Clunk When Shifting From Park to Drive: What It Means and What to Check First

Become a Sponsor - https://bit.ly/JoinMaxCarGuy A clunk when shifting from Park to Drive can be normal drivetrain slack, but it can also be an early warning of worn engine mounts, transmission mounts, CV axles, U-joints, or excessive driveline lash. In this guide, we explain why the clunk happens when the parking pawl releases and torque is applied, and how to tell a soft normal clunk from a hard bang that makes the car jerk. Timecode: 00:00:00 - Short intro 00:00:36 - Why a clunk happens during Park-to-Drive. 00:01:09 - First clue: Is it a soft clunk or a hard bang? 00:01:31 - Cause 1. Engine mounts or transmission mounts. 00:02:05 - Cause 2. Driveline play in a rear-wheel-drive or AWD vehicle. 00:02:37 - Cause 3. Worn CV axles in front-wheel-drive cars. 00:03:06 - Cause 4. Too much play inside the transmission or worn shift components. 00:03:48 - Cause 5. Differential or transfer case lash. 00:04:21 - Cause 6. Brakes holding the car on a slope. 00:04:46 - Quick checks you can do without tools. 00:05:20 - Quick checks you can do without tools.