[vanderbilt31]

Hey guys, traded in my 04 1500 for a 2012 big horn a few weeks ago. From day 1 I've heard a slight clunking noise when accelorating from a stop. Took it to dealer and tech took a test drive with me and stated he heard and felt the clunk. Left truck there and recieved a call today from SA telling me the tech drove another 2012 1500 and it didnt make that noise, and that they could not pinpoint where the noise was coming from on my truck. Then advised me that the tech went over the truck and since there was no safety concerns observed, I should come get the truck and if it gets "WORSE" bring it back in. UNACCEPTABLE to me. Anyone else have any issues like this? When accelorating from a stop I hear a clunk which to me replicates the sound like a bad trans mount or U-Joint would make.

 

[RAMTX]

Got my 2012 2 days ago and my transmission is smooth as can be. Hope you can find what is wrong.

 

[blackpearldodge]

Hey guys, traded in my 04 1500 for a 2012 big horn a few weeks ago. From day 1 I've heard a slight clunking noise when accelorating from a stop. Took it to dealer and tech took a test drive with me and stated he heard and felt the clunk. Left truck there and recieved a call today from SA telling me the tech drove another 2012 1500 and it didnt make that noise, and that they could not pinpoint where the noise was coming from on my truck. Then advised me that the tech went over the truck and since there was no safety concerns observed, I should come get the truck and if it gets "WORSE" bring it back in. UNACCEPTABLE to me. Anyone else have any issues like this? When accelorating from a stop I hear a clunk which to me replicates the sound like a bad trans mount or U-Joint would make.

The "clunk" you are feeling may be the result of bad (lack-of) baffling in the gas tank. Question for you: Is your tank full or near full when you experience the clunking? Drive the truck for a bit and then listen for the clunking feeling when the gas tank is around 1/2 full or less.

I experience the clunk in my 2011 when I'm 3/4 to full tank of gas. You come to a stop and then feel like somebody has lightly run into your bumper. Or that something is lunging forward in your truck.
Also.. I have the 121L tank, do you have the larger gas tank?

Update: I see you are feeling the clunking when you accelerate, and not when coming to a stop, like me. During acceleration I have never experienced any clunking feeling. It's only when I come to a stop, and only when my tank is 3/4 to full. To be honest, during acceleration, I am more focused on the sound my engines makes to be focusing on anything else. I love the rumble I get during acceleration.

Don't suspect it's anything serious. Hoping it's just your gas tank baffling.

Keep us posted....
-Dave

 

[vanderbilt31]

Thanks for the responses guys. Blackpearl I have heard that bumping noise when coming to a stop..about 2 seconds once the truck stops I feel the "bang". I have never taken the truck lower then half tank yet and only have a few hundred miles on it. Like you I have the larger tank so I have been trying to refuel betweeen 1/2-3/4 of a tank since its such a large tank and gas is over 3.20 a gal here. I will try running the tank lower and see if this could somehow possibly be related. For a quick update today I picked truck up from dealer since they called and said its raining out and since this issue only happens during "hard" accelerations the tires are spinning and they cant feel the clunk. Which is BS because its not hard accelerations its most accelerations. Anyways it clunked several times on the way home and they said well just bring it back when the weather clears. And funny the tech who test drove with me and said ya I hear a clunk came outside to say its only a slight clunk, barely noticeable. Funny how his attitude changed after the service manager got involved!! I will keep you posted, thanks again. I should have kept my 04 sport, it was issue free and to me felt a tad quicker then the new one. But I also had long tube blackjack headers, cold air intake and a flashpaq tune.

 

[GTyankee]

The only noises or sensations that i had were

When i put my 545RFE automatic transmission into reverse, even on flat ground, everyone hears what sounds like someone with a stick tranny & a badly adjusted clutch, it grinds.
Dealership replaced the drive shaft, i still have the noise, waiting for the issue to get worse, 2 years since first hearing it, still no change

Other issue is the stopping feel/noise, it has not changed from day one
it is either the transmission, brake lining hanging up, or the rear differential
It can't be the fuel tank sloshing, like i used to think, gas doesn't surge ONLY ONCE, the strangest part is that it doesn't happen with the small tank
:4-dontknow:

 

[hammer1]

My truck make a nice thud as if its downshifting a few seconds after I stop. I hate it as much as I hate the MDS!!!

 

[fat1]

it could be the hill brake assist. You can turn it off through the evic

 

[heathk2003]

My truck make a nice thud as if its downshifting a few seconds after I stop. I hate it as much as I hate the MDS!!!

That is your hill start assist locking down on your brakes after you stop. Go into your evic and shut it off if you hate it!!!

 

[hammer1]

it could be the hill brake assist. You can turn it off through the evic

Thanks that seemed to cure the problem!! Dodge dealer could not even tell me what it was. I appreciate the info!

 

[fat1]

np man, I work in IT for a living which means I surf the internet all day and read about my latest obsession. Right now that obsession is my new ram Glad I could help

 

[vanderbilt31]

Black pearl you hav me wondering about this baffle in the fuel tank. Seems as I got closer to a half tank of fuel the clunking sound was less often. Once I went below half tank the noise doesn't seem to be there anymore during acceleration and when coming to a stop. How did you come to the conclusion that it's a baffle in the tank doing this, and is there a fix for this at the dealer or is it something I'll have to live with every time I fill up? If I go back to the dealer I wanna have my homework in hand.

 

[vanderbilt31]

By the way, anyone really try and listen for this clunk? Most people in my truck don't notice it until I point it out.

 

[Xiaro]

I hear more of a... grind like a circlular grinder noise on acceleration coming from the right side... would this be simular to what youre hearing? Im going to go take it in to get it checked soon

 

[vanderbilt31]

I can't say grinding noise to describe mine. It's more like the sound of a bad u joint in my opinion. Let me know how you make out at the dealer.

 

[vanderbilt31]

Can anyone with the larger tank do a bunch of start n stops to tell me if they feel this clunk during accelerations before I drive my dealership completely friggin crazy! Lol

 

[speedfrk]

My reg cab with the small tank does this too when I am coming to a stop. Never thought about it being the fuel tank, but I do notice a lot of sloshing noise when I pull it in the garage and the tank is not full.

 

[tcburch]

I just joined and dang if I didn't find an answer to something immediately. I have the same sensation, as though the brakes are double locking on the downshift at a stoplight. At first thought it was the trans but, now that I've read some of the posts, I think you've id'd the source. I'll try shutting down the assist through the EVIC and see if it goes away. Thanks...

 

[vanderbilt31]

I'd like to think it was my hill assist but that clunk when coming to a stop is not present anymore now that I am down to less then half a tank and didn't turn off the hill assist yet. Going to try that next time i fill up. Been avoiding filling tank since its nice to hear no clunk with less gas. Still surprised that no one has noticed a clunk from acceleration. Called the dealer today and service manager looked up any issues regarding the fuel in tanks causing a clunk and he said I'll look it up then a minute later said no bulletins regarding noises coming from hill assist or fuel tanks. Not that I expected dodge to take fault for an issue that isn't a safety or emissions issue, would cost them a fortune to recall all the trucks for a fix.

 

[fat1]

The solution to both issues is to upgrade your stereo system to drown out all noises from the drive train and not worry about it till you see a code or light on the dash telling you to. We should be listening for noises at the end of the warranty not at the beginning lol

Disclaimer: I am sort of kidding

 

[GTyankee]

The feeling of being bumped just after a stop at a sign or light
ONLY happens between 1/2 & 3/4 of a tank of gas
or at least that is when i notice it

I have not tried turning off the Hill Holder Assist yet.
That function doesn't seem to work in the higher gears on my Ram anyway, i have to use the gas pedal or the brakes to hold it from rolling backwards, except in 1st through 3rd gear