Clunking Sound
 

When I back my car out of the drive way, then put the car into drive, I hear a clunking sound coming from under the car.

Sometime the problem occurs when I put the car ito drive just when I am just leaving a parking spot without going into reverse.

Never seems to happen again during trip. Only at next startup.

Any ideas?

Probably the transmission engaging (for lack of a better set of words). I don't have the A/T, so I don't know if it is normal. My M/T "clunks" a little when I shift into first after stopping if the gears aren't lined up. I consider that a normal noise. Probably something similar.

Saw someone else asking about this on this site - my MT does it too, just at startup - and we pretty much concluded that it was the ABS self-test, and nothing to be concerned about.

It's the ABS self test.

It will only happen when you first start up the car and get moving.

I think everyone asks this question after having the car a few days.

Just about all AT trans cars will do this to some extent. Sound absorbing material and shock absorbing designs reduce this in most cars so you don't hear it. Hollow drive shafts, like the RX8 tend to make it worse. It is just a take up of all the various clearances in the total drive line. Especially in the rear gears. Nothing to worry about unless it gets real bad.

Thanks for the responces.

Edit - Update

Had the car in today to have some general maintenance done and have the rear sound checked. When I called to check when the car would be ready, I was informed they were doing repairs to the rear end under a TSB that would repair the clunking sound I was hearing. I will try and found out the exact details when I get the car back.

Turns out my AC also needed the amplifier fix. I asked the for the M flash update. Will see if they do it.

Had my 8 in the dealer twice for other items but they could not troubleshoot the clunking noise. They said they tightened the engine mounts the first time but the noise only deminished slightly. The last time I took it in they said there was nothing wrong with it and they could not produce the noise when they drove it.
I get alot of BS from dealer mech's on my car. I think they just aren't trained properly. I guess the old addage of "It's hard to find a good mechanic" holds true for dealers too. Anyway, I just won't listen to it until my warranty starts to run out.