Transmission Lurch

[Grady in Texas]

When I turn off the car in Park and let off the brake, it has a decided lurch forward (or rearward depending on which gear the car was last in before Park) - an inch or three. Any ideas?

Unfortunately, I was too close to a concrete post in the garage today and caught a nasty cracked in the front plastic bumper. Grady

[pizzaman09]

Is it a roll forward/backward or is to doing it under it's own power?

It is normal for an automatic to roll a little bit, the e38 will roll about 3 inches in my experience.

[Stu735iL]

The 'lurch' is a known issue and is a separate issue to a poorly adjusted handbrake - E38.org or Timm's meeknet explains it and the fix.

To eliminate the 'lurch' issue, test the 'hand brake'...

When stopped, keep foot on brake pedal, shift to neutral and apply the hand brake smoothly and firmly.

Release brake pedal slowly, if car moves then apply brake pedal pressure to stop movement.

Push down on the hand brake another one or 'clicks', release brake pedal slowly - no further movement? turn car off, foot on brake pedal and move to "P".

This procedure ensures that the brakes hold the car and not the transmission: it checks your hand brake tension and avoids loading up the transmission with the weight of the car.

My ride doesn't move a bee's knee by doing this.

Just my 2c

-Stu

[Grady in Texas]

It's not a roll, its a powered lurch with the engine off. Like there is some back pressure in the transmission.

I'll try the brake fix. Are the hand brake and transmission 'related' or I'm I using the brake to counteract the transmission? I don't usually use the hand brake b/c everywhere I park is basically flat. Grady

[redpicker]

It's not a roll, its a powered lurch with the engine off. Like there is some back pressure in the transmission.

I'll try the brake fix. Are the hand brake and transmission 'related' or I'm I using the brake to counteract the transmission? I don't usually use the hand brake b/c everywhere I park is basically flat. Grady
You should be using the parking brake routinely, even in flat Houston. It helps keep the system in working order and keeps you aware of how it works. Yeah, I know, you know how it works, but it keeps it fresh in your mind so if you need it, you don't have to think about it.

I've lived in and around Houston for years, and you're right, you don't really need it. But using it once or twice a week will make a world of difference in keeping it maintained.

But, I doubt that is your problem. If you are lurching in the direction of the last gear you were in when you shift into park, I'd guess you have a problem with your solenoids or valve body and the transmission is not shifting out of gear and engaging the parking pawl for a moment after you move the lever. It also may just be your shifter is out of adjustment.

Try shifting into Neutral momentarily before shifting into park.

rp