Auto Gear Shifter Feels "Crunchy"

smsmart · Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:45 pm

I remember there being someone mentioning before that something in their auto-trans gear shifter broke when they tried shifting to or from 'D', but I can't seem to find the thread.

Anyway, I think I might be experiencing the same problem now. Whenever I shift the car from 'D' into 'P', the shifter feel "crunchy" (the best way I can describe it)...almost like something is going to break if I do it a few too many times. Anyone else experience this? It only does this when going D-->P...not the other way around.

I'm trying to figure out if this really a problem or if it's just me. As far as I know I'm doing everything I should be...I depress the brake pedal firmly and press the button on the shift lever all the way.

ipaqxman · Fri Mar 21, 2014 3:54 am

Mine has unfortunately felt like that from the beginning, a metal grinding feel from D to P. I adapted to the manual instruction of always applying the handbrake first before shifting into park and it is smooth in that manner. It's supposedly the right way to shift into P anyway and not putting any weight on the transmission.

coref1 · Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:21 am

Mine has being doing that from the start also. Doesn't do it everytime but sometimes a very slight crunch feel. Doesn't seem to be getting worse so haven't bothered about it.

~tc~ · Fri Mar 21, 2014 12:49 pm

ipaqxman wrote:Mine has unfortunately felt like that from the beginning, a metal grinding feel from D to P. I adapted to the manual instruction of always applying the handbrake first before shifting into park and it is smooth in that manner. It's supposedly the right way to shift into P anyway and not putting any weight on the transmission.

Depends, that can also lead to over-use of the emergency brake, for example when you're on flat ground or when temps will be below freezing.

ipaqxman · Fri Mar 21, 2014 1:56 pm

~tc~ wrote:
ipaqxman wrote:Mine has unfortunately felt like that from the beginning, a metal grinding feel from D to P. I adapted to the manual instruction of always applying the handbrake first before shifting into park and it is smooth in that manner. It's supposedly the right way to shift into P anyway and not putting any weight on the transmission.
Depends, that can also lead to over-use of the emergency brake, for example when you're on flat ground or when temps will be below freezing.

R u saying it's not good to use hand brake when it's below freezing temperature? Why

~tc~ · Sat Mar 22, 2014 1:41 am

Yes. The pads can stick to the disc. Worse with drums, by far, but can still happen.

ipaqxman · Sat Mar 22, 2014 2:18 am

So it will stick even after you start driving? I see.

I think I've experienced that actually when i release the brake and start moving and hear a loud crack thinking i broke something

~tc~ · Sat Mar 22, 2014 4:16 am

Exactly.

SamirD · Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:06 am

ipaqxman wrote:So it will stick even after you start driving? I see.

I think I've experienced that actually when i release the brake and start moving and hear a loud crack thinking i broke something

~tc~ wrote:Yes. The pads can stick to the disc. Worse with drums, by far, but can still happen.

Great to know! I've had this happen to us all winter and just thought it was all the snow and ice re-freezing around the pad until it 'broke' free.

So now the big question--why does it do this?

Sluggo · Sun Mar 23, 2014 1:02 am

I don't think that the rear disc pads are used for the parking brake. On all the cars I have worked on there is a small set of of brake shoes that fit in the inside of the rear brake rotor.
The only car I have seen use the rear pads for the parking brake was an older Porsche.