clunk when going from drive into reverse

Hi everybody, I’ve a P38 4.6 HSE auto gearbox (1998). I'm getting a clunk when going from drive into reverse. Not immediately by selecting reverse but after backing approximately 1-2 meters and especially when the P38 has been parked for a while. The sound seems to come from straight under the car.



When it go from Drive to Reversing and vice-versa the Rangie moves off with a jerk. If I put it in low gears the symptom gets worse. When driving in low gears each time it’s changing gear it jumps forward. In HI gears it’s almost unnoticeable.


When driving more than 60/70 km/h and taking the foot off the gas pedal I’m also having a couple of small jerks.


I’ve serviced all gearbox transfer box and diff fluids. Greased the U-joints. Nothing has changed.


Any suggestions on what is wrong and from where to start?
Gearbox? Transfer box? Differentials? CV-Joints? Something else?


Thanks for your help.

Did you run thru the gears with engine running and then re-check gearbox levels, mine took about 3/4 litre more after i thought it was full.

NicP38 said:

When it go from Drive to Reversing and vice-versa the Rangie moves off with a jerk.

Click to expand...

I used to have a Sprinter van which did this due to loose engine mounts.

Edit: Although loose transmission mounts would probably cause the same symptom, with the noise coming from under the car

I checked the fluid lever per the book this morning: box cold, engine idling, move gears lever trough all positions. It's OK.

Mounts is an interesting theory. I'll check this out.

Other suggestions?

you have to get underneath it when jacked up all 4 wheels so you can run through gears etc safely check diffs by feeling prop going into diff and diff gears by feeing one wheel (rotating backwards forwards) holding both props feel play in t/box in hi and low ,get some one to run from drive to reverse and watch for the jumping in transmission

If its a high mileage vehicle or has done a huge amount of towing a stretched transfer box chain is a possibility...


Mind you Switzerland is a tad bit hilly in places, could be the chain....

I All and thank you very much for yours replies.
Yes it is high mileage vehicle (206’000 km) and has done a lot of up and down hill but not towing (as far as I know).

Transfer box chain replace sounds like a hell of a job to me. Is it?

Interesting is that the clunk in reverse comes up only by driving in reverse 1-2 meters and then turning the wheels (driving out of a parking place). It happens exactly when you start turning.

I’m quite sure I’m having 2 issues not necessarily related:
- a clunk in reverse;
- a forward jumping by selecting D and changing gears in particular in low gears.

I’ll check engine and transmission mount, play in props and the diffs (probably next week) and let you know.