I just got 52,500 service for my 2003 TL at the dealership--told them about a strange clunk/metallic rap/thump that occurs intermittently after stopping, putting in park, then turning the engine off. The sound started soon after I had my non-Acura mechanic change the oil (about 4 months ago). The sound happens about a half second to one second after the engine is off, and sounds like it's coming from below the gearshift. Dealership told me it was a "solenoid activating"unexpectedly. They replaced it under warranty, but the clunk sound remains (again, intermittently) under the same scenario. Anybody else experience this?

 

i have the same, im pretty sure its normal, the tranny locking in park?. for me at least its when im in park the car will roll a bit (inch or so) and stop and thats when it clunks/makes a click under the shiftgate. maybee someone with more knowledge can chime in on this one.

 

Yea I think The tranny is locking in park. I should be normal

 

Put the parking brake on fully, and let the car take a set on it, before puttring in park- that eases stress on the gears. The park brake is a mini set of drum brakes inside the rear rotors center hub.

Imagine whats going on internally when the car rolls into the lock/park position

The motor mounts on some years are vacuum assisted and make funky noises on start and shut down

If you took it in for warranty and its not fixed- go back- sometimes the new parts fail or there is a secondary problem CAUSING the part failure, which the dealer wouldn't know until you come back in and tell them

 

To avoid the clunking noise, turn off engine before putting in Park. Normally, it happens when you tried to put it in Park after a few minutes in other position. If you did drive it for a while, you wont hear the clunking noise when shifting it in Park, right? If you did shut off the engine, then it is just rolling, and locking gear in place.

 

Ahhh NO
Dont turn off the engine first-
Apply park brakes- put it in park- then stop engine
and if the noise ever changes or gets worse- its a signal that something is wrong

The motor mounts fail- just like the trans- thats usually when the tech spots it and its way cheaper to change it then with the trans removed and out of the way

 

Thats exactly what I was told by a mechanic a long time ago. I always do this and have never heard a clunk like you guys are describing. The less stress you can put on these trannies the better I figure.