Hi, just joined this forum and hope someone can offer some suggestions or help. I bought a '97 Eclipse and after having it a few days I decided to check the automatic transmission fluid level. The instructions said to shift it through the gears and put it in nuetral and check with the engine running. I had the hood open and was watching the engine as my son shifted it into the different gears. Each time he changed gears there is a clicking sound somewhat like a ratchet wrench which lasts for a second or two at most and as this is happening the engine rocks forward slightly in reverse and rocks or rotates to the back when placed in drive, from the torque. When it is placed in neutral there is no noise. The noise is not loud and I don't think I ever noticed it because the hood was shut and I was inside the car.

The big question, Is this normal? Help? I'm worried!

 

my wife's outlander does the samething, but so far we aint experiencing any problem.

 

I have no problems with transmission either, it runs and shifts fine. I took the pan off and changed the filter. There was no metal in the pan and the fluid looked good. Finding Diamond ATF is not easy, had to go to KC, MO to get some.

Perhaps this is just a design feature that enables them to shift into forward or reverse more smoothly? I'm hoping.