i live in kansas, it hasnt been over freezing here for about a week. lately, when shifting from park to reverse, i hear and feel a metallic clunk. not when shifting the linkage, but when i actually request the car to move. seems once the tranny is warmed up, its perfectly fine. earlier, i drove to the store for a soda and a snack. first starting it for the day, since im off, and its 15*F, with windchill of 3*F. car starts with reluctance, which was expected for how cold it is on a 2yr old battery. i put it in reverse, and usually the idol rpm is high enough to start me rolling, but not now. i step on the gas lightly, and the clunk happens, and i start movin, like something physical was stopping it. after leaving the store, there is still the noise, but nowhere near as .. frightening .. as it was before. i get home, and i try switching from park to reverse one last time, and its fine, no noise or complaints from the tranny. seems once the tranny itself gets warm, it shifts fine.

i will admit, with a windchill in single digits, im reluctant to check the fluids, but is it something as simple as low fluid? or maybe a flush is necessary (i havent for about 15kmiles)?
colder days are coming up, and that noise is violent enough to make me think to just bundle up and walk to work.

 

It does sound like either the fluid is low, or it is burnt up. I am thinking it is just low because you just flushed it 15K miles ago. Let us know how everything looks once you check it.

 

Wonder if it could be where it is so cold the fluid is really thick at first? Mine is not so firm shifting till it warms up the fluid some. IT has been about 15 degrees here and I definetly notice a difference in firmness of shifts when first started.
Rob

 

new development: i paid extra attention to it this morning. i put it in reverse, and again, it wouldnt move. put it in drive, then reverse, and i noticed the car was trying to move, but something was preventing it. now, i think its the right front corner. when given a little gas, the car would sort of lurch over itself, as if the brake is locked. now im thinking the brake pads are freezing to the rotor?