My new 2012 Fit base auto makes a nasty little crunch or grinding sound when shifted from R to D. About a second after the car starts moving forward in D it goes, crunch like two small gears are clashing or maybe disengaging.

Anyone have similar symptoms? Is it normal?

Thanks

Jeff

 

Yeah, they (automatics anyway) all do that. It's been explained off various times as rear drums adjusting or something. I think it's something in the transmissions.

While it doesn't seem to be an omen of any problem I give it an extra second after putting in drive to let things settle before releasing the brake and continuing. This avoids "the noise," but when I'm in a hurry it still happens. Don't worry about it.

Welcome to the boards!

 

Isn't it the ABS sensors?

 

My 09 did this and so does my 2012.

 

Same here. If you give it a second like steve says, you won't get the noise.

 

That has not been my experience. To me, it's the front brakes when going from R-D, such as backing out of the driveway. Sounds and feels like the front brakes, as though when you shift into D the car wants to move but brake pressure from the foot while shifting holds it back and...crunch. I believe when I started doing the opposite of what we were taught all along, [which was apply brake while shifting until it's shifted], helped reduce brake crunch. At least in the Fit. It's like tuned high and wants to take off even without giving it the gas. I'll try brake and no brake again later when shifting to see. I've just been living with the crunch because like I said, it's been engrained in our heads to brake/shift in autos. And it's not so much NO braking as it is a manuver where you brake to a stop but let up on the brake while shifting kinda thing.