single "clunk" when starting the engine
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2017
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With a transmission in park, or neutral, why should it be transmitting power all the way through and with enough force to knock the ring gear, quite loudly?
And the other factor here is whether or not the transmission is hot. In the morning, it's almost not noticeable. If it's up to operating temp, and only a short stop, it slams the ring gear like a gun shot. It's like something is letting go that should because it swells when hot. And then when it gets cool again, the gap or whatever forms and it's not as noticeable.
And the other factor here is whether or not the transmission is hot. In the morning, it's almost not noticeable. If it's up to operating temp, and only a short stop, it slams the ring gear like a gun shot. It's like something is letting go that should because it swells when hot. And then when it gets cool again, the gap or whatever forms and it's not as noticeable.
Please keep in mind I'm not discounting what guys are saying, just freely discussing the technical aspects of the issue.
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 299
Likes: 54
From: Montreal, Canada
I did complain about this to the dealer back in Jan and they were supposed to open the case. I am due for the oil change, arranging the appointment now - I will ask about the case number.
5 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 184
Likes: 82
From: Central KY
... It's also plausible that the noise is actually coming from the ring and pinion and not the actual transmission, although the transmission is causing it.
Please keep in mind I'm not discounting what guys are saying, just freely discussing the technical aspects of the issue.
Please keep in mind I'm not discounting what guys are saying, just freely discussing the technical aspects of the issue.
Edit: Of course, at this point, it can't be any worse than typical drive-snap.. It just really bothers me that the transmission is allowed to permit motion on the output shaft while in park.
Last edited by MarkA; Jun 8, 2018 at 10:57 AM.
Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 66
Likes: 5
Just picked up my truck. Dealership claimed the knock on start up is “characteristics of the vehicle.” Told them I would be escalating it with Ford. They also claimed the same thing with the 5.0L ratchet sound in the engine when taking foot off accelerator and the whistle noise. Total bs.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 133
Likes: 53
From: Marietta, GA
Dropped my truck off and had a long talk with their transmission guy.
First, he said he is starting to hate the 10 speed. He's seeing issues with them and none of them are the same. Second, I showed him my knock videos and a few in this thread. He said "that's definitely not normal." He's going to see what he can find. He also said if you have the knock bring it in to your dealership. They wont work on a solution at a higher level if there isn't a common problem to fix. He also said it's likely that when he climbs the ladder for a solution, he will be told it's 'normal' since there isn't enough data to show it's a problem and therefore no 'fix.' He personally agrees it shouldn't be happening and was also concerned about long term ring gear wear.
My truck (18, 3.5L) also falls flat on it's face during the 3 to 5 upshift when cold. The 6-5, 5-4, and 4-3 downshifts bang like the 5-4 on the 2015 trucks. So hopefully there is a software update that can help.
First, he said he is starting to hate the 10 speed. He's seeing issues with them and none of them are the same. Second, I showed him my knock videos and a few in this thread. He said "that's definitely not normal." He's going to see what he can find. He also said if you have the knock bring it in to your dealership. They wont work on a solution at a higher level if there isn't a common problem to fix. He also said it's likely that when he climbs the ladder for a solution, he will be told it's 'normal' since there isn't enough data to show it's a problem and therefore no 'fix.' He personally agrees it shouldn't be happening and was also concerned about long term ring gear wear.
My truck (18, 3.5L) also falls flat on it's face during the 3 to 5 upshift when cold. The 6-5, 5-4, and 4-3 downshifts bang like the 5-4 on the 2015 trucks. So hopefully there is a software update that can help.
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 83
Likes: 18
as y'all may have read, I'm in the middle of an arbitration case with Ford concerning this clunk. Here is what Ford sent to the BBB today:
Today, I received an email from Ford Motor Company and it is as follows: The consumer has taken the vehicle to three different dealers and each dealer informed him the noise is normal. The FSE inspected the vehicle and duplicated this noise and determined it is a normal operating characteristic when compared with a like unit.
The consumer stated his desired outcome is to have this truck not make the clunking sound intermittently when it’s engine is started. He also seeks an investigation and root cause of the issue. Due to the nature of the vehicle’s design the sound he hears is a normal characteristic and here’s why:
The noise is attributable to normal driveline tolerances in the ring and pinion gear found in the rear differential. These gears must have a pre-set amount of clearance referred to as backlash which allows for the gears to transmit power while at the same time not resulting in excessive wear or noise from the gears being spaced to close together. The amount of acceptable backlash is measured in thousands of an inch. This small amount of movement at the ring and pinion gear will allow for greater amounts of movement at the driveshaft and the noise caused by a change of rotation in the driveline coupled with the torque from the engine which will result in the noise being transmitted through the driveshaft. The driveshaft is a hollow tube which transmits power from the transmission and transfer case to the rear differential and this sits below the passenger compartment. Due to the hollow nature of the driveshaft this small amount of movement and noise will become amplified by the driveshaft and therefore no repairs are recommended for this normal noise as it will not be detrimental to the use, safety or durability of the vehicle or its components.
The vehicle is operating as designed, the consumer may be annoyed with the noise but it is not a defect. An arbitrator cannot order a change in the vehicle’s option or its design. Ford request for this case to be closed as the vehicle is operating as designed and there has not been a single warranty repair performed on the vehicle.
Today, I received an email from Ford Motor Company and it is as follows: The consumer has taken the vehicle to three different dealers and each dealer informed him the noise is normal. The FSE inspected the vehicle and duplicated this noise and determined it is a normal operating characteristic when compared with a like unit.
The consumer stated his desired outcome is to have this truck not make the clunking sound intermittently when it’s engine is started. He also seeks an investigation and root cause of the issue. Due to the nature of the vehicle’s design the sound he hears is a normal characteristic and here’s why:
The noise is attributable to normal driveline tolerances in the ring and pinion gear found in the rear differential. These gears must have a pre-set amount of clearance referred to as backlash which allows for the gears to transmit power while at the same time not resulting in excessive wear or noise from the gears being spaced to close together. The amount of acceptable backlash is measured in thousands of an inch. This small amount of movement at the ring and pinion gear will allow for greater amounts of movement at the driveshaft and the noise caused by a change of rotation in the driveline coupled with the torque from the engine which will result in the noise being transmitted through the driveshaft. The driveshaft is a hollow tube which transmits power from the transmission and transfer case to the rear differential and this sits below the passenger compartment. Due to the hollow nature of the driveshaft this small amount of movement and noise will become amplified by the driveshaft and therefore no repairs are recommended for this normal noise as it will not be detrimental to the use, safety or durability of the vehicle or its components.
The vehicle is operating as designed, the consumer may be annoyed with the noise but it is not a defect. An arbitrator cannot order a change in the vehicle’s option or its design. Ford request for this case to be closed as the vehicle is operating as designed and there has not been a single warranty repair performed on the vehicle.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 133
Likes: 53
From: Marietta, GA
as y'all may have read, I'm in the middle of an arbitration case with Ford concerning this clunk. Here is what Ford sent to the BBB today:
Today, I received an email from Ford Motor Company and it is as follows: The consumer has taken the vehicle to three different dealers and each dealer informed him the noise is normal. The FSE inspected the vehicle and duplicated this noise and determined it is a normal operating characteristic when compared with a like unit.
The consumer stated his desired outcome is to have this truck not make the clunking sound intermittently when it’s engine is started. He also seeks an investigation and root cause of the issue. Due to the nature of the vehicle’s design the sound he hears is a normal characteristic and here’s why:
The noise is attributable to normal driveline tolerances in the ring and pinion gear found in the rear differential. These gears must have a pre-set amount of clearance referred to as backlash which allows for the gears to transmit power while at the same time not resulting in excessive wear or noise from the gears being spaced to close together. The amount of acceptable backlash is measured in thousands of an inch. This small amount of movement at the ring and pinion gear will allow for greater amounts of movement at the driveshaft and the noise caused by a change of rotation in the driveline coupled with the torque from the engine which will result in the noise being transmitted through the driveshaft. The driveshaft is a hollow tube which transmits power from the transmission and transfer case to the rear differential and this sits below the passenger compartment. Due to the hollow nature of the driveshaft this small amount of movement and noise will become amplified by the driveshaft and therefore no repairs are recommended for this normal noise as it will not be detrimental to the use, safety or durability of the vehicle or its components.
The vehicle is operating as designed, the consumer may be annoyed with the noise but it is not a defect. An arbitrator cannot order a change in the vehicle’s option or its design. Ford request for this case to be closed as the vehicle is operating as designed and there has not been a single warranty repair performed on the vehicle.
Today, I received an email from Ford Motor Company and it is as follows: The consumer has taken the vehicle to three different dealers and each dealer informed him the noise is normal. The FSE inspected the vehicle and duplicated this noise and determined it is a normal operating characteristic when compared with a like unit.
The consumer stated his desired outcome is to have this truck not make the clunking sound intermittently when it’s engine is started. He also seeks an investigation and root cause of the issue. Due to the nature of the vehicle’s design the sound he hears is a normal characteristic and here’s why:
The noise is attributable to normal driveline tolerances in the ring and pinion gear found in the rear differential. These gears must have a pre-set amount of clearance referred to as backlash which allows for the gears to transmit power while at the same time not resulting in excessive wear or noise from the gears being spaced to close together. The amount of acceptable backlash is measured in thousands of an inch. This small amount of movement at the ring and pinion gear will allow for greater amounts of movement at the driveshaft and the noise caused by a change of rotation in the driveline coupled with the torque from the engine which will result in the noise being transmitted through the driveshaft. The driveshaft is a hollow tube which transmits power from the transmission and transfer case to the rear differential and this sits below the passenger compartment. Due to the hollow nature of the driveshaft this small amount of movement and noise will become amplified by the driveshaft and therefore no repairs are recommended for this normal noise as it will not be detrimental to the use, safety or durability of the vehicle or its components.
The vehicle is operating as designed, the consumer may be annoyed with the noise but it is not a defect. An arbitrator cannot order a change in the vehicle’s option or its design. Ford request for this case to be closed as the vehicle is operating as designed and there has not been a single warranty repair performed on the vehicle.
Why is the transmission transmitting power through it and to the driveshaft when the vehicle is in Park?
Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 66
Likes: 5
as y'all may have read, I'm in the middle of an arbitration case with Ford concerning this clunk. Here is what Ford sent to the BBB today:
Today, I received an email from Ford Motor Company and it is as follows: The consumer has taken the vehicle to three different dealers and each dealer informed him the noise is normal. The FSE inspected the vehicle and duplicated this noise and determined it is a normal operating characteristic when compared with a like unit.
The consumer stated his desired outcome is to have this truck not make the clunking sound intermittently when it’s engine is started. He also seeks an investigation and root cause of the issue. Due to the nature of the vehicle’s design the sound he hears is a normal characteristic and here’s why:
The noise is attributable to normal driveline tolerances in the ring and pinion gear found in the rear differential. These gears must have a pre-set amount of clearance referred to as backlash which allows for the gears to transmit power while at the same time not resulting in excessive wear or noise from the gears being spaced to close together. The amount of acceptable backlash is measured in thousands of an inch. This small amount of movement at the ring and pinion gear will allow for greater amounts of movement at the driveshaft and the noise caused by a change of rotation in the driveline coupled with the torque from the engine which will result in the noise being transmitted through the driveshaft. The driveshaft is a hollow tube which transmits power from the transmission and transfer case to the rear differential and this sits below the passenger compartment. Due to the hollow nature of the driveshaft this small amount of movement and noise will become amplified by the driveshaft and therefore no repairs are recommended for this normal noise as it will not be detrimental to the use, safety or durability of the vehicle or its components.
The vehicle is operating as designed, the consumer may be annoyed with the noise but it is not a defect. An arbitrator cannot order a change in the vehicle’s option or its design. Ford request for this case to be closed as the vehicle is operating as designed and there has not been a single warranty repair performed on the vehicle.
Today, I received an email from Ford Motor Company and it is as follows: The consumer has taken the vehicle to three different dealers and each dealer informed him the noise is normal. The FSE inspected the vehicle and duplicated this noise and determined it is a normal operating characteristic when compared with a like unit.
The consumer stated his desired outcome is to have this truck not make the clunking sound intermittently when it’s engine is started. He also seeks an investigation and root cause of the issue. Due to the nature of the vehicle’s design the sound he hears is a normal characteristic and here’s why:
The noise is attributable to normal driveline tolerances in the ring and pinion gear found in the rear differential. These gears must have a pre-set amount of clearance referred to as backlash which allows for the gears to transmit power while at the same time not resulting in excessive wear or noise from the gears being spaced to close together. The amount of acceptable backlash is measured in thousands of an inch. This small amount of movement at the ring and pinion gear will allow for greater amounts of movement at the driveshaft and the noise caused by a change of rotation in the driveline coupled with the torque from the engine which will result in the noise being transmitted through the driveshaft. The driveshaft is a hollow tube which transmits power from the transmission and transfer case to the rear differential and this sits below the passenger compartment. Due to the hollow nature of the driveshaft this small amount of movement and noise will become amplified by the driveshaft and therefore no repairs are recommended for this normal noise as it will not be detrimental to the use, safety or durability of the vehicle or its components.
The vehicle is operating as designed, the consumer may be annoyed with the noise but it is not a defect. An arbitrator cannot order a change in the vehicle’s option or its design. Ford request for this case to be closed as the vehicle is operating as designed and there has not been a single warranty repair performed on the vehicle.
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 139
Likes: 34
From: Houston, TX
Wow, Ford is really skirting the issue, the noise is not from the rear end, it is from the transmission......AND I have never seen a drive shaft rotate in park from engine torque during start up. Wonder what happens when you start the truck in neutral?