Automatic Clunks or Bangs Going Into Drive or Reverse: Causes
A clunk when selecting Drive or Reverse points to mounts or transmission. A Cranbourne West specialist explains.
What it usually means
A clunk or bang when you shift into Drive or Reverse is often worn engine/gearbox mounts (letting the drivetrain shift), worn driveline components (CV joints, diff or universal joints), or a transmission issue (high engagement pressure, often with overdue fluid). A small “take-up” clunk can be normal; a hard bang is not.
Worn mounts are a very common, often-overlooked cause.
What you should do
Get it diagnosed — worn mounts and driveline play worsen and stress other parts, and a transmission cause is worth catching early.
We inspect the mounts and driveline and check the transmission fluid and data to find the cause.
How we find & fix it
Because the same symptom can have several causes, we use dealer-level diagnostics and a methodical check to pinpoint the real cause — rather than throwing parts at it.
You get a clear explanation and a fixed written quote before any work. Book online in 60 seconds or call 03 8782 0711.
Automatic Clunks or Bangs Going Into Drive or Reverse: Causes — FAQ
Often worn engine/gearbox mounts, worn driveline (CV/diff/UJ), or a transmission issue (often overdue fluid).
A slight take-up clunk can be; a hard bang is not — get it checked.
Very commonly — worn mounts let the drivetrain shift. We inspect them.
We inspect mounts and driveline and check the transmission fluid and data.
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Car doing something odd?
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