1997 E320 transmission thunk in D and 4 only
Here’s the problem: If I’m in D or 4, and I accelerate up to third gear and then let off the throttle, or am very light on the throttle, there is a loud thunk and the rpms drop.
If I keep accelerating there is no problem. All shifts are perfect. And it’s flawless on the freeway. It’s only when I let off the gas in third gear around town that the thunk/rpm-drop happens.
If I put the gearshift in 3, this does not happen. It needs to be in 4 or D. As a result, I find myself driving around town in 3 and I’d like to stop doing that.
What do you all think, torque converter? It’s not the 3-4 upshift generally — only when I’m light on the throttle in gear 3 does the thunk get triggered.
I am hesitant to touch this transmission because it is the smoothest 722.6 of the three I’ve owned and honestly could not be smoother…except for this thunk!


