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•25w

I own a Citroën Basalt automatic. When I start the car and shift into reverse gear, I notice a sudden jerk. However, this does not happen once the engine has warmed up. Could you please explain the reason for this behaviour and let me know if it indicates any issue with the car?

•25w

This usually happens because the engine and the automatic gearbox are cold. Right after a cold start, the engine idles a bit higher, and the gearbox oil is still thick. When you slot into reverse at that moment, the reverse clutch grabs with more force than it does when warm, so you feel a quick jerk. Once the engine settles and the oil warms up, the shift into reverse feels smooth.

If the jerk is small and happens only on the first cold start, it is generally normal and not harmful. Try this: start the car, keep your foot firmly on the brake, wait 5 to 10 seconds for the idle to settle, then shift to R. Do not touch the accelerator while selecting reverse. This should remove the thud.

If the jerk is strong, comes with a clunk noise, or keeps happening even after a short warm-up, get it checked under warranty. Ask the workshop to run a true cold-start test after the car sits overnight and to check a few simple things: gearbox oil level and condition, any transmission software updates, engine idle speed when cold, and the engine and gearbox mounts. These can also cause a harsh engagement.

Based on what you described, it sounds more like normal cold behaviour than a fault. Try the short pause on start-up. If it still bothers you, have Citroen log it on a cold morning, and they can fine-tune or fix anything if needed.

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Citroen

Basalt

from ₹9.54 Lakh

•25w•

Also everytime you park car, pull hand brakes before slotting the car into P.

•25w•

I usually keep my vehicle idle for 30 secs before taking on a gear.

•25w•

Basalt take about 45 seconds to warm up.

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