Several months ago, we bought a 2008 Honda Civic Si (4 door). From the beginning, we have had a minor but annoying issue when first starting the car. When the engine is still cold, the car has a tendency to buck and lurch when starting out in 1st and 2nd gears. The issue goes away when the engine warms up (when the temperature indicator starts crawling up to the middle range).

I would like to know how normal this is?

It is definitely something of a clutch/gas issue, but I'm not convinced that I'm driving it wrong (which is basically what the dealer told me, mostly politely). I have been a stick driver all my life. I'm a big fan of Honda and this is the 2nd Civic I have owned, the 4th that I have driven a lot (my parents had two) but it is the first Si I have had. I've had this car for 6 months and I drive it the same when the engine is cold versus warmed up. The issue happens consistently when first starting from a cold engine and is worse in the wintertime. It does not happen at all when the engine is warm.

The dealer says you really have to gun the gas pretty hard in the beginning. Indeed, when I do this, there was not any lurching. The thing is this: you really do have to hit the gas pretty hard to get a smooth (but fast!) start. What if I want to ease out of a parking spot because there are pedestrians or kids around? The car lurches on me, and the dealer says this is normal and that I am "babying" the car. Now, this is the first "performance" car that we have owned, but it seems that a properly made car should let you ease out at your own speed and not start lurching on you.

Am I wrong or is the dealer denying a legitimate issue?

 

It's normal.

 

On a cold start you really can't just drop the clutch an go. You can however ride the clutch out of the parking spot. By slowly letting it out and pushing it back it in, you'll keep the rpms up. Mind you, the engine is moving at 2k, roughly, you do not need to use the accelerator yet.

The car will lurch any time you get below 1k. The colder the engine the worse the lurching. If it really bothers you, let the car warm up before driving.

Its a Civic Si. She's a sensitive animal. You treat her right, she'll treat you right.

 

+1 on it being normal

Dont go beating the hell out of it and gunning it though before it warms up, just overall not a good thing for a motor. Surprised the dealer told you that...

 

It's completely normal. Let the car warm up a bit before driving.

 

lol

 

Sig material.

 

Damn it...I'm jealous you got that before I did K5^. Funny sheet.

 

U MUST, I REPEAT...U MUST LET THE CAR WARM UP, ANY CAR MUST WARM UP TO "OPERATING TEMPERATURE" BEFORE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. UR JUST RUINING THE ENGINE. U HAVE TO LET THE PISTONS EXPAND IN ORDER TO FIT THE CYLINDER WALLS CORRECTLY.

 

^---lulz

Driving cold is fine. Stopping cold is bad.