[scmills59]

Not overly concerned at this stage as both my SE and my girlfriend's S do this (both are FWD) - but on starting the engine and first selecting R from P to reverse out of the garage (with the gear selector trigger pressed), it's not exactly the smoothest transition, and there's a pretty hefty 'clunk' - felt not audible.

Going from P straight through to D is much smoother, though you can still feel a small 'clunk' as the lever goes through R, but it's a much smoother transition (to D). Less evident I think when the engine has been running, but still not as smooth as I would have thought it should be.

Are you experiencing the same symptoms and has it developed, got better - or is it nothing to worry about...? Value your thoughts.

 

[CRVW]

This can happen if you let the car roll a little after selecting P before applying the parking brake so that the car is stopped by the transmission being in P. Puts some load on it I presume which makes it harder to shift out of P. Not sure if this is what you're experiencing.
When I stop and park, I don't release the brake pedal until I have applied the parking brake, so the car doesn't roll at all in P.

 

[scmills59]

This can happen if you let the car roll a little after selecting P before applying the parking brake so that the car is stopped by the transmission being in P. Puts some load on it I presume which makes it harder to shift out of P. Not sure if this is what you're experiencing.
When I stop and park, I don't release the brake pedal until I have applied the parking brake, so the car doesn't roll at all in P.

I would do the same - brake in the usual way and not select P until the car is at a complete standstill. The garage is on level ground too - I called the Service team of my local VW shop and they suggested it might happen when parked on a hill - but either way they didn't seem unduly worried and said that this is what these gearboxes tend to do ... just hoping everyone else agrees ...

 

[derekdal]

theres a parking pin in automatics that can have pressure on it when on a hill. my opinon is that it should only happen in special circumstances like parked on a hill. if you're on a level surface and have the brake fully depressed, it should not clunk going from P to R.

it could also be because the oil hasn't fully pressurized in the transmission. The trans fuild is at a drained, resting position and automatics don't function without proper fluid levels and pressure. it may take 30sec for it to fill all the channels and reach full pressure. you might try letting the car run for longer before shifting to see if that changes it.

it could also be the shift cable isn't calibrated correctly for hitting the R position.

you could also see if the speed that the lever is moved matters or if when you move it slowly, if you can feel it go into gear before you think the lever has come to rest in the R position.

 

[CorradoG60]

Because I will back out of my spot on start, I always park by stopping, moving to R for a beat while braked, then P. Even on a FLAT garage floor, it rolls slightly back slightly while in P when I take off the brake and locks. If I don’t do this, it rolls FORWARD when it’s in P instead, and since my garage is tight, it once rolled enough to bend my license plate against something.

On start, because I was last in R, there is no chunking at all no matter how cold the engine when I back up.

This is in a Jetta, but with the same FWD engine/transmission combo. If I don’t do this it may chunk a little but I think it’s the nature of that 8 speed. Otherwise it’s a great transmission.

 

[FJB]

Odd question, but are you letting the car "warm" up? As in on a cold start, the engine idles around 1200rpm for about 30-45 seconds before the idle "kicks down" once the emissions systems are ready.

 

[CorradoG60]

Odd question, but are you letting the car "warm" up? As in on a cold start, the engine idles around 1200rpm for about 30-45 seconds before the idle "kicks down" once the emissions systems are ready.

Doesn’t matter. The 8-speed just does this, engine hot or cold.

It’s not a big deal.

 

[FJB]

Try putting it in reverse and let it engage for a split second when you park (before putting it in P. This way everything is already lined up when you drive it again.