Bumps/clunks when I reverse out of driveway

Hi guys. I have a 2006 CS with tiptronic, and it runs fine, but when I have parked the car, and not driven it for maybe half a day or leave it overnight, when I reverse out of my driveway, it's like there are a few bumps or clunks in the suspension or engine. But after that, the car runs fine. Have you guys experienced this? Is it a defect or malfunction? I don't know that much about engines or suspensions.

Brakes as in http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-chat/15907-strange-pop.html and nothing to worry about if it is. Could also be this http://www.planet-9.com/faq.php?faq=idiosync2#faq_reversenoise but I bet it is the brakes.

Santa Fe thanks for the references, I tried searching but I couldn't find the posts that you did. It sounds like that could be my problem, but my problem is a recurring problem. The clunk/bump occurs maybe everyday or every other day. So it's not just when I wash my car. Maybe because I park the car outside?

i am about to start a new thread about this clunks/thumps in extreme right wheel turn(to avoid my neighbor's jeep park accross the street) while backing out of my driveway. it is becoming irritating and i could not believe why my 2008 cayman has this problem. my previous 2001 boxter did not have this problem. is this something that should be fixed by my warranty. people are talking about PSS9 but i did not have that installed. is this a brake/disc/pad problem hitting something ? thanks for additional clues. PercivalKnight New Jersey

I believe the sharp turn when backing up noise is normal as the Faq referenced above states. Do you have larger and different wheels/tires on the Cayman vs the Boxster ? You could always get it checked out by the dealer if you are concerned. caunyd, if you park outside and the humidity is high you might get the same result. I assume the noise is only on the initial move of the car in the a.m. which would indicate no mechanical issue.

I have had similar experiences and came to the conclusion it's the tires and it's temparture related. I noticed that you said you park the car outside; what do you think the temperature is when you are hearing the noises? The CaymanS has summer performance tires and when the temp is below 40 they become hard as a rock until drive enough for the tires to warm up. Worth checking into as the source of the bumps and clunks.

When it's cold, it's the tires - which are very hard in the cold - "skipping" across the surface when the wheels are turned at extreme angles. Also, if you're near or at the steering lock, the power steering pump is probably adding some noise, too. When it's warm, you'll also get a noise when making very extreme turns at slow speeds - in this case, the tires are very "grippy" (a technical term) and at slow speeds, you're actually exceeding the circle of friction, and the tire is again "skipping" across the surface and making a noise. You may not like it, but this is all normal. brad

Try parking backwards in your driveway and drive out straight in the morning. I bet it will make a similar noise. I think it's the brakes and mine does it to. It feels like it catches then let's go. Steering angle might make it more pronounced but I think you'll still notice it.

I'm with beez on this one. I park outside, sheltered and I have a ton of room to back and turn. I experience the symptoms only if I turn too sharp on cold tires. If I am more gradual with the angle, no bump. Same occurs forward or backward. Shallow turn, no noise, sharp turn, noise. Warm tires, no noise, cold tires noise. I can produce the bump repeatedly in both directions while the tires are still cold but only with a steep turn angle. Can't say that I notice this when temps are above 60 or so.

Tires. I have the same clunk, but only when the temp is 35, or below. You can actually feel the tires "skip" when you turn hard--as in backing out of the garage. It is a symptom of the traction issues when driving in cold weather on summer tires.

Yes I have the same experience. When the tires are cold (30 degrees yesterday) and backing up the tires make a popping sound - it is fairly loud. It also depends on the pavement. In the parking garage at my office it does not take much at all to cause it, on a normal asphalt parking lot I rarely hear it.

I agree. It happens to me every morning in the winter when I turn while backing out and it's cold - its the tires.

I'm in Southern California and it never gets to 30 degrees, it rarely even gets to 40-50 degrees even in the winter. but yeah it usually only happens overnight, or in the morning when it's cold. So it seems to be the tires/brakes, as everyone has suggested. Thanks for the input everyone.

Just wanted to add another reference, This happens to me as well. Even though the car is garaged when not driven, I experience this clump, thudding, not so much "popping" noise when I also reverse out of my driveway and turn the wheel ALL the way to the right. Like others have said, the more you turn the wheel to it's maximum angle, the more frequent the noises become and the car does seem to "skip" a bit. I don't know if it's the tires but after reading this thread and other input, I'd have to agree. It is also more apparent in the cold weather. I don't know if this is a promoter since when I turned on my car while still in the closed garage (only battery of course ) temp read 48F by the time I got to the bottom of the drive way, ~40ft, the ambient temp was a bone chilling 15F and the problem still occured. I doubt the internals dropped from 48 to 15 or what have you in such little time. But overall the problem is more frequent when the car and it's organs are cold. Thudding does NOT occur backing up when the car has been driven/ warmed up and/ or when the tires have warmed. Problem is also not an issue like others have mentioned in the warmer months. Happy reversing

Thank you for this topic!!!! I live in Florida and have experienced the same thing backing out of the driveway and turning sharp to the right! It feels like a tire has a bubble on it when I turn hard. I notice it most in the colder weather - and yes, we have had some low 30's here in central Florida lately!! I was seriously thinking of taking to the dealer since my 2008 is still under warranty but it sounds like that would be a waste of time. Thanks again for posting this topic!

Ditto here. My reverse steering clunk is only when the car is cold (not necessarily cold temperature) and especially if it hasn't been driven in a couple days. Usually happens while in reverse and backing to the right. Once moving forward, it steers normally and all is fine. I thought it was a break-in period thing, but maybe not??

I have the original poster's same story... Clunking over turns , some moans and groans. Took it to the dealer they found nothing. Fast forward to the 40K checkup where they found the power steering fluid was low... Surprise, surprise - the noices are all gone. It sucks that you really can't check it yourself...

Actually you can and it's not that difficult. Just remove the engine cover.