Hello everyone,

2011, 4 cylinder, automatic transmission Escape.

4 times in the last 6 months it has made a loud 'thump-thump' noise when moving from 'park' to 'drive'. It makes the noise immediately upon going into drive and lasts for about 1 second. It seems to surge also, as if the vehicle would move forward if I weren't holding down the brake. I can actually feel the 'thump'.

It has always happened after sitting idle for more than a couple of hours. It has happened in warm weather and cool weather. It usually happens at work after sitting 8+ hours on a level parking lot.

The dealer looked at the transmission and noted no problems.

I appreciate any ideas or advice.

 

Bump.....any thoughts? Thank you

 

Problems of all types is common with the 6F35 transaxle and a dealer stating that they can't find any issues is common also. Unless they can pull a code, they'll say no problem found.

 

Does it make any similar noises when you put it in reverse after sitting the required amount of time? If so, it would indicate a 'bleed down' is happening somewhere, allowing the fluid in the passages, servos, etc, to leak back into the sump. When the engine is started, the pump builds pressure in the system. If the pressure was building slowly, you could get a thumping as stuff tries to apply for drive mode, but the pressure was intermittent, so it bumped around until pressure built consistently.
Try starting the engine and let it run for a few seconds before shifting to drive. If it were quiet then, after allowing pressure to build, that would reinforce the above. Also note that the transmission may have an EPC, or electronic pressure control, used to modulate the pressure in the apply circuits. You mash on the go pedal softly, and it shifts imperceptibly. Goose it hard, and the pressure is raised to make the shifts much more solid and noticeable. If the EPC went on vacation intermittently, you'd get funny pressures in the system, and possibly noises...
Note, I am pretty sure that any codes developed in the transmission are forgotten when power is removed.
tom