Your car’s bell housing can end up with cracks for various reasons, like poor maintenance, accumulation of rust, excess heat, and worn engine mounts. Now, spotting the signs of a cracked bell housing can be tricky if you are not familiar with them.
So, what are the cracked bell housing symptoms? There are some basic signs you will notice if there is a crack in the bell housing, including:
- Weird rattling sounds
- Transmission fluid leaking
- Burning smell
- Excessive vibration in the engine
- Difficulty while speeding
In this article, we are going to discuss the common signs you may notice due to a damaged bell housing. Plus, we will talk about what can cause your car’s bell housing to crack in the first place. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What Is The Bell Housing In Your Car?
In your car, there is an aluminum casing known as the bell housing. You will notice that the bell housing connects the transmission system to your car’s engine. It is attached to the back of the engine.
This aluminum casing covers the clutch plate, pressure plate, flywheel, and transmission system. It mainly protects these parts from small rocks, dust, sand, and physical damage while you are driving on bumpy roads.
Furthermore, it ensures that the transmission system remains correctly aligned with the engine. As a result, your car’s engine can generate sufficient power so that you can drive your car smoothly.
What Are The 5 Common Cracked Bell Housing Symptoms?
When your car’s bell housing has a crack, you will notice a few signs. Below, I have listed some common symptoms many car owners face due to cracked bell housing.
1. Weird rattling sounds
The most common sign is your car makes weird noises while changing gears. A Camaro driver shared that he heard odd rattling or knocking sounds when driving over bumps.
2. Excessive Vibrations
A Porsche owner said his car starts to vibrate when it goes above 3000 rpm. This is a sign of a cracked bell housing. According to a research paper, the transmission bell housing is usually firmly attached with bolts.
If these bolts become loose, it causes vibrations in the transmission system. Thus, cracks form in the bell housing.
3. Difficulty While Speeding
When your car doesn’t speed up as it should when you press the gas pedal, it might be due to a cracked bell housing. This is because a crack in the bell housing can mess up the connection between the engine and the transmission.
This disrupts the flow of power from the engine to the transmission. Thus, your car becomes less responsive when you are trying to accelerate.
4. Strange Burning Smell
You might also notice a burning smell if your car’s bell housing is cracked. This happens because a cracked bell housing can generate excess heat and produce a smell resembling burning rubber.
5. Transmission Fluid Leaking From A Car
A driver from Australia mentioned seeing a lot of dark red transmission fluid leaking from his car after each drive. This is a common sign of a cracked bell housing.
What Can Cause The Bell Housing In Your Car To Crack? (Top 5 Causes)
Check out the information I have given below. Here, you will find some common causes of damaged bell housing.
Continuous engine-transmission interaction
As I mentioned earlier, the bell housing in your car is connected to the back of the engine. It is designed to accommodate a drive shaft that goes toward the transmission.
When you accelerate or decelerate, the bell housing experiences a continuous back-and-forth force. This force is generated by the interaction between the transmission and the engine. This constant movement can eventually damage the bell housing in your car.
Run-down transmission or engine mounts
A cracked bell housing can occur when the transmission or engine mounts become worn out. This wear and tear can lead to excessive vibration. As a result, the bell housing forms multiple cracks.
Missing bolts or dowel pins
Many automobile owners pointed out that missing bolts or dowel pins can cause the bell housing to crack. This happens because when a bolt is missing, it causes the bell housing to become loose.
This disrupts the proper alignment between the engine and the transmission. As a result, your car’s engine vibrates excessively while you drive. Over time, these vibrations will put pressure on the bell housing, and it will crack.
Unbalanced flywheel
If the flywheel in your car is unbalanced, it can lead to a cracked bell housing. When the flywheel is out of balance, it doesn’t rotate smoothly. Thus, it starts to vibrate. These vibrations can cause dents or cracks in the bell housing over time.
Exhaust system producing a significant amount of heat
Usually, bell housings are built from metals like cast iron and aluminum. A study found that metals have a tendency to develop cracks when they experience thermal shock. Therefore, the bell housing can develop cracks if your car’s transmission or exhaust system generates a lot of heat.
How Can You Fix A Cracked Bell Housing? 10 Steps To Follow
Fixing a cracked bell housing is a very complicated task. Therefore, I recommend you take your car to a mechanic if you notice signs of a cracked bell housing.
For basic knowledge, I have provided a general guide on how you can fix a cracked bell housing below.
Step 1
You need to wear rubber gloves and safety goggles before starting the procedure.
Step 2
Use a vehicle jack to raise the front of your car and place jack stands to hold it in place.
Step 3
Disconnect your car’s battery.
Step 4
Locate the bell housing mounted at the back of your engine.
Step 5
Remove oil and dirt from the bell housing by using a cleaning solvent, sandpaper, or a scrubber.
Step 6
Apply J-B weld epoxy to seal any small cracks on the bell housing and allow the epoxy to cure for 24 hours.
Step 7
Remove the jack stands and lower your car to the ground.
Step 8
Start your car and check the bell housing for any leaks.
Step 9
If the crack isn’t properly fixed, you may need to use welding equipment to weld the damaged area.
Step 10
If you fail, contact a mechanic to help you weld the crack on the bell housing. But I would say, don’t take the risk. Let the expert do the entire job.
For more details, you can watch this YouTube video.
People Also Ask
If you want additional information on cracked bell housing symptoms, check out the frequently asked questions I have added below.
Are there any warning lights that indicate a cracked bell housing?
No, there are no specific warning lights that indicate a cracked bell housing. However, cracks in bell housing cause transmission issues. As a result, the vehicle’s check engine light may illuminate.
Should I drive with a cracked bell housing?
No, you should not drive with a cracked bell housing. It can increase the risk of transmission damage. Moreover, you will face difficulty shifting gears, and the engine in your car may heat up excessively. As a result, you might crash while driving.
How much does it cost to repair a cracked bell housing?
If the bell housing has a minor crack that’s not too serious, a mechanic may charge you between $40 and $75 to repair it. However, if there is a big crack in the bell housing, you will need to pay around $200-$500 dollars to install a new one.
Final Words
In conclusion, there are several common symptoms of a cracked bell housing. These include leaks in the transmission fluid, strange engine noises, excessive engine vibrations, a burning smell, and difficulty with acceleration or deceleration.
The bell housing in your car may get damaged for multiple reasons. Thus, you should take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible. If you ignore this issue, the transmission system in your car might fail. Research shows that about 22% of car accidents happen because of mechanical problems like transmission failures. So, get the cracked bell housing in your car fixed promptly.
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