I'm not sure if this is just my Fit or all of the Fits. When I move my gear shift from P to R, sometimes a huge shudder goes through my car. It doesn't happen all the time, only when I'm parked on a slight incline or in colder weather. Is this normal?

Also, the engine makes a noise that is unique to only the reverse gear. It's like a low-toned whining. Normal driving is fine. I have checked for fluid leaks and haven't found any.

Does anyone know if this is a problem or just the Fit being a Fit?

 

yeah i get that too, the whining exists in like all hondas ... atleast all the ones ive driven and all the ones ive sat in. The clunk is normal too, all trannies make a noise when they engage a gear, some just more pronounced than others, I notice too that it is a bit louder when on an incline or decline, maybe because when the tranny aint warmed up yet or cuz the tranny fluid is shifted to one side that the engagement sounds a bit more rough. Now I usually just leave it in park for a couple seconds, drop it to neutral to warm up for about 15 more seconds before poppin it into a gear.

 

about the clunk noise. it sounds like maybe you don't use your parking brake when you're parked on an incline is that right? if that's the case, you should use your parking brake. from my own experience when driving automatic cars, that is one of the causes.

and a whining noise in reverse is normal for cars. it's because the reverse gear is different (i duno the specifics)

 

Yep, its the sound of the transmission being under pressure from trying to stop the car from rolling, and then the pressure being relieved when you shift into gear. It would be even more pronounced if you were trying to shift into reverse while facing down a hill.

Also yes, the whining noise is normal, all auto cars do it. Atleast all the ones ive ever had.

 

all you have to do is stop the car then put it in reverse. aslong as its not moving it won't make that noise. found it odd also

 

Ah kk thanx. it's good to know it's not only me with the problem.

sometimes i do use the p-brake when inclined, but it doesn't seem to have much effect.

i guess i don't feel so bad about it since other ppl experience it as well.

 

This is what I do when I drive my wife's car when I'm on an incline... She has an automatic, and this works everytime.

First, when you're ready to park, shift the car from drive to neutral. (Keep your foot on the brake) Next, while still in neutral, pull the parking brake up. After you pull the parking brake up, let your foot off the brake. When you let your foot off the brake, the weight of the car transfers from the foot brake to the parking brake, and you may feel a very very slight shift in the car. Once you do that, put the car in park.

I'm not sure if you've ever noticed this, but if your on an incline and you put the car in park without using the parking brake, you feel the car roll back just a little bit as soon as you take your foot off the brake. What happens is the weight of the car is transferred from the foot brake to the transmission. That's where the clunking comes from when you put it in drive. Sometimes it may still put the weight on the tranny, even with the parking brake. That's why I put it in neutral first, pull the ebrake up, let off the foot brake, then put it in park.

 

I never use the parking brake, but I've heard the clunk described. Sometimes I hear it as I shift to any gear. Is it bad for the transmission to be making this noise? Can I end up shortening the life of my car by letting this happen?

 

The clunk noise is normal. Honda's are known to have a whiney Reverse gear. Its best to park with parking brake up as described above. (Neutral, E-Brake on, then P). It puts less stress on the P gear, and more on the brake pads. (remember, brake pads are replaceable and cheap.)

If there is ever a problem with the tranny, the D light on the gauges will flash. No flashing=no problem.

 

When I put the E-brake on in Neutral, and then shift to Reverse, the car gets lower, and then when I shift to Park, it gets lower again. If I shift to Drive, it raises up. I can make the car go up and down by shifting it! What is that all about?

 

I experienced the same thing this afternoon after work. I park on a slightly declined parking space. I, like an idiot, forgot to deploy the parking break. I nearly cried when I heard the whining noise on the way home (most notably while backing up)! Please go away annoying, scary, whining noise! I promise I'll put your parking brake on tomorrow!