Rep Power: 0

Here's my concern, I have a 2004 Civic with the CVT trans. It currently has 155k on her. Regarding CVT trans, I've always changed out the trans fluid every 20k. my posting deals with the car / trans surging a low speeds when cold. Once it fully warms up, trans runs good. Since the CVT operates off of a chain. I think it's worn a bit, so is there a heavier trans oil that I could / should refill with? Like 0-40 when engine is new and 80k later one would use 20-50 wt engine oil?
Thanks in advance for your input.

 
Rep Power: 518

Wow.
This is bad, thought and deed.
All the way around.
If you already attacked the trans with this sort of thinking, it might be toast, it might be too late.
JMO.

What fluid is in the trans now?

If the trans has a problem, just fix the trans.
You aren't going to improve anything by putting the wrong fluid in it.
Maybe it's acting wrong because it already has the wrong fluid in it.

I have seen CVT transmissions do some very wrong things when the wrong fluid was used.


Make sure you aren't feeling an engine problem instead of a trans problem.

What fluid did you put in the trans of your 12?
I have not seen a 12 HF at all.
Are you in Canada?

 
Rep Power: 0

Engine runs fine. Just replaced all three 02 sensors. It only acts up when cold, once it warms up it seem fine. I'm just reaching out to see 1) if anyone has encountered this 2) what were their solutions. There seems to be very little posting of CVT trans info / inquires here. I have always used the correct Honda trans fluids.

 
Rep Power: 518

Honestly, I have only dealt with the common issue with start clutch shudder, and once they were no longer covered under a warranty, nobody wanted to *GASP* PAY to fix them.
Other than that, they seem to have been pretty reliable....(or maybe they go somewhere else when broken?).

For most other real problems, the CVT trans was replaced as a unit with a reman through Honda. (At the dealer shop I work for, we don't do much internal work on automatics. Most just get replacement units.)


There were a couple warranty extensions covering specific issues, but they would have expired long ago on a car that old.....but the info might still apply.

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/th...ansmission.pdf

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...55123115,d.aWc


There's another with info about "grind, whine, and no movement" but that doesn't sound like your issue at all.

There really isn't much on Hondas site in the way of service bulletins related to CVT issues other than these for an 04.

Even though it looks pretty darn simple inside, I heard nothing good (from the customer) about a local trans shop here that tried to rebuild one. I have not heard if they have ever tried to do another.

YMMV. HTH

 
Rep Power: 0

You are correct in describing the concern..it shudders a bit when cold. I wonder if replacing it with a heavier oil like Swepco will help cushion the worn drive chain.
Thanks again for your input

 
Rep Power: 518

If you check the bulletin info in the links above, the shudder that occurs upon initial takeoff and up to as high as approximately 15 MPH is caused by the start clutch, not the chain (belt).

From the bulletin:
On affected vehicles, a momentary judder may be felt
after accelerating from a stop, but only up to about 15
mph. The most likely cause of the judder is a worn start
clutch in the CVT (continuously variable transmission).

The usual fix for this particular issue is to replace the clutch pack assembly.




Although I have not witnessed it, I believe a worn drive belt would cause slippage, not shudder.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thank you for your guidance. It looks like I will have to visit the dealer in the future.

 
Rep Power: 0

[QUOTE=ezone;4650893]If you check the bulletin info in the links above, the shudder that occurs upon initial takeoff and up to as high as approximately 15 MPH is caused by the start clutch, not the chain (belt).

From the bulletin:

The most likely cause of the judder is a worn start
clutch in the CVT (continuously variable transmission).[/COLOR]

The usual fix for this particular issue is to replace the clutch pack assembly.


Is the Start Clutch on the out side of the trans or is it submerged in the same trans fluid as the two cone gear stacks?

 
Rep Power: 518

It's a wet clutch, it's inside the trans. The trans would have to come out and get split open to fix the start clutch.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...55123115,d.aWc

The bulletin linked has all this info in it. Most of the steps are covered, but there are a couple special tools involved.

If you read the bulletin, some of the first steps talk about changing fluid and doing a burnishing procedure, but that didn't ever seem to fix the issue.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for info. Wet clutch...ok. I'm going to try some thing and will report back after I experiment. Since the surge feels like it's slipping and catching. I'm going to put 1/2 pint of Swepco motor oil improver in the trans. This Swepco has moly in it. Maybe it will " smooth" it out. Thanks again for info. Oh if it does not work, well I can always changed trans fluid again. Not sure where your a Tech, but if you were local in LA, and if I need this work on. I would take it to you.

 
Rep Power: 518

I'm not holding my breath on your additive, and I've never heard of it. Good luck though. Post back with your results.

I'm on the other side of the country from you, but thanks.

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok great news to report back. It's been several days since I poured 1/2 pint of Swepco Oil improver into the trans oil filler. I'm happy to report back, cold shuddering , jerking is now gone. I took a chance and it worked.

 
Rep Power: 518

Was it this stuff, or do they have something else for transmissions?

http://swepcolube.com/products/swepc...e-oil-improver

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks it. One of my Porsche Master Techs turn me on to this. Back in the 70's when Porsche was running 934/935's. They would eat up the ring & pinion. Until some one put Swepco 201 / 2010 Trans lub in the gear box. ,,,it saved lots and lots of Porsche gear boxes. He uses it on Porsche Boxeters that have valve noise...of course during a oil change. I use the oil improver in all my cars.

Moly helps reduce friction...Swepco's main business is to develope oil for 'heavy 24/7 equipment ' in the constuction / minning industry... their products have lots of additives.

Oh I use their trans oil in my Audi ...if I had some left over, I might have put that in the Honda