Noise in car when put to “P” gear

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kekehuang

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#245487 6-Feb-2019 16:22

I’m driving 2007 Mazda Demio. Today when I was parking my car, I put to “P” gear and put on the handbrake, then there began to have quite loud noise coming out of the car, kind of like clacking sound. When I change the gear to “R” or “D”, the sound stopped. Also if it’s on “P” gear and I step on the foot break, the noise stopped as well. But if I release the foot break, the noise stars again.

It doesn’t seem like a very serious problem. When driving no noise at all. What could the problem be?

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gbwelly

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#2174055 6-Feb-2019 16:43

Your parking pawl probably isn't latching maybe? Everything in automatic gearboxes is expensive to repair usually. Having never owned an automatic, is it possible to just avoid using park? Or do you need to engage it to start the car or something?

Dingbatt

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#2174056 6-Feb-2019 16:44

In simple terms putting your car in ‘P’ is like inserting a pin in the teeth of a gear in your gearbox to lock its position (parking pawl as posted above by gbwelly while I was composing). So the locking mechanism may be slightly misaligned in your car.

As a matter of technique, I always apply the parking brake before putting the transmission in Park.

Personally if my automatic transmission was making an ‘unusual’ noise I would be getting it looked at by a specialist before something internal fails completely, and possibly, catastrophically.

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kekehuang

22 posts

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#2174095 6-Feb-2019 18:05

I bought this car from a local car dealer 4 and half months ago. Am I still covered by consumer guarantees act? Can I take the car back to the dealer and have them fix it?

freitasm

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#2174150 6-Feb-2019 20:35

Yes, you should still be covered.Also, this was a release by the Commerce Commission just last week in regards to 2 Cheap Cars not honouring the CGA:

These charges apply to conduct between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017. During that time 2 Cheap Cars frequently asked car buyers to sign a “warranty waiver” document if they chose not to purchase an extended warranty. The “waiver” included terms such as:

“the vehicle you are purchasing does not include a warranty of any kind.”
“[If] you choose not to purchase the indicated warranty at this time, you must sign this waiver.”
“I do understand that 2 Cheap Cars will comply with the Consumer Guarantees Act. I also understand that I am, and would prefer to be, solely responsible for any repair bills.”
“if any repairs are carried out it will be done by 2 Cheap Cars [L]imited at a time of their convenience and that there are no courtesy cars provided.”
“Consumable items such as but not limited to tires and batteries … are not covered by the [Consumer Guarantees Act].”
The Commission alleges the waiver documents misrepresented consumers’ rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (CGA) because:

under the CGA consumers have rights of remedy against suppliers whether or not the goods are covered by any other warranty
a consumer does not lose the CGA protections by declining to purchase an extended warranty
remedies under the CGA must be done within a “reasonable time”, not at the convenience of the supplier, and consumers can recover from the supplier costs which are reasonably foreseeable as a result of the failure. They may include the cost of hiring a rental car while a repair is being undertaken
the CGA applies to the goods purchased which in this case includes the tyres and batteries.
The Commission estimates that consumers signed in excess of 20,000 warranty waivers during the charge period and 2 Cheap Cars stopped using them in December 2017, after being notified of the Commission investigation.

Not saying it's the case in question, but a reminder that used cars are not exempt of the CGA.

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kekehuang

22 posts

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#2174157 6-Feb-2019 21:13

Oh yeah that’s good to know... what are the potential risk of the car right now? Seem like there could be a transmission problem. Is it still safe to drive for some short distances for one more day? Could all the gears stop working all at once?

Delphinus

593 posts

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#2174169 6-Feb-2019 22:34

I would call the dealer before driving the car any further and get their advice on whether it is safe to drive. You don't want to drive it more, break it more then have them put it back on you.

Then organise them to fix it.

Sidestep

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#2174191 7-Feb-2019 03:52

The parking pawl can only click if the car is moving (rolling) while it's engaged.
You're saying it happens with the handbrake on, car stopped, in 'park' and stops when you press the brake pedal?

It could be the interlock solenoid cycling - the solenoid that prevents you taking the car out of 'park' until you press the brake pedal.
To test: Place your car in 'Park", Switch the engine off. Turn the ignition 'on' (not to 'acc', but so the warning lights on the dash light up).

Press on the brake pedal. You should hear a light 'click' from around the console or selector lever of your car.
I this similar to the noise you've been hearing?

Goosey

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#2174233 7-Feb-2019 06:49

The way read your post is; "you select Park then step on brake and/or apply hand brake" & you seem to be moving whilst still in Park.

You should only be selecting Park if you are completely stationary/stopped/still.....not moving at all.

IF your car naturally moves whilst in park without handbrake then you need to go see an auto trans specialist (if you goto a mechanic then they will simply charge you for removing the trans, sending it to the local expert etc). And you also need a new handbrake if you are still moving with the handbrake on.

Make sense?

Or did I read your post wrong?

Azzura

497 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2174239 7-Feb-2019 07:25

Not sure if it is the same noise my 2008 Mazda 2 makes once in awhile. Sounds a bit similar to yours.

Even your description sounds darn near identical -
"When I change the gear to “R” or “D”, the sound stopped. Also if it’s on “P” gear and I step on the foot break, the noise stopped as well. But if I release the foot break, the noise stars again."

The heat shield came lose in a spot and would make a loud rattle sound against exhaust pipe....I bent it away a little to stop making contact....noise went away.

kekehuang

22 posts

Geek

#2174254 7-Feb-2019 08:11

Well the car is not moving while on “P” gear. I just stepped on the foot break while the car is stationary and on “P” and hand break on. It’s not moving. The hand break works well, even on very steep driveway, after pull up hand break, the car would not move.

tehgerbil

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#2174260 7-Feb-2019 08:27

Are you able to take it out of Park without pressing the brake pedal?

Can you replicate this sound by depressing your brake pedal? (The engine does not need to be on for this, just keys in the ignition.)

If so this would confirm Sidestep's theory - it's your solenoid.

When you press your brake pedal it locks the Automatic gear selector in place (in Park) so the only way to move the vehicle into gear is to depress the brake pedal and ensure the vehicle is stationery prior to selecting your gear

Azzura

497 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2174271 7-Feb-2019 09:14

While the vehicle is running and in park. Have you gotten out of the vehicle to hear/see approximately where/what or area the noise may be coming from?

If you wanted.... could also make a video of the problem and post it to youtube and share the link.

kekehuang

22 posts

Geek

#2174302 7-Feb-2019 10:51

Yes I actually recorded the noise yesterday, here’s the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iPlDB7iAd5p9HcWJ4WhWUUSGwOoTJEiE/view?usp=drivesdk

I didn’t step out of the car to check where the noise came from. I guess a video wouldn’t help much because there’s nothing obvious to see, mainly can just hear the noise. Please check out my audio recording.

kekehuang

22 posts

Geek

#2174308 7-Feb-2019 10:58

Yesterday was a very hot day in Auckland, I think the engine was quite hot when I was parking when I heard the noise. Today is cloudy and very cool, this morning when I turn on the engine and the gear is on “P”, there’s actually no noise at all. I switched between “D” and “R” then back to “P”, there were no noise at all. Maybe I would hear the noise again after driving for a while and engine gets hot. Seems like it only happens when hot?