Vibration then no go

[themickeyd]

Hello All, I'm running a 1996 Ranger 4x4 with the auto transmission. This last weekend I started feeling a vibration that felt very much like a U Joint going bad (vibration while under power, stopping while coasting). I crawled under the truck and found the bolts holding the transferase yoke to the driveshaft u-joint were really loose. I tightened them up and did a quick test drive and it was better. Then Friday on the way to work the vibration came back and was getting worse by the time I got there. Then on the way home the vibration was still there and while heading up a hill my engine started reving and the speed started dropping. I pulled off the side of the road and tried running through the gears and reverse with nothing. I stopped the engine and checked the transmission fluid and it was full and clear. But when I got back I tried starting the truck and tried starting the engine nothing. You could hear the starter running freely almost as it had fallen out (it didn't) or there was nothing to connect to on the flex plate. There were no noises or anything when it happened. Any ideas? I've heard of the bolts holding the torque converter can come out but I would have expected more of a Bang, and having the starter not connecting are something that I can't quit figure out.

 

[Uncle Gump]

You might have broken the flex plate.

 

[RobbieD]

Does sound like a broken flex plate. You can pull the starter and check it out. I've had them break out around the crank bolts.