1997 CVPI 4.6 Broken Crank

[bluebeast86]

My 1997 CVPI will not start and when I try to crank it the starter just spins. I think the crank is broken because the flywheel spins when the starter turns. Has anyone else had this problem?
Thanks,
Spencer

[SVT98t]

fuel filter
fuel pump
fuses and relays
ignition coils
spark plugs
spark plug wires


does the fuel pump whirr when you put the ignition to "ON" ?

i just dealt with this today. ill try and help as much as i can, mang.

[eaglegcil]

do the pulleys on the front of the engine spin? if so, you don't have broken crank, some other issue, i'v also seen the flywheel bolts sheer off, had a shop replace transmission and messed up flywheel bolts and it just spun on torque convertor. look at the pulleys.

[bluebeast86]

No, the pulleys do not turn, but I had somebody look while I tried to start it and the starter is turning the flywheel. Since the flywheel turns and the pulleys do not, it has to be the crank I believe. Fuel pump, etc. all come on like normal.

Thanks for your help,
Spencer

[1987cp]

Is a broken crank on a stock engine even a possibility? Barring an amazingly-unforeseen manufacturing defect, that is.

[SVT98t]

Is a broken crank on a stock engine even a possibility? Barring an amazingly-unforeseen manufacturing defect, that is.

+1

[p71towny]

I HIGHLY doubt the crank has snapped. Hell, you'da really known when you shut it off last.

[Dereck]

Hi

More likely the torque convertor flex plate has fractured.

Regards

Dereck

[Lincolnmania]

i'm gonna go with dereck on this one

[grandpaslincoln]

I've seen it, not on a Panther, but on a dodge truck with a Cummins. If the crankshaft itself broke, you'd know it.

I'd also like to say, breaking the flexplate is something you are going to notice too. Did you hear or feel anything? I only ask this, because in either case, crank or flexplate, your car is gonna stop moving. So I'm wondering what were the events leading UP TO the starter just spinning the flexplate.

[bluebeast86]

I've seen it, not on a Panther, but on a dodge truck with a Cummins. If the crankshaft itself broke, you'd know it.

I'd also like to say, breaking the flexplate is something you are going to notice too. Did you hear or feel anything? I only ask this, because in either case, crank or flexplate, your car is gonna stop moving. So I'm wondering what were the events leading UP TO the starter just spinning the flexplate.

I bought it off a towing company like this lol for 400 bucks. The owners didn't pay their tow bill. So I have never heard it run. I'm swapping the motor anyway so I guess I'll tear down the old one and see what's up with it.

[grandpaslincoln]

Ah okay that makes more sense then. Flexplate is the most likely thing, the material is fairly thin, so under the right circumstances like metal fatigue or extreme abuse they can break. That's what happened with that Cummins, one of the guys I worked with let his GF drive it and she must really been beating on it, because it tore the center right out of that flexplate. As for breaking a crank, there's really not much you can do to break one, unless it had defects from the beginning. Not sure if a broken or missing harmonic balancer on a 4.6 would break the crankshaft, it might. Guess you'll find out lol

$400 for a 97 is a hell of deal too!

[Cable Guys FGMQ]

Wow what mess mang I use to have a 97 CV LX if a torque coverter try changing the tranny fluid also sometimes that will fix the problem but if a crank then from what I hear 4.6 are not rebuildable un like the older Ford motors that are ??????

[1987cp]

Define "not rebuildable". Lots of people have rebuilt Modular engines, especially those with performance and racing goals in mind. Timing cover fitment is supposed to be a pain in the butt if head milling is required, though.

[bluebeast86]

Ah okay that makes more sense then. Flexplate is the most likely thing, the material is fairly thin, so under the right circumstances like metal fatigue or extreme abuse they can break. That's what happened with that Cummins, one of the guys I worked with let his GF drive it and she must really been beating on it, because it tore the center right out of that flexplate. As for breaking a crank, there's really not much you can do to break one, unless it had defects from the beginning. Not sure if a broken or missing harmonic balancer on a 4.6 would break the crankshaft, it might. Guess you'll find out lol

$400 for a 97 is a hell of deal too!

I'm starting to wonder if it was a good deal lol. A couple weeks after I bought that there was a '99 P71 that ran and the tranny was good and was in pretty good shape for $400 on Craigslist, the only thing wrongh with it was bad rearend.

Also, I do not believe the flexplate is broken because it is still in position perfectly like it's supposed to be. If it were broken, would it not be loose?