As the subject states, when shifting from Park to Drive, the trans really grabs/pulls, more aggressively than I'm used to, such that if I'm not using the parking brake, it actually feels like it's aggressively pulling the vehicle forward and will cause the brakes to groan. Is this normal operation for these transmissions? I've never owned a vehicle which was equipped with this particular ZF transmission.

Everything I've read thus far about the drum which tends to go south on these transmissions, specifies poor performance and rough shifting. The transmission shifts as smooth as glass. That being said, could this be a drum issue?

I have complete service records for the duration of the car's life. There isn't any mention of servicing the transmission, nor any previous owner complaints about the transmission. The car has 77,200 miles on it.

Would a fluid/filter change prove beneficial?


Jason

 

Idle speed too high? If this only happens when cold, suggest letting car run until fast idle comes down before putting in gear(about 60 sec.).

 

Certainly works for me - at 600 rpm warm the transmisson just about urges the car forward on a level but cold idle makes the brakes groan.
I assumed this was normal.

 

I have shifted into gear before the one minute mark. I do notice after driving it for a bit, the lurching is minimal. The car idles at 600rpm. Even when warm, I think it pulls more than any other auto I've driven.