I have a 2000 dodge grand caravan with 3.8L and i started to get this ticking noise from idle to about 20mph and then it got really bad after a few weeks. i got under the van and i see one of the flex plate bolts was screwed out about half an inch or so. i dont know about the others yet i havent got to look. but it looks like it was hitting somthing and i can only think it would be the back of the block. i think this is what i was hearing. i think this also may be the reason my van was eating starters. what would cause them to work loose? also how do i fix the problem and also how do i know if the other bolts are loose?

 

So a torque converter bolt came loose, WTF worked on it last that didn't torque them down? Just tighten them (18mm wrench which according to someone is a hard size to find in a tool set) recheck for the noise. you just might get lucky. However, torque converter bolts don't even come close to the starter, so that might be some other problem. It seems that someone replaced the trans that had no clue what they were doing.

 

how do i rotate the torque converter to get to the other 2 bolts?

 

Hmmm there's at least 10 ways to do this: starter, wrench on torque converter bolt turning the flex plate, socket on the crankshaft pulley bolt, screwdriver between the teeth on the flex plate and block... There are a total of 4 bolts!!