Hello all, I have a 1999 TL-P. I've been reading a ton of threads on tranny problems with this car and I just want to verify what my issue is. I read in the sticky about transmission problems that when putting the car in drive or reverse it can be a normal issue with this car to hear a mechanical sound and should be nothing to worry about. To be more specific it sounds like a loud clunk/knock each time it goes in reverse only. Is this normal? Thanks in advance

 

No, it doesn't sound normal. They say "mechanical noise" to avoid everyone assuming their tranny is dead.

But a clunking noise is different I think. I've never experienced any clunking noise. If it's just a "thud" it could be a broken engine mount, but a clunk/knock sounds like a problem

Then again if you have a 99, you're less likely to have tranny issues. How's your fluid? Dark brown/burnt sugar smell is bad.

Did you ever have your transmission replaced? Blue bolts on the tranny case mean that the dealer has replaced it. Oil jet outside means pre 2005.

 

thanks karanx. I got the car for an amazing deal. It Had blown head gaskets that i recently changed along with other issues. I did notice some faded black permanent marker writing on the transmission although i am unsure if the previous owned changed it. it has 160,xxx miles and the engine is smooth since after i did the overhaul aside from the loud noise when engaged in reverse. ill check the heads of the bolts tomorrow to see if they are blue, what should i look for on the oil jets outside?

 

suspect the motor mounts if you are not having trans slippage under hard throttle
the front and rear mounts are fluid filled and most years-vac boosted!
so a broken mount will leak a weird oil down it and maybe onto the floor
also causes mystery vac leak and engine miss

oil jet kit- on top of trans-look in front of the brake lines for large bolt with ATF cast on it-if there you have internal kit- post 05 replacement trans with new case design
BUT
Im didnt think 4 speeds were part of the oil jet kit recall? 99 experts??
99s 4 speed is much more reliable than later years with 5 speed too

 

checked it out and i didnt find a oil jet kit or blue bolts. But i did notice that when i put it in reverse once last night it didnt make a noise. ill recheck the front and real mount, although it idles fine. I wouldnt be surprised if the previous owner changed the transmission sometime on this 12 year old car with 160k

 

my guess would be the mounts.

 

the mounts condition -the bolt heads--will show if the trans has been out before

the engine miss may not apply to your car - if not `vac boosted` mounts

 

ill do a better diagnosis and see if i can come up with an answer. thanks for the input.

 

Front motor mount. Mine does the same thing.

 

forgot this car is a 99--all bets are off for oil jet kit and blue bolts etc
4 speeds are not part of that whole thing

 

figured it out. i replaced the cv axle and it went away.

 

My son's 99TL just went thru a trans rebuild and makes a klunk sound upon initial startup. I am wondering if old/loose CV joints are the culprit. How did you determine the CV axles were bad? The axle boots look to be okay and not torn.

Like yours, his car also has high mileage...120K and he is not original owner...so there is a little unknown history.

 

handyman, i changed out the drivers side cv axle because it was causing vibration under acceleration. it turned out it fixed the know too!

 

an alignment shop can ck the axles for you

 

I have a 99 tl-p. And Im getting the Same clucking noise when switching to reverse I've changed out all mounts and driver side axle. Did you replace both axles?

 

This doesn't make sense to me. are you sure the noise doesn't change with temperature. I cant see the CV making a loud knock from putting the car in reverse. Mine does that upon first start up on cooler days, and not at all on warmer days.

 

the right cv would make more noise into reverse- with the action of motor motion and trans torque

 

Necro-bump....

I have a 2000 tl with a rebuilt tranny with about 600 miles on it. I experience a clunk when putting it into reverse when I am Parked up hill. Not a slight incline, but parked in my friends driveway with a decent slant. Only time I get a clunk. Also, when going from reverse to D5, there seems to be a delay before it seems to engage.

 

I just had my 99's tranny rebuilt and one thing I immediately noticed was when I backed out first thing in the morning, the great "THUNK" is gone.

I suspect you have the same issue.