Hello. I have a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. It has a CVT transmission and I am having some problems that make me think I have some major transmission issues going on.

First, about a year ago when driving through parking lots or anywhere at very low speed, the car would sort of jump or lurch forward. I have an Audi A4 with a CVT transmission as well that had to be replaced, and this feeling felt almost identical to when the CVT transmission in the Audi was slipping. It wasn't getting worse, so I wrote it off as a design problem rather than a failing part. Perhaps I shouldn't have.

Last week, I was driving home and out of nowhere the car started violently shaking when I was under 30MPH. The shaking felt as if the transmission was slipping. I made it home, and parked in the driveway. I started investigating what the issue could be. The transmission fluid level was normal and everything seemed in working order. The problem definitely wasn't an engine problem, but a drive train issue.

When I got back in the car to pull forward into the garage, I put the car in drive and accelerated as you would normally to go forward on almost flat ground. When I did that, it was like the car was in neutral. Hitting the accelerator only revved the engine, but when releasing the brake the car only rolled backwards down the driveway. We finally had to push my car into the garage.

A few comments:

1) The check engine light is now on. I don't have an ODB-II scanner for the Honda, only Audi-specific software. I'm going to try to pull the codes to see what that is about.

2) The service guidelines have been followed. We changed the transmission fluid last summer and used fluid from the dealership for this specific car and transmission type.

3) The car has about 115,000 miles.


I've searched the forums and haven't found much about this specific issue. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Very bizarre...

-Chris

 

When I was working for Honda I did a few start cluctches in those transmissions. Never any bucking/stalling problems but they all would make like a grunt type noise when you take off from a stop. There is a service bulletin out for the problem.

First action would be to burnish the clutches inside the trans. I forget the procedure but its basically change the fluid, and basically powerbreak the car for a 30 seconds and redo like 3 times, sometimes up to 10 times. That CVT fluid is exspensice too. If that did not fix then u had to remove trans and replace start clutch. There are a few special tools needed after you split the case on the trans.

Take it to a Honda dealer and have it diagnosed and possibly they may be able to get you some assistance from American Honda.

 

I am having the same issue. The dealer replaced the starter clutch about a year ago, then the TCM, then the engine and passenger side wiring harness.. i have had the flywheel replaced, they had to replace the IMA battery as well, and they also burnished the start clutch twice... this was all done the past year and about 5 months..

Now Iam having the same issue as before.. the car is in drive, but it wont move forward or back. The dealer said the there is a short to ground on speed sensor and they wanted to charge me another 3500 to replace the wiring harness. they said its not the same wiring harness they replaced last year. . I am going to try and find it and fix it.