. I have a 98 Honda accord ex v6 3.0l with the 4 spd. a/t. The car shifts and runs smooth both under normal driving and heavy acceleration . However, as I am driving at a steady speed (50-60mph) and give the car gas very gently to maintian speed (esp. while going up a gradual hill) I seem to get a lugging feeling which varies in intensity and frequency until the car downshifts or the torque converter does whatever it does. After that the car accelerates fine. The tach. does not jump ,not that I can tell anyway, when this happens. The tach. usually is reading between 1600 and 2000 rpms when this happens. It may do it at interstate speeds between these two shift points but I don't do much interstate driving to notice. The car has 60,000 miles on it and I just purchased it a few months ago. Carfax gave a clean history for the car. It did this when I bought it but it took me awhile to notice it as I became acustomed to the cars habits. This problem can be reproduced 100% of the time. With the speedo reading between 50-60 mph and the tach around 1600-2000 rpm under gentle accelleration up hill or on level roads this happens until the trans. downshifts or ????. It also happens with higher speeds on interstate. I just took a 250 mile trip and it can be reproduced at higher speeds but just before the same shift point as lower speed. The car runs good overall except for this.It almost feels as if the car is not getting gas, gently lurching, or lugging as I stated above. I know the car does have a lock up torque converter for cruising and a type of fuzzy logic / grade logic trans. set up. Please help if you can.

Also, can anyone tell me if the fuel pump will come on and off with the car sitting with no keys in ing. engine not running. The car will be parked in driveway and I hear a low humming noise coming from the rear wheel area. It lasts for approx. 5 to 8 seconds then stops. How could I be losing pressure ? gas cap is on tight atleast 3 clicks as cap states. Could it be another device on the car making the noise? No fuel smell but at high pressure a leak would have to be very easy to notice I would hope. Sometimes I notice the gas gauge not reading full even after fill up but then it will go to full. It never shows more than what I have in the tank. Did'nt know if these two things could be related.

Did I get a honda with a demon in it??????? I wonder.
Thanks for any help.

SteveD

 

I guess noboby has had the above mentioned problem. I did find out when I went to the dealership from a mechanic who was listening to me describe the above problem this:

He says the overdrive gear switch or sensor is searching for the right shift point and the computer has a "window" to do this in and this "window" is what causes that sensation. He states Honda has had problems with this since 1995. Anyone had this problem or can any of you try to replicate this driving situation on your car and let me know what happens?

Thanks,

SteveD

 

It's not a demon (or is it) cuz my car makes the same humming nose when it sits with the engine off, dont know what it is and dont care cuz it doesnt seem to be anything bad happening.

 

Don't worry about the humming noise u hear cuz the same thing happens with my car and most if not all other 98-00 accords. It sounds like a pump but im not sure what it is havent really been concerned about it though, cuz nothing bad with that part of the car has happend since ive noticed it making that noise.

 

Every 98-02 V6 that I know of makes that humming noise...

 

the humming noise is from the evaporative emissions control system, not the fuel pump. it makes the noise more often when its hot or the car is hot, less when its cold. completely normal for all 98+ accords, and some civics too as far as I understand.

can't help much with the tranny. when was the fluid changed last? I'd do that first.

 

Thanks. That sounds like good advice for the humming noise. I have not been able to get my car to my Honda mechanic and I just got the car so I am learning about all its habits now. I am not sure my tranny is the problem with that other issue. Maybe an EGR float passage problem or TPS sensor. I get no CEL on though. But the way it runs is not normal when that particular problem occurs.

Good advice.....thanks alot.

Anyone else ???

 

there is a TSB on the EGR. the passage needs to be drilled out. I know I've seen the instructions for it posted before but I'm not certain exactly where. try a search or check out AV6.com or your dealer should know about it.

I think it would throw a code if that was the problem though. maybe not if it was in the early stages of the problem developing.

 

my 96 beater did that sometimes