Hello, my car is a Mazda 3 2010 automatic transmission. About 79,000 miles. I had the transmission fluid swapped at about 40,000 miles. Recently it just started this clicking noise and continues to move forward when put into park. If I get to park on flat land it parks fine but not if it's sloped. Called my car shop but they said they won't look at it because they don't deal with transmissions. I have an appointment at a local transmission shop near me, but they can't see the car for about 3 weeks. Car runs great otherwise. Haven't had any problems with the transmission other than when I go to park. Thanks for your time.
While it would need to be diagnosed, it seems to me this may* be normal operation.
Google for a picture of a “parking prawl”.
It kinda looks like a gear, but instead of helping move things, it is designed to keep the transmission in place. There are “peaks” and “valleys” on that “gear”. The valley is what keeps the car in place.
When you put the car in park, if the prawl hits a valley, you won’t feel a nudge. If the prawl hits part of the peak, it will nudge forward until it hits the next valley.
Odds are, this is normal operation, but obviously it would need to be verified.
(I used the terms in quotes, because I don’t know the technical terms.)
Wow I'm pretty sure that is the problem! Thank you very much for your insight and time :]. Google says it could be 500$ + repair. Comes up as Parking pawl. Thank you again.
How far forward or backward? Is it a lot, or is it just like a nudge?
It is a nudge but it is repeatedly nudging unless I'm flat. Haven't had it move backwards. Only forwards.
Clicking noise isn't normal. I would have it looked at.
