex Plate 95 Olds Achieva 3.1 V6

[Joe D]

Help Please . So the 95 olds had a new flex plate put in wk before lasts and a new starter. I would have don’t but because of back injury can’t do so of the old more indept work on cars anyways Friday 2/12/16 while driving on i5 south here in Tacoma wa the car stalled and we got stuck in the middle of freeway state trooper women came thank God and pushed us off the freeway. Towed home I check under this morning and car cranks no belts turn I got under car took of plastic ring around starer flex plate rotates when cranking took oil cap of and no spring moving up and down in the engine…
What can it be?…Wrong flex plate. stuck or broken pulley or pulleys or broken timing chain and if timing chain did new flex plate cause the problem…

Thank you in advance for any and all response This site is a god given gift by Eric and other like minded people . Thanks a million..

Topic

[transman304]

Sounds like the center of the flexplate has broken around where it bolts to the crank. I have seen this when the flexplate is put on backwards on small block chevy but not sure on 3.1. Let us know what you find out. Good luck.

[Richard Kirshy]

First thing to check
If the engine is cranking, see if the pistons are moving in the cylinders, way to check.. remove a spark plug and watch the top of the piston.
If they are moving, I would say the starter and flywheel are ok.

You say the belts are not turning and you have no movement in the rocker train.
Next thing would to see if the harmonic balancer attached to the front of the crank shaft is turning when you crank the motor.

[Joe D]

Thanks so I took of a spark plug wire had someone crank the car I shined a led flash light in the hole but couldn’t see any movement in the sparkplug hole.

[Joe D]

Did I mentioned it was a 3.1 v6 front wheel drive the spark plug hole was very deep don’t know if that matters..

Thank folks.

[Richard Kirshy]

Tend to believe it’s a broken flex plate..
But I have to imagine that it must sound horrible and making a heck of a racket when trying to crank it over.
Surprised you hadn’t mentioned that.

[Joe D]

Actually it sounds like stuff just spinning but the day before it happen was very disturbing noise like bearings rolling around the engine. But now I just went out side a while ago and it sounds like free spinning and engine trying to crank.

[Joe D]

So Iam hesitant to take the car back to this mechanic but he did put in the flex plate so I suppose he’s responsible for not doing the job right.

[Joe D]

I will be trying tomorrow to borrow a tension pulley bar and remove the belt and check all the pulleys by hand if I can.. I will keep you posted tomorrow after I check them unless it continues to rain. Thanks folks for your excellent help hope your having a great valentines day and presidents day..God bless.

[Joe D]

ok guys so I took the belt off and the flex plate looked a little wobbly I believe all the pulleys turn all the way around except the engine pulley on the bottom it turns just a about a quarter if that much and then gets stuck I even tried turn the engine pulley with a ratched rench and it wouldn’t move any futher the flex plate turns. When I crank the engine with out he serpentine belt on the engine pulley didn’t move at all just the flex plate.. What do you think is wrong with our 95 olds achieva 3.1 v6 engine I believe it has something to do with what the mechanic did with the flex plate. Am I right? :unsure:

Again thank to all God Bless.

[Richard Kirshy]

Don’t understand why you needed to double post this issue ..
But it has been explained to you already..
Most likely your looking at this:

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• carnageMedium.jpg

[Fernando cunha]

Hi im just wondering how long ago did mechanic touched
Your car?
I would ring him before touching car .
I would get second opinion from another mechanic
Make sure the guy did done job right.
That’s my advice all the best

[Mike]

Did your mechanic use a brand new flex plate, or did he install a junk yard salvage piece?

[Joe D]

flex plate guy my apologies to anyone if i posted anything twice and it irritaded you not intentional so lets watch the atonement Any ways thank for all the different info from all who responded my next move is to have it towed back to the mechanic and this time I will go with the car owner my cousin so she doesn’t get taken again. God Bless have a good day to the Mechanic , Tech and the DIY guys.

[Joe D]

Well mech last touched it 1/25/16 flexplate installed took back twice for noise coming from. Engine area. brokedown 2/12/16 on freeway towed home and still there.
Thanks for advice but here in Tacoma wa you have to pay to have someone look at it, we dont have the cash were stuck with taking it back to same guy. Thanks a Millon. Have a great day.

[Joe D]

Hey thanks trans dude

[Author]

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