9thgenidiot

Vehicle: 2012 Civic Coupe LX (Automatic)
Mileage: 145,000 (yes I do a lot of driving for work )

About a month ago I noticed my car had weak acceleration. If I'm stopped or slowing down and then go to accelerate again (i.e. pulling out of a parking lot) my car feels very weak to pick up speed and feels like the transmission is taking too long to shift. I feel very little power/"pick-up" when I first get going. If I am merging and trying to accelerate quickly, I sometimes reach 3,500-4,000 RPMs before the transmission shifts. It just feels like something is definitely off and this is not a good sign.

I had the transmission fluid drained and filled recently and had other basic maintenance done (oil and filter change, new tires, new spark plugs at 100K). This shifting issue started prior to my ATF drain+fill so I don't think that process caused any issues.. it just showed me that, unfortunately, the issue was not simply low fluid levels.

When I get going and am cruising at 60-70mph the shifting problem seems to go away for the most part.. but if I try to speed up to pass somebody or accelerate, I sometimes notice the transmission doesn't want to shift. I'll again see 3,500-4,000 RPMs before a shift.

There is some kind of noise coming from the engine when I first start my car and accelerate, even if I accelerate slowly. I wouldn't really say it's a "rattle" but it kind of sounds like when you open an old door and it makes that deep creeking noise. It's hard to explain.. but the noise ends up going away after a while. I noticed this noise at the same time I noticed the transmission shifting issues.

A co-worker mentioned the problem could be the fuel filter, bad spark plugs, low ATF levels or a clogged engine air filter.

Fuel filter: haven't checked it yet, would have to go to Honda for this
Spark plugs: checked and all OK, nothing out of the ordinary
ATF levels: normal, red in color, not burnt, no burning smell
Clogged engine air filter: just put a new K&N filter in about 20,000 miles ago and it looks fine to me

Has anyone had a similar problem? The rattle/creeking noise along with the transmission shifting issue could indicate something but I'm clueless when it comes to this. There is no grinding sound, no fluid beneath my car to indicate a leak..

Could the noise be the timing belt? Would that cause these issues?

Thanks for any help!

SpokaneSpeed

Based on what you're saying I would recommend taking to a transmission specialist or the dealer and having it diagnosed. You'll end up paying a diagnostic fee but it will be worth it vs. throwing time/money at it trying to pinpoint the issue.

Vehicle noises are very hard to diagnose without being able to physically hear/see the car.. idk how much help we can be on this one =/.

Any CEL's?

Bugbee9131

Sucks man

9thgenidiot

Thanks, I have an appointment at Honda this week to get it checked so I may just have to wait until then to find out.

Do these symptoms sound like a bad torque converter? A friend told me to get this checked since many shops will say I need a whole new transmission ($2k+ probably) when all that is bad is the torque converter.. I seem to have some of the symptoms-- loss of acceleration power, slipping, faint noises. Would a bad torque converter show other obvious signs?

Thanks again

viper_boy403

iTrader: (1)

Who did the trans fluid service, and do you know if they used Honda fluid?

9thgenidiot

I had the trans fluid service done at a local transmission shop (great reputation, have been here in the past with no issues). They told me they ordered and used Honda fluid but who knows.. I'd like to believe they did. But the issue was happening prior to the fluid service so I'm thinking that may not be the cause

Hites

Sounds like torque converter to me.

9thgenidiot

Well I'll be damned, I think I found the problem.

I took my Civic to a trans specialist who inspected the trans and torque converter, but all was OK. No issues. The spark plugs were replaced, no luck.

Lots of people online told me to try cleaning the MAF sensor since I used a K&N air filter and heard the oils could clog up the MAF.

When I went to pull out the MAF today I noticed a crack in the hose directly after the MAF... although I don't know what it's called, is this the air intake boot?

Pics:








I didn't clean the MAF sensor yet since I noticed this. I got rid of the K&N filter and will clean the MAF.

Could this be the culprit? I don't hear any noticeable hissing or sounds like a vacuum leak would sound like but this can't be good nonetheless.

viper_boy403

iTrader: (1)

Yes sir, that would be it for sure. Electrical tape is a quick fix you can use to get by (conforms very easily to ridges like that, just wrap it around a bunch of times) but you'll need to replace the boot. I'm surprised the check engine light didn't come on, that will usually throw a "bank 1 lean" code

9thgenidiot

I went out and put electrical tape around the boot and gave it a test drive.. WOW what a difference. The pick-up is back and I feel power now when I press the gas.. before it felt like I was driving a lawnmower. Gonna get the boot replaced this week. So that was definitely the problem, or at least most of it.

I did notice some slight shaking still when I first started the car, but after driving for about 20 miles the shaking seems to be totally gone. I'll disregard that until the boot is replaced since it might just be because of the tape.

Thanks for the help, will have to follow up once the boot gets replaced and I can see for sure.

viper_boy403

iTrader: (1)

you can clear the long term fuel trims by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. THat will zero out the adaptive fuel that the ECU learns over time, and it will restart from scratch without the unmetered air. Just make sure you have your radio code to enter!

9thgenidiot

I went to Honda this morning to have the new boot put in and the tech mentioned they did this too.

In total, $24.00 for labor and $22.14 for the new boot.. final charge was $51.51 and the car drives like new. Zero hesitation and the acceleration is like day 1! All shaking/rough idling is completely gone. Not a bad price to have Honda do it and much easier than trying to fit my fat hands under the hood to do it myself

Hopefully this helps anyone who may have the same symptoms! Always a cheap idea to check the air intake boot for cracks first. Still wondering why the CEL never went off

Thanks

viper_boy403

iTrader: (1)

Awesome! good to hear

9thgenidiot

Just curious for the future.. took a look at the fuses today and noticed an ECU fuse. Is pulling this for a few minutes the same thing as pulling the battery to reset the ECU? People online give both methods but I'm not sure if they do the same thing.. can't see why everyone doesn't just pull the fuse instead and not have to reset the radio?

viper_boy403

iTrader: (1)

On newer Honda's I'm really not sure. I usually just use a scanner to reset it