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Loud Noise on Startup

ldoh

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THANK YOU! I too have this loud “clunk” brand new truck.... :( I switched from Chevy and already have an issue... it’s really disappointing. Video doesn’t even convey how loud this clunk is. It’s VERY EMBARRASSING. People look at me thinking I hit something when starting the truck. You would think Ram would be all over this so their trucks aren’t out there clunking all over the place. It looks, sounds, bad for the brand...

It might help to get the mic under the vehicle to better capture the sound. Hopefully you are aware some report a light brake pedal application upon startup eliminates this issue. It isn't a true fix but at least it partially addresses the cause. It seems that about as fast and good as it gets with FCA these days.

FCA has a few growing pains with the new body 1500's. Maybe that's one reason FCA plans to continue offering the classic body (4th gen) next year (2020) and even possibly after that. Gotta wonder what the future holds for 5th gen Ram 1500's when Ram still has 2019 classic body recalls.
 

Cr250Ram

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2019 new body CCLB 4wd Laramie ORG 3.21
200 miles on odometer

I was able to get it on video, but the “clunk” is MUCH louder in person. I got BOTH the initial “clunk” and the “ticking” that follows the “clunk.” I always have the ticking, but I don’t always have the “clunk.” The clunk also seems to only occur after the truck has been sitting for a period of time.

The Clunk seems to be correlated with the drive train (drive shaft) movement as seen my and Ram805s video. I guess the only way to rule that out is to see if the clunk is absent when the drive shaft moves at startup. This video is taken at the front of the drive shaft coming out of the transfer case. I will try to get more video at the rear differential. My wife said the sound seems to be coming from the rear of the truck... I can’t help but feel this is due to the starter. Can any mechanical people give any reasons why/how the drive shaft would move upon startup? I am thinking the transmission is allowing for input from the engine to come through the drive train, or the starter is hitting something in the drive train that pushes the force out to the driveshaft?

Sometimes the ticking is accompanied with a quiet metal grinding noise. I think the ticking is the Hemi lifters according to others posts. I wanted to hit on the ticking noise so others can see there is a clear difference from the two noises and that they are independent of each other...
 
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Cr250Ram

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This video was taken 5 minutes after the one posted above, and at the rear differential. I started the truck and turned it off. Then I started a second time and cycled through the following transmission selections; R,P,R,N,D,N,R,P.

The drive shaft movement is seen again at startup on the first start but without the clunk, I turned it off before the ticking started. The driveshaft does not move on the second startup, but the ticking is still present (different/separate from clunk).

The driveshaft, as I think would be expected, moves when changing through the gear selections. I think it’s important to note the “clunk” isn’t from a u joints on the drive shaft as it can be seen rotating back and forth without any clunking. Therefore this clunk must be somewhere in the drivetrain from the transfer case and/or forward (transmission, starter, etc.).
 
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Wilsons19Ram

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So it seems the brake pedal pressure thing works to keep the clanks at bay but why is this happening? Do we just be mindful of pedal pressure and forget about it?
 

FlyNavy

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Here is a video of my startup this morning. It had a bit more of the crackle/popping when it was brand new - I'm at 3,700 miles now. This all sounds normal to me.


When I did my 1,000 mile oil change I used a Mopar filter that caused a ton of lifter startup noise. Promptly changed it to a Fram and it's silent now.
Mine makes the same noise. I have 500 miles on it. It sounds like something that would come from the transmission.
 

MaxKZ

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1. Press the brake pedal (strong or medium - irrelevant).
2. Press the start button and immediately completely release foot from the brake pedal - as soon as starter begin work.
3. NO CLUNK
 

SD Rebel

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It might help to get the mic under the vehicle to better capture the sound. Hopefully you are aware some report a light brake pedal application upon startup eliminates this issue. It isn't a true fix but at least it partially addresses the cause. It seems that about as fast and good as it gets with FCA these days.

FCA has a few growing pains with the new body 1500's. Maybe that's one reason FCA plans to continue offering the classic body (4th gen) next year (2020) and even possibly after that. Gotta wonder what the future holds for 5th gen Ram 1500's when Ram still has 2019 classic body recalls.

The 4th gen classic still going on because it's platform that is already paid for and they can offer it really cheap to keep up sales and market share and take away mid-sized truck sales due to similar pricing. It may still stay on until they get a mid-size truck to market.

FCA has a reputation for this with cars, especially the Charger & Challenger that are based on the same platform for well over a decade. The difference is you can't do that with trucks anymore, hence the 5th gen. But the 4th gen will stay on because it's cheap and gains them market share.
 

SD Rebel

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I haven't heard mine clunk anymore, not sure why, just turned 1000 miles. But I haven't really done anything different other than not putting a lot of pressure when pressing on the brakes during start up. I release almost immediately after it begins to start as well. Haven't heard a clunk in probably over 20 starts.
 

RamCares

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I have a 06/ 24/19 build and have heard this once in my 3 weeks of ownership. so obviously the saga continues and probably when the 2020's roll out it will surface with them as well.
New to the forum, new to dodge, I was previously a ford owner, just bought the brand new 2019 ram 1500 LARAMIE I have 800 miles on it. At the risk of making this sound like an alcoholics anonymous group I too am experiencing this clunk or bang or whatever you want to call it. To me it's more like metal on metal like starter teeth binding on something. It happens randomly and not very often but often enough to notice. I tried a couple of times to record the noise but no luck. Just wondering if anyone has come up with anything, I read about half the thread before posting and heard a couple of videos but none that sounded exactly like what I'm hearing. I have an appointment on the 19th with dealer on some minor exterior issues but I want to gather as much evidence as possible to have to take to dealer when I go. Thanks!

This video was taken 5 minutes after the one posted above, and at the rear differential. I started the truck and turned it off. Then I started a second time and cycled through the following transmission selections; R,P,R,N,D,N,R,P.

The drive shaft movement is seen again at startup on the first start but without the clunk, I turned it off before the ticking started. The driveshaft does not move on the second startup, but the ticking is still present (different/separate from clunk).

The driveshaft, as I think would be expected, moves when changing through the gear selections. I think it’s important to note the “clunk” isn’t from a u joints on the drive shaft as it can be seen rotating back and forth without any clunking. Therefore this clunk must be somewhere in the drivetrain from the transfer case and/or forward (transmission, starter, etc.).
Mine makes the same noise. I have 500 miles on it. It sounds like something that would come from the transmission.

Hello,
If you are experiencing this, we recommend contacting your preferred FCA dealer to have this documented and inspected. We would also like to assist with this process as well. Please send us a private message if you plan to work with your dealer to address this,

Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist
 

Cardsarge

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This has to be a software/firmware issue. As stated above, if you release the brake pedal as soon as you hit the start button, the clank does not happen.
 

mvfjet

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Now at 2500 miles I just do remote start or light pressure on the brake pedal in cab. I've gotten maybe 5 clunks in the last 6+ weeks and when they have happened they are super faint. Besides that the truck runs solid and am very happy with it. All the clicking noises on start up must be computers because my work Peterbilt does that on every start.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk
 

TinaHill

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Hi david55838,
I certainly understand your reason for not wanting to visit the dealer. We would like to have this looked into further by the appropriate team. If you are experiencing this, please send us a private message with your VIN and mileage.
Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist
I’m in the same boat and many other issues and the dealer keeps giving me BS excuses! I took it in within two week of ownership and they didn’t even note it in my mopar. Glad I have paper work and added myself! I’ve had nothing but problems with this truck and no one helps!
 

Jim42242

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Hi kmck94,

I am terribly sorry to hear that you have a concern with your new Ram. Have you brought this to the attention of your dealer? Please send us a private message if you are in need of additional support while your Ram is in service.

Darlene
Ram Social Care Specialist

My wife’s 2019 1500 tradesman is doing the same thing, has been since around 800 miles or so. Dealer said the first time it was a vacuum motor. I don’t think so. It does it almost all the time and sounds like something is going to break. It’s there now, and they say it’s normal, they tried 2 other trucks on the lot. I don’t believe it’s normal, and if it is, I didn’t pay $48k for that noise to happen at all. I have a video I’ll attach. I’d like to know what I can do, we don’t want the truck if it’s going to do this, plus it’s stalled on me coasting into a turn light. I had to stop completely, press the break and push the start button. Lucky I didn’t get hit from behind.
 

Jim42242

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Hi kmck94,

I am terribly sorry to hear that you have a concern with your new Ram. Have you brought this to the attention of your dealer? Please send us a private message if you are in need of additional support while your Ram is in service.

Darlene
Ram Social Care Specialist

The video wouldn’t upload to the last comment. I’m trying to configure it. Either way I will be picking the truck up tomorrow and then I’ll be contacting corporate about it.
 

Jim42242

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Got it. So using the parking break is the fix? How many trucks do you think have this issue? I know you don’t have a number but everyone or 10%?
That’s not 5e fix, my truck sets the parking brake for me and it does it
 

Juli_hoop

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I’m in the same boat and many other issues and the dealer keeps giving me BS excuses! I took it in within two week of ownership and they didn’t even note it in my mopar. Glad I have paper work and added myself! I’ve had nothing but problems with this truck and no one helps!

Yup, sounds like what I went through. Dealer just keeps saying they can’t replicate it so there’s nothing they can do. I even showed them a video of how bad it sounds. IMHO, they do this crap on purpose. You bring it in for a bunch of issues, they can’t hear, feel, or replicate anything! Ever! If it ain’t broke, they are not doing $h!t about it and they will just keep telling you it can’t be replicated! It’s a waste of time to even get them to do anything.
 

RamCares

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My wife’s 2019 1500 tradesman is doing the same thing, has been since around 800 miles or so. Dealer said the first time it was a vacuum motor. I don’t think so. It does it almost all the time and sounds like something is going to break. It’s there now, and they say it’s normal, they tried 2 other trucks on the lot. I don’t believe it’s normal, and if it is, I didn’t pay $48k for that noise to happen at all. I have a video I’ll attach. I’d like to know what I can do, we don’t want the truck if it’s going to do this, plus it’s stalled on me coasting into a turn light. I had to stop completely, press the break and push the start button. Lucky I didn’t get hit from behind.

Hi Jim42242,
We would be happy to connect you with a case specialist to assist you and your dealer while working to identify a resolution. If this is something you would be interested in, please send our team a private message!
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist
 

Jim42242

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Hi Jim42242,
We would be happy to connect you with a case specialist to assist you and your dealer while working to identify a resolution. If this is something you would be interested in, please send our team a private message!
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist
Thank you, I am currently at the dealer, they tried to tell me the clunk is normal. I told them I wasn’t accepting that answer. They are installing a new starter now. The stall issue they have no idea what it is. If the starter noise continues with the new starter, and or it stalls again while driving, we will be asking for a new vehicle. I will let you know what happens.
 

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