2012 Transmission Clunk/Lunge

[desmonsm]

Pretty new user to this site as we purchased our base-model 2012 in late September. I'm not sure if there's an issue with our transmission, but I hear a clunk and about a 1 second lag in forward movement after using the parking break on our sloped driveway.

We usually park our vehicles in the garage, but on the occasion when I park in the driveway I set the parking brake with the vehicle in D, then with my foot still on the break shift to P. When I'm ready to move the vehicle into the garage I reverse the process - shift from P to D, then with my foot still on the break I release the parking brake. I read that this is the order the process should be done in from an older Honda/Acura owner's manual online.

After I shift to D and release the parking break to pull the vehicle into the garage, I hear a clunk noise and there's about a 1 second lag before the vehicle moves forward - almost a sort of lunge. Is this an issue I should be concerned with/have inspected or a normal occurrence?

Thanks for your help.

[blingman]

That clunk noise is probably the brakes releasing from the rotors. Our cars have hill assist which is why you're feeling the lag, it prevents the car from rolling back. Good for steep hills, but you get used to it on your driveway and smaller inclines to wait a sec and it will release.

[Tsturbo]

Or pop it into reverse, then into drive and your good to go. It is the hill start assist.

[AC_MDX]

The hill start assist mode is one of my favorites options in the Acura. It really comes handy very often whenever you are stopped in a slope of any kind.

The noise most likely comes from the brake pads snapping back to place after the assist mode applies the brakes to avoid going backwards and then going forward after accelerating. I will assume the noise will occur more often, or more noticeable, when the pads are worn or at it's middle life.

AC

[skinny2]

I've noticed it's a bit abrupt when it releases, but does a decent job. I've started just waiting until the brakes release on their own and then I get on the gas. My Challenger SRT8 has this but with a manual transmission and it will hold until it senses forward motion....so you can sit forever on a hill with the clutch in or in neutral. I like that better but it's a much bigger deal in a manual than an auto.

[TheJimbo]

Odd. I've been on plenty of hills over the last 7 months of ownership and there has neither been lurching nor clunking when hill assist disengages. It's all smooth.

[Fabvsix]

When you park on a hill make sure when you stop to put the vehicle in "neutral" apply emergency brake, let is roll against brake as opposed to transmission, then put in park thus avoiding the "CLUNK" noise you are describing.....