First try removing the inspection plate (3 bolts) if you find bits of metal it will indicate the flex plate. In most cases it is nearly impossible to see if the flex plate is breaking up without taking it out. If your flex plate has broken and moved round getting to the bolts that line up normally can be helped with removal of the sump. Why do you think your flex plate has or is going. Is yours auto or manual?
See my thread flex plate change.
the noise on mine was there when in P,R and N. When I put it in Drive (or 1,2,3) the noise stopped. The car drove OK! when we took the flex plate out it was broken the whole way round, the Torque Converter had moved forward and the bolts attached to what remain'd of the flex plate to Torque Converter were wedged into the gaps of the flywheel. This was the reason I still had drive. If I hadn't decided to investigate the flex plate immediately then I wouldn't have a flywheel as well!
Result new flex plate and Torque Converter from Ashcrofts. Plus new Buttress Ring as there wasn't one fitted to my old flex plate!! new bolts and Spacer etc. Bit expensive all in, but hope many more miles left in the old girl!
The noise I had was a sort of chink, chink, chink that increased with revs. I did record it on my smartphone but I haven't worked out putting it up on Photobucket yet, can do pics and videos so wish I had shot it as a video.
Hope yours is not the flex plate but something simple like exhaust?
