Rep Power: 0

I got my 2004 Civic hybrid a few months ago, and it has develoepd a vibration/shudder when I accelerate from a stop. All other driving is completely smooth with nothing out of the ordinary. If I am very slow to accelerate, I can lessen the vibration, but it gets much worse if I am starting on an incline.

The dealer says it is likely motor mount issues, while a local garage says it sounds like my automatic transmission has problems.

Anyone have any insite? Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 812

i would go with engine mounts first, since im guessing you use the auto stop feature? so the engine has to restart when you get going and that can cause shakes if the mounts are bad. check the front mount closest to the radiator first. its usually the one to go.

 
Rep Power: 0

The dealorship said they would charge $90 to evaluate the situation, and that cost would count toward the repairs. In looking around the forums, I see that the mounts are around $50 or so. What does labor look like for this operation, and is it likely that I would need more than one mount?

Thanks

 
Rep Power: 0

I read in another Honda forum where someone was describing the exact issue I have, and they claim the dealership was blaming the "starter clutch" for the automatic transmission. Is that something that can be fixed seperate from an entire new transmission?

Thanks

 
Rep Power: 812

if its just the front mount, no longer than an hour. took me little less than that and it was my first time. starter clutch is possible but those rarely go bad. they are made to last tens of thousands of starting cycles.

 
Rep Power: 0

From the research I have done, it does appear ro be a starter clutch issue, which waas apparantly very common for the '03-'04 CVT's. There was a service bulletin sent out in '07 detailing the "shuddering/juddering" at take off, and the offical Honda remedy is to "burnish" the stasrt clutch, which involves multiple flushings of the ATF. If that dosen't work, you need a new starter clutch, which apparantly is a very closely guarded part that is ordered on an as needed per car basis.