Clunk when engaging reverse gear

[Kev0607]

Hi all,

I've done a little research on this & it appears to be somewhat normal with many cars, but I just want to double check if anyone else has experienced it with their Volvo. When I start my car (2007 S80 2.4 D Auto) first thing in the morning & move the gear lever from park to reverse, there's a clunking noise. The car is parked on a slight incline & I don't use the handbrake much if I'm being honest. Is this clunking noise normal? I read that its a part of the transmission called a parking pawl, basically holding the weight of the vehicle & when engaging gear, that part is under massive load.

My other suspicion would be the engine mounts, or maybe the transmission mount causing this noise?

I've had the gearbox oil flushed & replaced in March this year at a Volvo specialist with software updates.

[Model flyer]

It's not a good practice to leave car in park . The parking pawl is a secondary device to back up the hand/parking brake and not intended as a primary parking brake.Car should be parked hand brake/ parking brake applied ,then put into park . Leaving in park on an incline as you are places a lot of pressure on the pawl and cause the clunk when it's released and still unde pressure. It will cause unnecessary wear and will eventually fail costing a lot to repair. It's a bit like pushing a door as hard as you can while unlocking it !

[Tatsfield]

I had this clunking from my Geartronic box after a software update. I was recommended on this forum to take the car to an empty space, and repetitively engage D from stationary, move two or three yards, stop, put the selector into neutral, engage reverse, drive two or three yards, stop and repeat the operation repeatedly. I did that and found that the clunking stopped and only came back if I selected reverse while still coming to a stop moving forwards in Drive when manoeuvring in tight spaces, which is bad practice and upsets the gearbox operating system but I forget from time to time and do it when I'm in a hurry. Otherwise this conditioning process which teaches the box to change from R through N to D and back seemed to do the trick.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

I had this clunking from my Geartronic box after a software update. I was recommended on this forum to take the car to an empty space, and repetitively engage D from stationary, move two or three yards, stop, put the selector into neutral, engage reverse, drive two or three yards, stop and repeat the operation repeatedly. I did that and found that the clunking stopped and only came back if I selected reverse while still coming to a stop moving forwards in Drive when manoeuvring in tight spaces, which is bad practice and upsets the gearbox operating system but I forget from time to time and do it when I'm in a hurry. Otherwise this conditioning process which teaches the box to change from R through N to D and back seemed to do the trick.

Interesting & my car had software updated when I got it serviced in March. I'll give this a go, thanks.

@Model flyer - I'll use the handbrake more in future, especially if the vehicle is parked on an incline. Although, I know loads of people that have Auto's & never use the handbrake either! I'm not the only one I suppose haha.

Is there a test as such whereby I could see/gauge if the engine movement is excessive, just in case it may be worn engine mounts? The engine definitely moves when engaging gear (Reverse more so than drive it seems), but I don't know whether its actually normal movement or if there's too much play? I could bring it to a garage, but I'd feel a bit daft if they tell me there's nothing wrong!

[Model flyer]

There can be a clunck when any play or back lash is taken up when moving from drive to reverse or visa versa. More likely on higher milage cars as wear will develop in the drive train . It's when it gets excessive that it becomes annoying and possibly costly.
Any decent garage won't think your being silly for asking or getting it checked out.
Do make sure you can trust your garage though as a unscrupillous garage can take advantage at great cost to you. Good luck .

[Kev0607]

I'll have a proper visual inspection of the engine mounts this weekend, checking for cracks etc. I just watched an interesting video that cheshired5 posted on YouTube about vacuum testing them.

The independent Volvo specialist garage I use is booked up for the next two weeks, so the mounts will have to wait until then if they do need replacing. Its an easier job when the car is on a ramp I think, so I'll let them sort it.

Am I correct in thinking there's five mounts in total on an S80 (07 model)? I think two are vacuum ones (Front and rear), then there's a transmission mount, driver's side mount near the crankshaft & the upper torque mount in the engine bay?

[Buryan]

Mine CLUNKS! It clunks because once again the useless handbrake is not functioning and therefore, when relying on the 'P' position, the whole strain is placed upon the running gear, particularly when parked on an incline - which then has to be disengaged manually, with the pressure on the motive parts. It helps, slightly, to slam a foot on the brake whilst disengaging. Either way - bad engineering practice - and shows MY lack of maintenance that I can answer the question - thank God for the yearly MOT!

The answer is use the handbrake and take the strain off the running gear - IF the hand-brake works. This reminds me to book it in to the local garage!

Well - that's my theory!