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When starting from a stop the car feels like it is going over a cobble stone street for first few MPH. Also when coasting thru a turn never coming to a stop and without applying the brakes the car stated surging, like it was going into to a lower gear then coming back to a high gear, repeatedly about 3-4 times before hitting the gas and everything back to normal Just like when you put a manual in to lower a gear for too high a speed. Hitting the gas would also cause a jolt when coasting.
Please refer to the following Honda TSB’s
TSB 07-049 calls for the start clutch replaced and
TSB 07-050 calls to have the lower valve body replaced and the software updated in the Civic Hybrid. But in the Insights, Civic HX and GX they call for the CVT to be replaced all-together. Both TSB’s point to class action lawsuits and the warranty has been pushed to 7 years or 105,000 miles
Branshing does nothing the problem will come back in a thousand miles. For those that have had the start clutch replaced multipul times, my thought is that the lower valve body needed to be replaced as well.
Change the CVT fluid often, manual says every 20,000. I would change every time you change the oil. Both the CVT and Engine only require 3.5qt of fluid and make sure to use CVT fuild. Honestly changing the CVT fluid is easier than change the oil.
TSB 07-049 calls for the start clutch replaced and
TSB 07-050 calls to have the lower valve body replaced and the software updated in the Civic Hybrid. But in the Insights, Civic HX and GX they call for the CVT to be replaced all-together. Both TSB’s point to class action lawsuits and the warranty has been pushed to 7 years or 105,000 miles
Forgot branshing the clutch or replacing the EGR, neither works...
Otherwise I really liked the HCH. Was getting 44 mpg at the end and otherwise everything about the car worked fine.
I'd be cautious about buying another Honda with CVT, though.
After 127,000 miles, my CVT transmission failed. While under extended warranty, my clutch/flywheel were replaced after I was forced to do a $257 fluid change. I strongly believe this was a delaying measure. I've had to do tranny fluid changes every other oil change to stop the shuddering problem.
I now face a $4900 charge to replace my CVT transmission. I am forced to do it. I feel either a class action needs to be brought against Honda and/or Honda Care.
Other than tires and oil changes, I always took it to Passaic Honda for repairs, new battery, etc.
I drove it to Passaic Honda. It was drivable, although all the trouble lights were lit. The dealership said that the battery pack needed replacement,, and gave me a price of $2642.00 plus tax. I asked them to call American Honda in California for help. They called, but said I had to call them for possibly a "Goodwill Repair". American Honda said that since I had all my repairs done at the dealership, they would replace my battery pack for a token charge to me. MY SHIP HAD COME IN!!!!! They paid 90% and I paid 10%, which came to $275.00!!
Thanks in advance for any help or insight.
My clutch failed at 25K miles and many others failed at 40K, 50K, 75K etc. In an 8-year old civic hybrid, your most likely failure is the battery pack. In a manual transmission, over 100K miles is usually time for the clutch pad replacement. I'm not sure how the Prius is doing, but I don't hear much about CVT failures there. On the other hand Consumer Reports doesn't seem to list significant transmission problems in the Civic Hybrid--in spite of the listing on this forum and TSB 07-049.
I expect you will have to pay for it, but it doesn't hurt to ask (insist, complain, threaten?) Good luck, CB
Let me chime in with my experience with this issue. Background:
2005 HCH, 127K miles, No other major issues besides the recall for the IMA reprogramming back in '06/07ish (if one calls that major).
Judder has been in existence for quite some time, but post 100k. It seemed like a nuisance but has not progressed into becoming a problem. I never new about this issue because I could not quite describe it. I called it hesitation from 0, but didn't think to type in CVT problems 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid into a Google Search. Whoops! Not like it matters, though.
I brought the civic in and the tech called it a "jutter." Go search that in google and wind up here and many other forums with very irritated people / enemies of Honda. Well the dealer told me that they were going to perform the warranty service bulletin work on the HCH and called late in the day to tell me that they need to keep it over the weekend because this servicing did not fix the issue. Go figure that when I find this forum, my only option is to get another tranny that may go bad in 10k or 127k. All I know is that my HCH is okay for now..., but I will: 1) keep losing equity, 2) face IMA failures soon at a price tag of ~$2,500, and 3) need to dish out $2 - 6,000 for a transmission (why the variance in price, I will never know).
So, it looks like I will be car shopping over the weekend. Time to cut my losses and move on. But a note to the Honda haters in this forum... my previous '97 Civic LX lasted 8 years, resisted my bat out of hell high school years (yeah, I was hard on that car), took 312k miles, and still sold for $1,500. I took care of that car and it served me well. On average, I suppose I am still in the green with Honda, but I will never get a CVT with them again that's for sure.
More news from the dealer to let you know what they did / propose they will do / and how much. Either way, I will most likely refuse serving and seek trade in promptly!
I can still feel a bit of a hesitation, but it is mounds better than before. It seems like what someone posted here a few months back makes sense. Change your CVT fluid and change it often (as often as you change your oil). I am going to work by that mantra and save up for a new vehicle. It seems like the going rate for a '05 HCH is about $4,500. As long as I can get one more year out of this car before the IMA goes or before the transmission goes, I suppose I am a leg up.
Time to start saving!
I wanted a second HCH, with a CVT, for the wife. But every place I looked either wanted waaayyy too much for a working HCH or, for a reasonably priced HCH, the tranny and IMA pack were trashed. Honda indeed made a series of lemons with the CVT trannys! And probably the battery packs too! Keep away from Honda hybrids! Especially the early ones! (2000-2010). Maybe the new models are ok, but only time will tell. I would rather not be the test mouse though. Not at those prices anyway! LoL!
If you really want a HCH with a CVT though, get used to the idea of a $100 flush and fill tranny servicing every year! (This a DIY. A service place would want about 2 to 3 times that much.)
The DIY transmission flush is ONLY IF you have the right tools or you will get insanely frustrated. Honda puts those fittings on tight tight tight; so do your research first and make sure you have everything you need. Once you do it, you will find it to be pretty easy...but the first time will be a hoot.
I just ran across this thread. I will likely be rebuilding my IMA pack very soon as well. How did that work out for you? Did it make a big difference? Is it still functioning well? Thoughts or suggestions on a used pack?
Thank you,
Ross
rossfree@comcast.net
The HCH (Honda Civic Hybrid) transmission is called a CVT, which stands for Continuously Variable Transmission, which speaks for itself.
I am not a technician. I have an '03 HCH with original transmission(125k miles). I learned about this here and its quite true. Honda just wants your car to break down so you would buy another. I will never buy anything made by Honda again.
I when to the local dealer, were I bought the car and the employee acknowledge there was a recall to make an appointment to have the car check that the problem was before the car reached the 15 miles of speed.
My car has always sort of be hold back when I accelerate within that range of speed mentioned by the man at the Dealership.
Like is said, I never received a letter or information or any kind about the recall.
We have been having transmission issues for the last year. Our trusted and beloved local mechanic has flushed it with transmission fluid. But looked like we were going to have to spring for a whole new transmission (in this car with 125k miles )
Today I brought the car in to the local dealer (not quite as beloved ) for an Official Honda recall to have the software and something in the airbags fixed. I asked them to check out the transmission problem as well.
It turns out our mechanic has been putting the WRONG transmission fluid in it. They put the “right” fluid in today at the Dealer and it is like my little friend has been raised from the dead! My marriage is saved (“how can you drive that way!?”), I don’t have to disown my children (“How can you drive that way!?) Now that the car no longer lurches, I am not quite sure what my family will have left to talk about.
The civic hybrid needs “CVT fluid” (CVT=continuous variable transmission). I knew that the Toyota Prius has a “continuous variable transmission”. But I thought (and apparently my mechanic also thought ) that the Civic Hybrid was a plain old engine with an extra battery attached.
I hope you can learn from my mistakes.....
Do not do it! I cannot express my feelings enough! Just do not allow Rami Transmissions or YS&D Engine to supply you with a remanufactured (suposedly) transmission. If you live within walking distance of the shop them perhaps you have a chance in hell of receiving satisfaction. Unfortunately If you are using them via the internet to provide you with a replacement transmission then prepare to be ripped off!
The deceit and dishonesty runs throughout this FAMILY operation. Do some research and you will find that there are a number of unsatisfied customers. The 5 star reviews are from the family members themselves! I only wish that I had done a bit more due dilegence when researching this sham of an operation. Look at Kudzu.com 5 star review from ykadoch ! this is the e-mail address for the company! HAHA Check out showmelocal all bad reviews. I just wish I had done more homework before purchasing from them 3000 miles away.
All family members are obviously trained in the ways that they operate. I have not found one honest person on the other end of the phone yet. Rami, Amir, the wife, etc. All well versed in the art of telling you exactly what you want to hear with out ever delivering.
They knew all the right things to say on the phone, and seemed very knowledgable on the transmission issues. Remanufactured transmission with 2 year warranty (HAHAHA) with free torque converter and in line filter available for reasonable price! I took the hook! Initial purchase and shipping happened very quickly, But the transmission they supplied had issues from the start! Troubleshooted the problems directly with Rami! Thought it may have been a selenoid or something on my end. Replaced selenoids. This was never the problem. Rami finally says..............I will send you a replacement!
At this point I am thinking its just my luck, but I do not want to belive I am being scammed. 2 months later............... excuse after excuse, need to wait for a core to rebuild one (what about my core that I returned that you never credited my account the $450.00 for the core refund?) Oh we just rebuilt three, waiting for the dyno to check. OK all 3 are good sending today. Wait wait , call for tracking number. Given bogus number. Call shipping company..........NO we never had a pick up for you!. Oh now Dyno is broken waiting for Dyno repair to test. OK, wait wait wait. OK here is pick up number xxx using new shipper. I call shipper! Oh yeah we have pick up scheduled, But we do not even deliver to California! WTF! This is over a period of several weeks where they dodge your phone number. I am now only getting thru by using friends cell phones from out of state numbers!! OMG then the numerous hang ups on me and the promisses to call back. And all of this is using “God willing” and other just rediculous comments that try to allude to the fact that they are somehow honest! HAHAHA
So in short! Do some more research! These people are scam artists. Luckily my Credit Card company agrees and I did not wait to long to start the restitution process, but these people are crooks and should not be allowed to prey on people on the internet. I am actually happy at the outcome now, because even if they had come thru somehow in the end I would not ever trust the transmission that they would have shipped to me so good riddance RAMI TRANSMISSIONS!
PS Rami transmissions..............its been over a week and I havent received the return phone call you promised “on your word” to return that day!
I had the transmission rebuilt locally and the vehicle is back in service! running nicely. Visited the rebuilder today to take pictures of the replaced parts. Removed parts were newly installed. Transmission from Rami had been rebuilt. Problem was the servo body was warped causing the shift valves to not function properly. This was an internal transmission issue that Rami should have warrantied immediately as they promised! instead of dodging my calls and all responsibility. That is inexcusable as a service / parts provider.
It is one thing to entice people to purchase based upon a longer warranty period. In this case two years as opposed to the one year I now have. But if you never intend on making good on the warranty its really just a sales ploy to hook people.
The biggest issue that is just unforgivable is to be an outright crook and not return your core charge. That is just plain thievery. And there is absolutely no defense for it! The shipping manifests have been published here for all to see. There is no question that they received my transmission and have not credited my account. So in my mind they can make every excuse in the book why they did not honor their warranty, but how do you explain plain and simple stealing $450.00 from a customer for a refundable core DEPOSIT?
It is really a shame that because they had a rebuild of theirs go wrong with a faulty servo body that they chose to blow me and my $1770.00 off and even in one post telling me to shove it! Is the reputation of their company really only worth a few thousand dollars?
I hope what they are starting to feel is the power of the internet and the sharing of information. One persons experience can make a difference. It will continue to be my goal to share my experience and spread the word that YS & D Engine and Transmission, doing business as Rami Transmission are without a doubt thieves. And I challenge them to disprove that fact.
I don't plan on taking it back to West County Honda if I can help it. The dollars just seem to fly out of the wallet when I do.
2004 HCH, 160K miles. Drove it a *lot* the first couple years so I first experienced judder back in ~2006/2007; dealer confirmed they were seeing a lot of cars coming in with this issue but they didn't know what to do other than flush the trans. By the time Honda extended the warranty, I was past the 100K mile mark. A couple more flushes have kept the judder (which was always worst starting from a stop) at bay but in the last few months I've experienced a whine, especially when accelerating. In the last several weeks there's been a helicopter noise under the hood, as someone else described. Took it in and they say I need a new CVT for $4100, which mysteriously dropped to $3900 after I expressed doubts about wanting to do it. Dealer says this would be the last major repair I'd need to make on the car since I already replaced the battery pack in early '11. I was surprised to hear him try to talk me into the repair as opposed to trying to sell me a new car. Any thoughts on why?--is it indeed because they make more on repairing the quality defects Honda manufactures, or would you all in this position go for the repair? After reading posts on here I'm inclined to tell the dealer that I don't trust that their rebuilt transmission will last another 150K miles. On the other hand, this car is paid for, so I'd really prefer not to be stuck with car payments again and I'm the type of person who drives my cars til they can't go another foot. Any thoughts on which way to go? Any point in contacting the national number? Thanks!