Every so often I will start my car in the morning and as I go into gear (reverse) I hear a very loud CLUNK. I did a search for the clunk but all I came up with is the differential. But my car isn't even moving when I get the clunk and it only happens once and not even all the time.

What could it be and should I be fixing something?

My car is a stock 02.

 

Do you leave the clutch up or down while warming the car up?

Try this:
1. After you warm up your car, press down the clutch
2. Keep it down and wait for 15 seconds
3. Still keeping the clutch down, shift into reverse

Let me know if this helps. I was rading this (regarding "SIDE NOTE ON GETTING INTO REVERSE"):
http://www.waycoolinc.com/z3/essentials/fi...oe/shifting.htm

 

The transmission is cold and so is the fluid. I'm not surprised. I'm sure it goes away after a couple miles right? I'd say it's normal but then I haven't heard it so can't be sure.

 

Does the clunk only occur after you use the trunk? I find that my spring mechanism pops about 10-20 seconds after I close the trunk... about the same time that I am normally putting the car into gear.

 

I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW what it is!!!
maybe

do you use the hand brake when the car is parked when this happens? It used to happen with my car, the brake would stick and when the car moved it would come un-stuck, effectivly clunking. I think it happend when i washed the car, might be cause it froze on there, but i stopped using the brake when it's in the garage now, no more clunk.

 

Change out your tranny fluid with something high quality like Redline and this problem should cease to exist.

 

I agree with 4Cars1Teenager . I have the same "clunk" and it is because of the parking brake and the rear pads sticking if I don't drive the car for a few days and/or it rains or I wash it. Which means it happens to me often because I don't drive it in the rain but it splaters up on the rotors even with my car cover.

 

It is due to the Hand Brake like previously stated. The first time it happened to me I absolutely freaked out

 

Your letting your car warm up for a fair amount of time right?

 

Holy Jesus these threads scare me!!!!!!!! (I can say "Holly" and "Jesus" as I am in Utah .

The clunk is a brake pad drop......no big deal!!!! Most often in reverse....more often after a car wash !

Don't wory be happy......


Utah