bump/vibration/rattle in rear end when in reverse?

[omgsnakelol]

when you put the vehicle in reverse, and press the accelerator, you feel the rear end rattle like almost hardcore style. sounds and feels awful.

i remember the video saying that you would feel that stuff during startup, and that it was normal, but all the time?

the transmission feels fluid smooth 100% of the time. easily takes gear and takes it seemless and quickly.

(car has 59,000 miles, ive had it for about 200 miles)


2001 LS V8 Sport

[omgsnakelol]

edit: also, to add some info, it *ONLY* rattles when you press the accelerator. if your coasting it is smooth.

the harder you press it the more violent the rattle is (in the rear end).

[el es]

does it delay at all before shifting in to reverse and then engage with a kick?

[CGGorman]

With your foot on the brake and while it is engaging, does it shudder a couple times before the car squats down into gear?

[omgsnakelol]

yes it shudders several times before it "locks" into reverse.

i took it to another mechanic who is also a client of mine. his shop specializes in luxury vehicles, mostly mercedes, lexus, jaguar, etc.

without doing a full diagnostic test or anything, just driving it, they felt as though it was the transmission.

he said that the transmission in an LS works similar to a mercedes, where if you put it in drive it starts in 2nd gear, unless you "mash it". and when you mash it, and it drops down into 1st gear, you feel a very "severe clutch shudder" as well.

they gave me some idea of what to do next, and how to approach the situation. i could not afford an extended warranty plan for the car, nor does the car have a 30 day warranty, however in missouri i guess we have whats called a 3 day "lemon law" and that the dealership should take care of it 100%.

also they noted that the dealership just received a 5 star customer satisfaction award, and that they *should* bend over backwards to make it right with me.

they also said that if they tell me to go screw myself, that there were "other things that could be done" and to get back with them as soon as i find out whats going on at the dealership.

they also pulled up the TSB on the car, and checked for any recalls that might pertain to this problem, but found none. the car was manufactured on 6/01, and any transmission problems were amended prior to that date.

i bought the car friday and noticed the problem sunday, however they were closed so i was not able to talk to anyone until monday. the dealership did and does seem genuinly concerned with the problem and told me to bring the car down as soon as i could so they could take a look at it.

so as of this morning, the car is at the dealership, and they are looking at it right now. i did overhear the dealership's mechanic say it does sound and feel exactly like the transmission.

so the ball is in their court at the moment. im hoping for the best.

[CGGorman]

I had a shudder that occured in several gears. One of those shudders was during reverse engagement. It happened suddenly, and violently, for the first time after I picked it up from having the windows tinted. I KNOW they thrashed my tranny while they had it. They claim it was like that when I dropped it off. It wasn't.

Anyway, when the mechanic pulled the pan, he found smashed bearings and thrust washers laying the bottom. They had to tear the entire thing apart and found multiple broken parts. He said he was surprised it still even turned, let alone shifted. Don't ask me what all was broke, but the rebuild estimate was over $3,000. It was replaced with a remanufactured transmission under extended warranty.

[el es]

Good Grief Chris. Makes me want to run out and have a form printed stating that the car is in good working order and have everyone from the car washers to valets sign before turining it over.

Just sign at the bottom please.

[omgsnakelol]

ok went to the dealership to check up on things. ended up purchasing an extended warranty at dealership cost. or so they say, but reguardless, it was substantially lower then the extended warranty they offered me when i bought the car.

for 900$, they sold me a 24 month 24,000 mile powertrain warranty, and agreed to pay the deducatable of this service.

im getting a remanufactured transmission and i should have my car back in about a week.

[CGGorman]

Precautionary measure, or did they actually find something wrong?

[omgsnakelol]

they were unable to powerbreak the car in D/R, and said judging by the discoloration of the fluid it was something in the clutch...
and that more times then not its cheaper and easier just to put a new transmission in then fix the existing one.

did you get my email?

[CGGorman]

I haven't checked my today. When did you send it?

[omgsnakelol]

well i used the email feature through AF, i dont know if it sends you an actual email or will show up in your private messages...

[CGGorman]

Got it. Responded.