Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
I struggle to get to reverse gear and it makes a clunking noise. But all the other gears are ok. Even with the engine off I still can't get reverse at all.the only way I get reverse gear is to keep my hand on the gear stick and release the clutch like I'm moving off then I hear the clunk noise then it goes into the reverse gear.
My car has 120000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Other consumers report the type of issue you have with various years and models of BMW but the reports are model specific. If you do a Google search ("difficulty getting reverse BMW "model, year") for your car, you can try the various strategies that I see published. I would suggest one, but I do not know which model you have. If none of those work out for you, that would point to there being a mechanical fault with the reverse synchronizer and related assembly in the transmission. That latter possibility being strongest of course if this difficulty in shifting is a "new" issue that you are experiencing. If you need help diagnosing the shifting issue, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the vehicle and advise on the repair.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
A popping / clunking noise when moving in reverse can be caused by many things. Two of the most common causes for those symptoms are worn axles or motor mounts. The axles are the joints that transmit power from the transmission to the wheels.
If you do start to hear these noises when shifting gears, they are certainly a cause for concern. Low transmission fluid and worn-out gears can be the culprit – and computerized sensors and solenoids can cause clunking if they send the wrong information to your car`s gearbox.
Transmission Fluid Low or Poor Condition – Vehicles low on transmission fluid or that are operating with worn out or contaminated fluid are likely to experience hard shift conditions. Lack of adequate lubrication within the transmission can cause several problems, including hard shifting.
Most often what is heard is a `squealer` attached to the brakes. This is designed so that when the pads wear down to a certain point this piece of metal will rub against the rotor, making the high-pitched squealing noise to notify the driver that it is time to have the brakes checked out.
It could be caused by a number of things from low transmission fluid to bad alignment. Several things might be the cause of this issue. Most of them will need to be diagnosed and fixed by a mechanic. Before taking your car to the mechanic, you can attempt to drain and refill your transmission fluid.
Automatic transmissions that shift hard, jerk or shake during a shift change may mean your transmission fluid needs changed or fluid level is low. In manual transmission vehicles, abnormal gear shifts could indicate damaged gear synchros, worn clutches or other, more severe issues.
If the transmission mount breaks completely, the transmission may shift during acceleration, causing a knocking or clunking sound. If the transmission shifts and twists severely enough, it may damage other components, which cand result in additional noise and possibly damage.
The Vehicle Speed Sensor measures vehicle speed. When it fails the transmission can stop shifting or shift late and harsh. A bad VSS may also inhibit overdrive and the converter clutch.
If you have noticed that your reverse gear has become sluggish, unresponsive or delayed, there is a chance your car may need transmission work. Transmission problems are not an uncommon vehicular problem, and it is important to address them promptly to keep them from becoming a serious hazard on the road.
It`s normal. That`s because in a lot of cars, they use straight cut gears for reverse and helical for the forward gears. The straight cut gears produce a whine sound that`s more noticeable the faster you`re going. It`s normal.
When you put it in reverse and it “clunks”, most likely you have a worn u-joint, which has developed slop. That slop gets taken up when the driveshaft changes direction such as going from drive to reverse, or vice versa, with a clunk!
Grinding, Jerking, or Shaking
Shaking and jerking are good indicators of transmission trouble. Gear grinding is a common symptom in manual transmission vehicles. Automatic transmission failure often begins with some hesitation during gears shifting. Some might describe this a “slipping,” as well.
If your transmission makes a grinding noise when you shift gears, you are likely experiencing friction between gears due to insufficient transmission fluid, worn transmission linkage, maladjusted binding, or a “dragging clutch.” If you hear grinding sounds when shifting from neutral to any gear, you may be dealing with …
A Transmission Fault
Shifting issues can sometimes cause your vehicle to feel like it is jerking when accelerating. If you have internal transmission damage, it can cause the gears to slip [and] engage over and over again, which feels like jerking when accelerating.
Impact Noises
A worn engine mount can often lead to `clunks` and `bangs` within its surroundings or within the engine bay. This noise is due to the engine moving around more than normal and making contact with other components, which in turn can cause impact sounds that become quite noticeable.
Low fluid will slow the cause the response time from gear shifting to become increasingly slow and difficult over time. You may even hear a light knocking sound if the problem becomes dire.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
ANSWER : Other consumers report the type of issue you have with various years and models of BMW but the reports are model specific. If you do a Google search ("difficulty getting reverse BMW "model, year") for your car, you can try the various strategies that I see published. I would suggest one, but I do not know which model you have. If none of those work out for you, that would point to there being a mechanical fault with the reverse synchronizer and related assembly in the transmission. That latter possibility being strongest of course if this difficulty in shifting is a "new" issue that you are experiencing. If you need help diagnosing the shifting issue, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the vehicle and advise on the repair.
Read Full Q/A … : Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
My manual car won’t go into gear, it turns on and the clutch goes down perfectly fine. It happened after my gears grinded, the car
ANSWER : If the clutch mechanism is releasing properly, and the shift linkage is not malfunctioning, your transmission will have to be removed from the vehicle and inspected. Once a transmission has been removed from a vehicle, if the problem is a broken or worn part or parts, and the transmission has 100,000 miles or more, the most cost effective approach is to just simply rebuild the whole transmission. There are transmission rebuild kits that are sold just for this purpose. Rebuilding a transmission is no big deal and is indeed easier in many respects than rebuilding an engine. You can rebuild your transmission right in your own garage. You can NOT rebuild an engine in your own garage due to the highly specialized, and extremely costly, machine shop equipment required. Occasionally, mobile mechanics will take on a transmission rebuild job especially as once the mechanic removes the transmission from the vehicle, it is just simply a modular unit that can be easily transported to a mechanic’s shop and rebuilt right there and then returned to your vehicle. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
Shifting from 2nd to 3rd, car stopped going fast. Now it won’t go at all.
ANSWER : It is possible that your clutch has failed. The sound you are hearing is likely due to the clutch not engaging with the engine due to it being worn. I would recommened having your transmission inspected by a qualified transmission expert to determine if your clutch requires replacement in order to resolve this issue. This inspection may require removal and partial disassembly of the transmission in order to verify that the clutch has failed.
Read Full Q/A … : Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
when i turn it make little noise. when press on brake and put on reverse it’s makes weird noise and shakes. thank you
ANSWER : It sounds like you may be dealing with a few issues. I would start by asking if there is a check engine light on? If there is, then getting the engine control module scanned for faults would be the first step to diagnosing the low power issue. As far as the noise over bumps and when turning, there could be a damaged CV joint or axle shaft, or there could be a loose suspension or steering component. Weak motor mounts could cause a weird noise and shake when going into reverse with your foot on the brake, so it’s possible those have failed as well. I would suggest having a qualified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose the noise over bumps and the noise when put in reverse.
Read Full Q/A … : Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
A large clunking noise is coming from the front left of my car anytime I start my car, and anytime I go over a pothole/speedbump
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. If simply starting your car causes a clunk, then you may have another damaged motor or transmission mount (there are 4 total). You should replace all 4 mounts. When one mount fails, it allows excess motion of the engine/transmission, damaging the other mounts as well. It is false economy, generally speaking, with the age and mileage of your Honda, to do them one at a time. If you would like help with these replacements, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to perform the engine mount replacements for you.
Read Full Q/A … : Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
Car makes grinding noise – 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
ANSWER : Hey there, thanks for writing in. I would have a professional mechanic check out the constant velocity joints on your vehicle. One or more of them may be worn enough to cause the noises you describe. S/he can diagnose and replace any failed CV joints.
Read Full Q/A … : Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
Clunk sound when I set on reverse and when I let go of gas pedal. Rattle noise has been increasing over bumps.
ANSWER : Hi there. Sounds like one or both CV Shafts are loose and are moving when you put the transmission in gear. Plus the squeaking noise is from the disk brakes system on the front as they are being forced to engage but not disengage. There could be excessive brake dust on the front keeping the calipers from sliding properly. Check the front of the vehicle for the CV Shafts being loose and if there is anything that looks damaged. If your suspension and CV Shafts are in good condition, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your transmission.
Read Full Q/A … : Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
The engine stalls when I put the car in reverse, but if I go past reverse into drive there is not an issue.
ANSWER : Hi there. Usually when you shift into reverse and engage the brake it will cause the engine RPM to drop; as it’s creating a load against the transmission and the engine. If the engine stalls, it may be caused by a faulty idle control valve, bad O2 sensors, or clogged fuel injectors.
In regards to the "pan", we’re not sure what you are referring, so it may be a good idea to contact one of our local professional mechanics to complete a battery inspection to determine what’s going on with your 2010 Ford Focus.
Read Full Q/A … : Car struggles to go into the reverse gear and makes a clunking noise
