Occasionally, there is a slight clunking noise when I shift from neutral into first. I can't even hear it if I've got the radio on, and it doesn't seem to make any weird vibration in the car, but the thunk is a little disconcerting. Sounds like metal on metal- not scraping, but you can kinda feel the car going into gear, if that makes any sense.

It doesn't sound particularly worriesome to me, but I just wondered if anyone else had it too. If not, maybe I'll go have it checked out.

i havent noticed anything, but ill listen for it tomorow and see if i do actually hear anything strange
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I just hear the ABS brake check thunk when I back out of the garage in the morning and shift into first gear.

Originally posted by RXhusker
I just hear the ABS brake check thunk when I back out of the garage in the morning and shift into first gear.

Hmm..it usually occurs after I've backed out of a parking space and immediately throw it into first. Maybe that's it. I had no idea there even was such a thing.

See this thread (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=96064&highlight=clunk#post96064).

Elara, that is completely normal with a manual. All, yes all, cars have that mechanism going into first. I think it is a safety net so you can't go into first going 30 40 miles per hour. The tranny would probably fall out. If you notice you have to slow down to a certain speed to even get any manual transmission into 1st. Even my dad's 5 series BMW does that, and that is the smoothest gear box I've ever driven with. Don't worry about it.

GH22

The cluck is definitely real. I have noticed it many times myself but have never reliably been able to reproduce it. Like you get only one clunk per stop. It is probably the synchronizer issue eccles talks about in the other thread. I'm going to play with it some more tomorrow.

Bottom line, I believe it needs to be considered one of those things that is part of the car's "character".

this has been talked about in another thread but if you push in the clutch and hold it there 2 sec than no clunck(try it)if you push in and grab first real quick it clunks every time,i thinks its the nature of the beast.

Originally posted by Elara
Occasionally, there is a slight clunking noise when I shift from neutral into first. I can't even hear it if I've got the radio on, and it doesn't seem to make any weird vibration in the car, but the thunk is a little disconcerting. Sounds like metal on metal- not scraping, but you can kinda feel the car going into gear, if that makes any sense.

It doesn't sound particularly worriesome to me, but I just wondered if anyone else had it too. If not, maybe I'll go have it checked out.

Yes, I have the first gear "clunk". I've had it since day one, I don't think there is a problem though. I have 1000 miles on my car now and the tranny is getting smoother (engine too) on a daily basis.

D-san

Originally posted by eccles
See this thread (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=96064&highlight=clunk#post96064).

Thanks eccles, I thought I remembered a thread about it but a search for "1st gear" and "clunk" didn't come up with much.

I realize it's a common thing for all manuals, but I was concerned because it's only audible every once in a while. For example, this morning, it didn't make the noise. That was why I was wondering about it. If it did it every time, I would have completely ignored it.

if you go from reverse directly into 1st you get the clunk but if you wait for a moment in neutral for the revs to drop no clunk.

Yes. But it seems to be related to the clutch/shift timing like another person mentioned.

now that we know the cause and the cure, can we ascertain as to how damaging this clunk can be when it does do it? there are a few times that i'm not paying attention and someone will blow their horn at me...in the rush i'll put it directly to first without waiting a few seconds and "clunk" happens...how bad is this?

no worries guys, I think this is totally normal - I too have the same 'clunks'

In my experience the clunk is also related to how warm the transmission is. When the car is cold the clunk is more pronounced. When I've been driving for a while it is less clunky or even non-clunky.

Sorry guy, but youve revived a 2 month old thread when people first got their cars. It has long ago been established that it's the ABS system doing it's diagnostic when you start moving.

Yes, I have the clunk too. Based on my experience if I push the shift lever into first very gently there is NO clunk but with even a gentle forceful action I get the clunking noise.

I don't believe there is cause for alarm for this clunking noise.
:)

Are there synchros on 2nd gear, too? I'm probably more patient going into first from a stop than I am going into 2nd from 1st, but whatever the case, I often hear/feel a slight clunk going into 2nd.

I vaguely remember seeing another thread that discussed an optimum RPM to go into 2nd - around 4000? - that would minimize this, but I can't recall for sure.

Clunks into 2nd, anyone?

Yes, I also have the first gear clunk it is dependant on how quickly after depressing the clutch you shift into 1st, as well as the temperature of the car.

I have also had the second gear clunk, this in my opinion is caused by your shift points, 4000rpm+ will minimize it a lot. Also, if you tend to be force full with the clutch while shifting into 2nd, as most of us are in order to quickly shift so that we don't jerk. (at least those who don’t slip the clutch into the next gear by adding more gas) You may pull the clutch down and to the left (or toward you), while you should simply tap it downwards.

When shifting from reverse to first gear in any manual transmission, it's always a good idea to quickly go into second gear on the way to first. That will make the gears mesh smoothly and eliminate the "thunk." It's a lot easier on the synchros that way.

I also get the clunk when I move to first gear. I mostly notice it when I'm in neutral (like at a stoplight) and shift into first before accelerating from sitting still. (Before I take my foot off the brake.)

I don't think this can be chalked up to just being a manual transmission issue. I've driven manual transmissions all my life (most recently a Prelude) and never experienced this before.

After a drive with the service manager from the dealership, he said it was nothing out of the ordinary for this car. I'm a little leary, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse, so I'm just gonna live with it for now. I do notice that if I shift "gently", it doesn't happen as often.

Well, I dunno if "relieved" is the right word, but it appears that this isn't just happening to me. I'm glad I'm not just hearing things - now if I can only convince the service manager that I have an intermittent rattle in the driver side air vent that only happens when he is not in the car...

2nd to 3rd on mine is the only time its' iffy. The smallest of "clunks".

Clunk first thing after you start the car is the ABS test. Clunks after that tend to have to do with the syncros, and are most noticible when the tranny is cold. And ANY transmission noises with this car are going to be more noticible than other cars because you're basically sitting almost on top of the tranny.

Yup, not a big deal- mine's still doing it, and I've got no problems after 10k miles. ABS test is all.

Sounds like a typical manuel to me. It just the gears meshing to each other, prefectly normal in a manuel.

Some of you are mixing up the clunks. The ABS clunk happens after you start to move. The trans clunk happens while standing still with the brake on. My 8 does the shifting into first clunk too.

Since it appears to be temp related it can be the synchros dragging in the trans fluid. One of my previous cars which also had a Mazda transmission (Ford Taurus SHO) clunked too until I put in racing grade transmission oil.

Changing the trans oil is on the to do list.

Elara, my car does the first-gear clunk when my boyfriend drives it, but not when I drive it. It's entirely the driver's clutch technique, as Eccles and lots of others here have said. I depress clutch fully then shift, and he depresses and shifts almost simultaneously.

And this is not the ABS self-check sound... that only happens after the car has started moving. The first gear clunk happens when the car is sitting still, like at a stoplight.

Same "clunking" problem with mine also. Quickly engaging first gear after depressing clutch and its there. Sometimes not to bad, but sometimes pretty nasty. Got 8K kilometres (about 5000 miles). Seems to be getting worse. At dealer today, and test drove another with service manager. Same "clunking" but not as pronounced as mine. Am concerned still. Some "clunking" 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd, though much less noticable. Feels like am shifting while tranny is still under a little bit of load. Not really happy with the overall shift quality.

Later

i know exactly what you are referring to and yes i hear once in a while it happens to me when i shift from neutral to first i have been trying to fiure out what in the world it was...it didn't seem to serious though..glad to see i am not the only one that experienced it..

It's normal. like one of the replies said in the old thread its just like a bolt action rifle. you hear the clunk and then blam out comes the bullet. actually reminds me of the 8 right before a clutch drop. :D

What I learned early in life is to always shift into second (with the clutch in and left in the entire time) before putting it into first. Shifting the car into second will slow the the tranny down (even with the clutch in) and it is better for the synchros of first. I do this every time and I have never heard a clunk.

I just took delivery of my 8 this last Saturday its a
automatic and I have noticed the clunk as well when backing
out of my drive way and then going into drive, pulling forward
then "clunk" I accept the ABS test explanation.

ok,

so i am getting the thunk as well. after first driving the 8 the clutch felt like butter but shortly after i got my 8 (last august) it seemed the clutch was acting very weird...engaging wrong and i brought it in. they adjusted the clutch and it seemed a bit better...not great but better. still i had the thunk when putting the 8 into first gear with the feeling of a slight nudge forward like the gears were engaging. as the months rolled on i had noticed the slight nudge become more pronounced and also noticing the thunk to happen in 2nd and 3rd as well. as a concerned 8 owner, first i took another drive in a newer 8 at the rev it up in boston and the clutch felt like butter again....soooo sweet! so i took my 8 in to get it checked and ran out with a tech. no doubt this thing was thunking over and over...every time in first. the tech told me that it was the syncro mesh and that it is just something that is going to happen as the car breaks in. now my first concern is the tech telling me straight? also because this problem just started as a 1st gear episode, then to 2nd and to 3rd is this going to keep getting worse. i really dont care for the "jerking" action as i shift normally....it makes for a not as smooth ride.

so, is this a problem to have a concern with? is there anyone out there that has the knowledge to help me with this one?

thanks!
:eek:

I test drove one and found the noises normal. There is not much isolation between the tranny and body, but this is for good reason. It is a real driver's car. I could feel vibration in the chassis when slowing and downshifting to 2nd for a turn. It was the synchronizers matching the speeds of the gears while I was applying light pressure to the shift lever. Once it went into gear, the noise stopped.

People - please don't spread misinformation. What I think some people may be experiencing is just the drive train loading up when the car makes a transition from reverse to 1st gear engagement or a equivalent transition from unloaded to loaded drivetrain state. There is a little play in every drivetrain. When you go from backing up to going forward, there is some play, or slack, if you will, in the drivetrain. That slack will be taken up when you engage 1st gear, as simply engaging the gear and keeping the clutch in will load up the drive train, eliminating the play and creating, in many cars, a clunk as the shock of the drivetrain loading up is transmitted to the cars' unibody. It's normal. There is nothing wrong with the car. You may be noticing it more with the 8 because of the way the drivetrain is mounted to the body so rigidly. Additionally, some of you may be experiencing some other clunking when the ABS calibrates. It's all normal.

I noticed it as well, decided it was probably normal and didn't ask the service guys. Glad I belong to this forum, yet another instance of putting my mind at ease!!! :D

Agree with Polak as to when I hear these clunking sounds. Has anyone been outside the car and listened? I have and you can hear the 1st and 2nd gear change. Its sounds like a mechanical crack. I like it. It gets your attention in a good kind of way, from the street OR inside the car.

Only noticed it once after turning off DSC fully by pressing the button seven seconds. Decided to leave DSC on anyway in the near future until I'm fully accustomed to the car (this may sounds wimpy, but given access to roads without speed limits you're sometimes closer to endangering yourself than you can rationally accept and hard braking at 150 mph was impressive enough with DSC on).

it is not the noise that concerns me about my 8, it is the engagemet sharp lunge type feel that i am getting when i place it in first at any point....after backing up, from a standstill at a light or any other time. also the same type of sharp lunge when shifting into second or third. the noise is not that bad, just a shift noise.

is this the same problem that others are talking about or is this what is happening to others? does anyone think that it is a tranny problem or not?

When I first got my 8, it would clunk or click going from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd rather loudly. As time went by, the 2nd to 3rd clunk stopped. I also noticed that once the tranny got warm, the 1st to 2nd shift was much smoother and clunk-free. I took it to the dealer to check it out, he said it was fine. I figured he would but I just wanted a record of the issue on file in case I ever had an issue later in the warranty period. I have 1600 miles on the clock and no real issues or flooding.

Sweeeet !!!

And some dealers dis the internet for making them deal with misinformation. :D

This thread just saved my dealer another visit. ;)

I have got this clunk in 1st, 2nd and sometimes even 3rd. . Mine appears to be unrelated to how long the clutch has been pushed in. It happens anytime the car is rolling, clutch fully depressed.

I also have never heard tranny noises that complete drowned out engine noises at low speed before. Syncro's I presume? Is this why both of the salesman that went on the test drives made sure the air was on and blowing before letting me get behind the wheel? I certainly didn't notice this racket on my test drive in a different car.

In fact these noises combined with my car drifting around the road made me turn around after delivery and spend 3 hours waiting for a alignment. :eek:
After now having been at the dealer some 4.5 hours, I asked about the clunk/whine, smiled politely at there response and hit the road. :)


That, along with the burning smell, was keeping me from truely enjoying my new car. I found that thread also and now all is well. Just 65 miles short of the 500 mile break in. ;)

You know what's weird i only get it when i first start the car (whatever gear i go into immediately after i start the car i get the "clunk" one time and that's it never again unless i shut the car off and then turn her back on) Anyone else experience this?....does this go away eventually?...I told the dealer about it and they said it's fine although i don't exactly trust them 100%

that first gear clunk cannot be too normal, its gotta be a major synch issue, i wouldnt be surprised if in a few months/ or a year there will be a recall on all 04 trannies.

yea but what's weird is that it happens even if i go into reverse...as long as i just turned the car on....it's weird because it only happens once and it's whatever gear i go into immediately after turning her on...should i tell the dealer this is not kosher with me and i want it fixed?....this is starting to concern me...

I hear the clunk noise but I noticed it when its at very low rolling speed, for example roll like 10mph and shift through all the gears quick and youll here it. And I still hear it most often in first gear. I will ask the dealer about it on the next check up.

Just to add myself to the informal survey...

Mine clunks too when shifting into first: sitting at idle, light turns green, clutch in, push into first... CLUNK.

It always makes me cringe, as my first thought is I forgot to push in the clutch... I expect the car to lurch forward.

I've noticed it doesn't always happen though. I'll have to try holding in the clutch longer before shifting as suggested.

Different than the ABS self-test thunk - which used to scare the heck outa me every morning. Now I don't notice it. Amazing what you learn to tune out over time.

that sucks!

well i know that it is not "normal" because when i test drove the car i heard no such clunk....i'm going to call the dealer up and tell him i want it checked out....

This is totally normal.
This trany is very free spining when cold, because there is very little oil on the gears.

So when you push in the clutch, the disk, input shaft and gears are still spinning but the output gears are not. So when you engage 1st gear this will stop everything from spinning (Thunk). there are a number of things that will make this better or worse.

1- How long you wait to shift after you push in the clutch (1st gear).
2- How much oil is on the gears (more oil will slow down the clutch disk/gears faster).
3- The condition of the clutch and pilot bearing. Sometimes new clutches drag a little until worn in.
4- How far you push the clutch in. (in the RX8 you need to go all the way to the floor).
5- Sometimes waiting too long to shift from 2 -> 3 ( this is the opposite of stopped to first gear, output shaft and gears spinning, input shaft not spinning) but this is harder to do.
6- Something wrong with the clutch master and or slave (not letting go of the clutch disk, input shaft still spinning too much).

What I am saying is it has everything to do with the clutch system not the trany.

My 5 RX2's, 1 FB, 2 FC's and my RX8 all do this if you are too quick into 1st after pushing in the clutch. The only time I have had a problem is when the pilot bearing went dry or the master/slave wore out on the old cars.

As a test start the car cold wait until warm push in the clutch (all the way to the floor) wait 5-10 sec put it in 1st. If you get a thunk you have a clutch system problem

wow!

I must say you are quite informative. So let me get this straight if i wait a few seconds after i push the clutch in and then shift into first i may not get the thump sound?...what's interesting is that some owners get it all the time, i only get it once and it's immediately after i turn the car on. After that it does not happen again until i turn her off and then back on....i have even tried letting her warm up a while driving a good distance, then shutting off the engine, turning her back on and again i get it once and that's it...very weird...

BigWorm, what I think you're actually hearing is the ABS system doing its normal diagnostic self-test after every start, since you mention it happening even when you're in reverse. According to the "Quick tips" booklet that came with my car,
..."you may feel some brake pedal pulsation and hear some noise, this is normal."

As for the first-gear "clunk", this seems to occur in my car when the shift lever is QUICKLY shoved into first gear immediately upon depressing the clutch. It always happened when my boyfriend drove the car. I tend to finesse the downshift to first a bit more, and I never get the clunk. I think it's normal and nothing to worry about.

Hey Arantinga,

ok i feel a little better now....i thought something might have been wrong with my tranny...This has been extremely helpful.Thanks guys! :D

I have the normal clunk for the abs stuff. But i get creeks and squeeks when i first pull out in the morning. Also turning at slow speeds i hear what sound slike low grinding up front.

The worst thing is in the supermarket parking lot, i was going 5mph and went to stop for someone crossing, i pushed in the clutch and it felt like the motor/tranny jumped. I really felt it move. Whats going on?