At a crossroads
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57j2olds
- SSE Member

- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:39 am
- Year and Trim: 2001 Bonneville
- Location: Ira, MI
At a crossroads
Hello,
You all have been a great help over the many years here.
The 2001 developed a noise coming from the starter area a month ago after I "took off too fast" from a red ight.
My assumption is that it's the flex-plate.
$800 to pull trans
$100 for part
Not sure what to do.
I'm taking it to my local shop next week to rule anything else out.
The noise changes with throttle. Goes away during acceleration. Always there at idle...tick.tik.tick.tick...
197,000 miles. Runs great....new windshield...new tires..fuel pump..idler pullys..belt...plugs..upper intake...
Not sure if "This is the Big one Elizabeth".
You all have been a great help over the many years here.
The 2001 developed a noise coming from the starter area a month ago after I "took off too fast" from a red ight.
My assumption is that it's the flex-plate.
$800 to pull trans
$100 for part
Not sure what to do.
I'm taking it to my local shop next week to rule anything else out.
The noise changes with throttle. Goes away during acceleration. Always there at idle...tick.tik.tick.tick...
197,000 miles. Runs great....new windshield...new tires..fuel pump..idler pullys..belt...plugs..upper intake...
Not sure if "This is the Big one Elizabeth".
- Sirius
- Resident Gearhead

- Posts: 2143
- Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 10:40 am
- Year and Trim: 2003 SSEi
- Location: West Point
Re: At a crossroads
$900 is maybe 2 payments on a new car. If that 9 hunge gets you through a year with the Bonneville you're money ahead. 
Resident Tightwadgweg_b wrote:People think I'm nuts, but Matt proved it.

Screw you, Photobucket.
- 95naSTA
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 7087
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:47 pm
- Year and Trim: 95 SLE
- Location: Philadelphia
- Contact:
Re: At a crossroads
Is your front engine mount near the starter still good? It could have separated.

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers
Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.
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57j2olds
- SSE Member

- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:39 am
- Year and Trim: 2001 Bonneville
- Location: Ira, MI
Re: At a crossroads
Sirius wrote:$900 is maybe 2 payments on a new car. If that 9 hunge gets you through a year with the Bonneville you're money ahead.
Great Point!
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57j2olds
- SSE Member

- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:39 am
- Year and Trim: 2001 Bonneville
- Location: Ira, MI
Re: At a crossroads
God I hope that is all it is!!95naSTA wrote:Is your front engine mount near the starter still good? It could have separated.
- 95naSTA
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 7087
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:47 pm
- Year and Trim: 95 SLE
- Location: Philadelphia
- Contact:
Re: At a crossroads
With the car in park on flat ground and hood up, rock the car forward/backwards from the front getting momentum on each rock. The engine/trans won't want to rotate as the body moves. If that mount is separated you should see it come apart every time the body rocks.

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers
Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.
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57j2olds
- SSE Member

- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:39 am
- Year and Trim: 2001 Bonneville
- Location: Ira, MI
Re: At a crossroads
95naSTA wrote:With the car in park on flat ground and hood up, rock the car forward/backwards from the front getting momentum on each rock. The engine/trans won't want to rotate as the body moves. If that mount is separated you should see it come apart every time the body rocks.
Where exactly is that mount?
- nos4blood70
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 9522
- Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
- Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: At a crossroads
If the vehicle isn't very rusty, I'd keep it for that price. Used cars are expensive and new cars are nearly unattainable, and that's ignoring their costs.
If you open the hood, the mount 95naSTA is referring to is right below the air box, looks like a black marshmallow, it's also near the ABS pump.
If you open the hood, the mount 95naSTA is referring to is right below the air box, looks like a black marshmallow, it's also near the ABS pump.
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57j2olds
- SSE Member

- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:39 am
- Year and Trim: 2001 Bonneville
- Location: Ira, MI
Re: At a crossroads
I've read that the noise I hear can also be the starter bendix.
How is this?
How is this?
- luke_dubs
- GXP Member

- Posts: 254
- Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:14 pm
- Year and Trim: 2013 Regal GS
- Location: OH
Re: At a crossroads
If the flex plate does need to be replaced, you should definitely get it done. As previously stated, new car prices (and used car prices) are ridiculous. You will not find a car like a Bonneville these days - I've tried. Keep her on the road, as much as you can.

'02 Pontiac Bonneville SE 108,539 miles, N/A, SSEi exhaust system, boat roller mount. Gone, but not forgotten.
'13 Buick Regal GS 122k miles, 270 hp, 295 lb/ft, ZZP intake.
(yes, there is a story behind my avatar.)
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57j2olds
- SSE Member

- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:39 am
- Year and Trim: 2001 Bonneville
- Location: Ira, MI
Re: At a crossroads
Flexplate cracked.....
While the trans is out....what else should I have done?
While the trans is out....what else should I have done?


