Hello all,

I have a 2002 4 cylinder, 4 door automatic Vitara.  When the transmission shifts from first to second, an occasional loud clunk is heard.  I've replaced the rear u-joint, but the noise persists.  I've brought the truck to 2 independant mechanics and the dealership and no one seems to be able to figure it out.  Anyone else out there have the same problem?

Thanks,

Chad

Engine or transmission mount problem?

to me on that theres only 2 more places the rear end(not likely), or the tranny, which sounds like it, between 1-2 is different clutch packs, and they could have seen better days.

Thanks for the replies guys.  I am unfortunately beginning to think it could be the tranny...  It seems to shift a bit harshly between 1st and 2nd...  I mean, I'm used to Fords but it seems a little too harsh for me.

To add some details, it only seems to happen when the temperature gauge is at normal, which is when the transmission starts to shift a little harsh.  Also, if I accelerate lightly, it doesn't clunk.

Any ideas?

B.T.W., the truck has 103,000kms (64,000mi) on it.  I haven't changed the fluid or filter in the tranny yet.

well your waaaayyyyyyyy over due for it now, so you might as well just run it til it goes.

   I would change the fluid and filter quickly.It may be a clogged filter,or possibly gunk built up in the tranny cooler.Mine had a blockage in the radiator in the tranny cooler,and once it warmed up the fluid was getting to hot and causing hard shifts and slip shifting.The tranny went out quickly after this started.The shop doing the work flushes the cooler on every job they dp to get rid of contaminants,and found the blockage right away.

I have an '02 GV with the 2.5L V6.  It also has the 1-2 shift clunk.  I've had the rear end rebuilt (some play in the gears), the rear transmission mount replaced, all of the rear end mounting bolts checked and tightened.
Recently I had a squeak in the front end and took it to the dealer.  He diagnosed the noise as dry bushings in the suspension.  The clunk left for a while but is not back.  This spring, when I have time, I'm going to disassemble and lub or replace all of the busing from front to back.

Rwwink, are you saying the rear-end work solved the clunk?

I had the tranny flushed as well as replace the fluid in t-case and both axles and still the clunk remains...

I thought it had but the clunk came back as loud as ever.
Searching for the cause, I've had all of the work done but it's still there but only on the 1-2 shift.  We (the mech and I) thought that the excess play inthe rear end was causing it that's why the rear diff was rebuilt.  After that we thought that the rear of the transmission was moving due to soft mount that's why the rear trans mount was replaced.  We've tightened all of the bolts in the mounting of the read diff and transmission without any change.  All of the fluids have been changed without any change in the clunk.  Thought the joints of the drive shaft might be bad...no chance.
We did find a couple of relays on the pass side inner fender well we loose and moving around.
So far, we haven't been able to isolate the cause of the clunk but it doesn't seem to be serious...mine has had it for over 30K miles without any problems.

I'm thinking it can't be that bad either...  Mine's been doing it for 30k miles as well.  I'm surprised no one else has heard of this problem...