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A "clunk" noise when shifting gears

54K views 24 replies 21 participants last post by  cornax 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello,

I hear a "clunk" noise coming from beneath the vehicle when shifting from D to N or D to P in my 2011 GC Limited (5.7). P to D is fine. Has anyone else experience this with their 2011? Any ideas as to what it may be? Is there a TSB for this?

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
I would have someone look under the vehicle while you are shifting through the gears (with the brakes applied and also the parking brake set) and see if the driveshafts have slop in them.

That would be my first guess.

Does it also do it when you use the autostick downshifting? If yes then it is driveline slop.
 
#4 ·
Usually the clunk is from N or P to Drive. Its called harsh engagement or shifting and there has been a few TSBs on harsh shifting. That's what you complain about to the dealer. He may find a bad us joint, but typically its a transmission engaging harshly thing. It is hard on the joints.

My late April built V8 (which should be up to date from the factory) only seems to shift harshly when hot, and when shifting to D from N when coasting slowly forward. I would not have noticed it, however, if I wasn't stuck for an hour in a traffic jam a few weeks ago and was shifting to N to save some wear and tear (although I don't know if that is the case with these newer transmissions).
 
#6 ·
Ya i've heard that same story for years.

Them - "they all shift like that"

Me - "They all shift like a piece of shit?"

Them - "Yes"

Me - "I'll be buying a Subaru next"
 
#17 · (Edited)
When shifting to Park (or Neutral) the driveline torque is rapidly released (as the clutch passages are vented by the manual valve). This is an uncontrolled shift - there are no solenoids involved. There are no orifices to slow down the decay of pressure, because of potential safety issues; when you shift to Park or Neutral, we want the clutches vented as rapidly as possible. Unfortunately there is some windup in the driveline and suspension, so when the clutches are rapidly vented, the torque is released and the driveline "snaps back" to its untorqued position.
This is a starcase for a DR 1500 pickup with a 5.7l but most importantly for an 545RFE trans. Chrysler has done things to limit this but is still a biproduct of the design of the transmission and is normal operation.

And I am neither drunk nor high ;)

Ya i've heard that same story for years.

Them - "they all shift like that"

Me - "They all shift like a piece of shit?"

Them - "Yes"

Me - "I'll be buying a Subaru next"
SSSSOOOoooo your telling me you think subaru is going to be the answer to your prayers... 100k headgaskets on every car made since the 80's... NO car manufacturer is perfect, PERIOD. A honda dealer across the street from us had some people with a new odyssey with "my honda lemon" plastered all over its windows and people standing around it with signs this last week infront of the new multi million dollar honda service center.

A clunk in a transmission may not be as refined as a BMW but EVERY car bought from bmw is contributing another 30k to the engineering of that vehicle over its equivalent chrysler vehicle... You cannot be that upset you saved 30k and because of that saved money you have to deal with a normal clunk... Unless a clunk is worth 30k to you?
 
#9 ·
We have a clunk that happens after braking and then accelerating. Ours is barely detectable from the driver's seat but is noticeable from the passenger side.

It's "always" done it but I'm going to bring it up to the dealer anyway...can't imagine that it's good if there's something loose down there.
 
#10 ·
I had a 'clunk' when I began to turn from a dead start in my 2011 WK2 (1998 miles). I brought it to my dealer and it was diagnosed that the front suspension had loosened and needed to be tightened and realigned. I don't know if this is your problem but you may want to have it checked out.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Hmmm. Yesterday, I made a relatively quick reverse to forward shift (not gear grinding quick) backing out of a parking space to avoid getting hit from behind. I heard a definite clunk sound. Felt like I had run over something in the parking lot. Probably due to the momentum shift.

First instance I have heard in 2 months of ownership. I will be paying attention more closely.

My 2000 JGC did this over the 10 yrs I owned it. Almost always heard upon shifting and backing out in reverse. Assumed it was just the suspension moving.
 
#14 ·
I just checked mine again. Loud clunk shifting from D to N when standing still. As you shift into D you can feel the drive train load up. It takes maybe a second or so. It sounds like the rear diff or something. The interesting thing is that it does this in all the modes except SNOW!?
Anyone have any more info on this? The Jeep is going in for a service in about 2 weeks and would like them to sort it out then.
 
#21 ·
I have had the same problem. Along with the tranny "shudder" problem these seem to be the only large concerns I have...(although I should have gotten 20's instead of 18's on my Limited!!) I've found a quick work around.... When slowing to a stop, once you're almost stopped (and I mean ALMOST stopped) put the tranny into N then stop completely and put in reverse or park.... seems to get rid of the majority of the "clunk"ing. I know this isn't as safe or as ideal as a real fix, but until they fix it (if they do..) it seems to stop what sounds like the tranny lunching itself all the time...
 
#23 · (Edited)
Same here....same TSB but I am waiting for the dealer to get the part in. To all who have experienced the clunk this is the tsb to tell your dealer to check for you. Don't let them tell you this is normal, cause it's NOT!!!!!!

Even the shuddering....that is another TSB. www.wk2jeeps.com click on maintenance it will give you all the TSB's for your vehicle and what you are experiencing.
 
#24 · (Edited)
I came across this post a while ago when researching some issues I had with my 08 WK Hemi with Quadra Drive II. This has the NV245 Transfer case and front and rear ESLD's. I would get a CLUNK when shifting from P to R and R to N or D. This Jeep is long out of warranty but it goes anywhere I want to take it.

I would also have a moderately low pitched whine/hum when under load such as climbing a hill or maintaining speed between 40-55mph. This is ONLY when the throttle was applied. With my foot off the gas I would not get this humming.

During one snow storm all of a sudden I could not get the system into 4 lo. Something was seriously wrong as I could hear grinding when coasting and sometimes R would not engage.

It turns out my Transfer Case needed a complete rebuild. New Forks, Chain and bearings.

I always take this American Gas Pig to a good mechanic friend of mine to diagnose serious issues I cant figure out for myself. He had a good Transmission Mechanic perform this service and gave me a 2yr 24000 mile warranty on this rebuild. This took care of all of these issues for me. The source of this problem for me was the transfer case. Though each one of these noise/clunk problems I described could very well be caused by any source of the drive line such as the transmission or differentials or loose drive shafts. The CLUNK/Whine can also originate from deteriorated bushings. The 4lo failure was a quick and easy pointer isolating the problem to the transfer case.

Hope this helps those with similar issues. Though an experienced shop proper rebuild will be relatively costly.

And NO!!! This Driveline CLUNK is NOT normal. Don't take that lip from a dealer under warranty. It's their excuse not to perform a possible time consuming and costly repair.
 
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