clutch/transmission noise and clunks...

[slyphen]

I'm relatively new with cars, especially new cars...

long story short, SOMETIMES when i shift into first from neutral or from 1st to 2nd, i hear a clunck... is this normal? also i always hear rattle sound during low/take off speed, almost as if i'm scraping a plastic plate to the tire(i checked wheel wells and everything seemed fine). maybe this is normal?

The shifter also vibrates, but i hear this is normal due to its connection directly to the transmission.

Car has 780 miles on it, got it when it had 30 a little over a month ago.

thanks guys. appreciate all the help.

[CokeSlap]

It's normal. These engines also seem to not like low rpms. The clunk has something to do with clutch and pressure plate if I recall correctly from other posts, regardless, normal and yo shit is fine.

[strat61caster]

When you're in neutral and your foot is off the clutch pedal the input shaft to the transmission is spinning. When you go to put it in first the rest of the transmission is stationary while your input shaft is still spinning, the synchros are now forced to quickly stop this shaft from spinning which may result in a 'clunk'

You can eliminate the noise by waiting after you push in the clutch for a few seconds (~20 in my experience) and easing the shifter into first.

[PMPB]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

You can eliminate the noise by waiting after you push in the clutch for a few seconds (~20 in my experience) and easing the shifter into first.

20 seconds!!! It's like 3-4 second. If it's still cold, maybe only about 2 second or less. Maybe your clutch is dragging?

[wheelhaus]

I also agree with the consensus, from your description it sounds normal. @strat61caster nailed the neutral->first clunk; this can be repeated if you re-engage the clutch in neutral (while still stopped). Every time you clutch-in and select first you'll hear the clunk.

The rattling is most likely engine noise from too much throttle at too-low rpm, also called "lugging the engine". When you start moving from a stop and intend to accelerate up to speed, let the revs get a little higher before shifting. My wife does this too; she'll leave a parking lot in first, and shift into 2nd before she's even straightened out in the lane which causes the engine to lug. I had to convince her to stop shifting from muscle memory (timing), but instead pay attention to rpm.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by PMPB

20 seconds!!! It's like 3-4 second. If it's still cold, maybe only about 2 second or less. Maybe your clutch is dragging?

Eh, guess it just feels like 20 seconds, if I count to 4 it's definitely too soon for me, maybe 5-10, maybe my internal clock is too anxious but my point stands.

If my clutch was truly dragging it would never spin down and eliminate the clunk no matter how long I waited, 27k miles and no sign of slowing down, no other indication of an abused powertrain.

[slyphen]

thanks guys. appreciate all the help. I guess since i'm still in break in, i'm not used to high RPM yet. i usually shift around 3k from 1st to 2nd and to 3rd. guess right now i'm at 800, i can start letting it hit 4.5-5k before i shift?

[wheelhaus]

Originally Posted by slyphen

thanks guys. appreciate all the help. I guess since i'm still in break in, i'm not used to high RPM yet. i usually shift around 3k from 1st to 2nd and to 3rd. guess right now i'm at 800, i can start letting it hit 4.5-5k before i shift?

Certainly OK, there's no switch that gets flipped at 1000 miles that suddenly says the engine is OK with specific rpm. Drive normally within reason, shift near redline when you want to (and the engine is fully warmed up) and have fun with the car. Shifting at 3k is perfectly fine for putting around town, and it's the max rpm I'd recommend using to shift if the engine is cold. Once the needle is past C, then 4k is OK, after the coolant temp has normalized for 5-10 minutes, redline is OK.

There's a perpetual debate over proper break-in procedures for the first thousand miles, but in the end, just don't abuse the car. Even under "normal conditions", this will include neglecting maintenance, and driving hard when the engine is cold (note- oil takes a little longer than coolant to come up to temp).