What are the consequences of not repairing a damaged transmission flywheel?
2 Answers
Consequences of not repairing a damaged transmission flywheel: Hazard one: Flywheel wear can lead to loss of balance. Hazard two: Causes crankshaft fatigue and longitudinal cracks in the flywheel housing. Hazard three: Engine starting difficulties, gear noise, or damage to the starter motor. There are many reasons for flywheel damage, as follows: Assembly components: Imbalance in the crankshaft, flywheel, and clutch assembly. Drive shaft: Imbalance in the drive shaft. Connection failure: Failure of the connection between the flywheel and the engine block. Transmission imbalance: Loosening of the first and second shaft bearings in the transmission, causing transmission imbalance. Quality issues with the gears themselves: Gears are typically made of alloy materials and are produced and processed by automotive parts manufacturers on specialized production lines. Factors such as material, equipment, process, and inspection during this process can result in substandard or degraded gear quality. Such gears, when assembled, have poor quality and a significantly reduced service life.
I remember that time on a business trip when the flywheel broke and wasn’t repaired promptly. Starting the car produced a loud clattering sound, and gear shifts were extremely jerky, especially in crowded areas where I almost rear-ended the car in front—scared me half to death. Long-term neglect can worsen starting difficulties, accelerating motor wear, and transmit vibrations to the transmission, damaging synchronizers and multiplying repair costs. When I finally towed it to the shop, the mechanic said early intervention would’ve cost a few hundred, but delaying it led to a full transmission overhaul costing over 5,000, not to mention the safety risks. Daily driving vibrations also accelerate wear on suspension and engine mounts. My advice: get it checked at the first sign of trouble—don’t gamble like I did, or you’ll face bigger headaches and expenses later.
