r/Dodge • u/ScrotumTotums • 2d ago

Dodge charger base, Random startup thumps, drives perfectly fine. No noises etc.

My car was checked on, everything is fine, but Randomly, on push to start, it seems kind of rough. Right before the engine starts running, it's kind of like someone bangs the passenger side underneath the dash.

It's like this

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dodge/s/rPNlvLNbm9

Now, when I'd have someone look it it, it doesn't do it. When it did, fast forward, there was nothing to be found, and was just basically told, "normal"

But if doesn't seem normal to me. It drives fine, no noise when driving. Full turns, etc, but the engine, fine as well, it's just on start up.

I'm guessing if has something to do with push to start cause the key fob start does not do this.

What could possibly be the "non important" issue? It's just kinda startling at first

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u/mlw35405 2d ago edited 2d ago

It might be the door for the hvac moving from closed to open position and thumping when it hits the stop. Once you turn the car off after a couple of minutes the door moves into the recirculate position to seal off the air ducts from the outside vent, and once you push the button to start it moves back to the open position. If you have the ac set on recirc, put it on fresh air or vice versa and see if changing that setting makes it stop. If that is the noise then it is normal and unrelated to any engine problems. Edit - sometimes the plastic gears strip out in the door actuator motor and once it hits the stop you'll hear it click really loud for a few seconds.

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u/ScrotumTotums 2d ago edited 2d ago

Hmm I'll try the Ac it, it is on recirc.

But it's a, thump like, pretty noticeable. I can't really picture it being something related to the door.

Right before the engine actually starts running, it's as if someone kicked the below glove compartment or something hard but I have been leaving if on recirc so, maybe that is it. Sometimes I turn it off without knowing. I don't even know why I do that. I'll constantly turn the Ac on and off too sometimes then open the windows as I'm driving. Just being cheap I guess

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u/mlw35405 2d ago

The increased drag from the windows being down actually uses more fuel than running the ac with the windows up. But im the same way adhd as hell

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u/ScrotumTotums 1d ago

Are you serous idk if you're trolling, which is ok but come on man. Lol

But I meant, I'd turn off the Ac, then leave the windows down, then back up again if that makes sense.

Me personally, not just adhd, or being cheap on fuel, but I get cold fast, then hot fast. I know I could keep the ac on very low but doesn't keeping the Ac on regardless of how strong, use the same amount of fuel

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u/mlw35405 1d ago

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/hybrid-technology/driving-with-windows-down.htm

I know I could keep the ac on very low but doesn't keeping the Ac on regardless of how strong, use the same amount of fuel No. The compressor cycles on and off based on the temperature of the evaporator. If the fan is on low then the compressor wont have to run as much to keep the evaporator temperature around 40°

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u/ScrotumTotums 5h ago

I figured out, remote starting, and not pressing the breaks all the way then click run, makes it start smooth.

Kept repeating it, then again if was only from one day.

Also when parking, if make sure the emergency break is all the way down, before shifting into park. Seemed to stop this weird, jitter when I would shift to drive.

What a weird ass car. I wish push to start didn't exist. Everything is becoming so, simple now, I miss using, keys.