Soundlubber

On some days the car will seem as if it's not in gear but will grab once the rpms rise from a stop. Fluids were just checked during inspection (I presume). Other days the car accelerates normally. On days when the car jerks on take off it will continue for the driving session. I compensate by raising the rpms slightly until I feel the car 'grip' and then accelerate normally. Could this possibly be a Air Flow Sensor? I thought the trans. might be bad, or the clutch, but some days it runs normally...possibly on colder ones. The danger is the car can begin to drift backward when lifting foot off the brake so I have to have one foot on the brake when beginning to accelerate on 'bad days'.

ezone

What transmission; Manual or CVT?

Shudder during takeoff?

Soundlubber

CVT Trans. Any Shudder? Yes but barely noticeable and not always----not like the shudder I used to experience that required start clutch repairs. I have to be on a really steep hill from a stop to get any. I also noticed the car sometimes hesitates when cruising to a stop...almost like a minor braking action(a couple of times now and then). I figure it's trying to shut down prematurely expecting a stop. The rpms seem to rest sometimes around 750. Don't know if that's normal. Sometimes I think I feel the car 're-grip' while stopped (running). Almost like it slipped into neutral. It has good days when none of the above occurs. Mileage about to cross 100,000 with a hx of (2) start clutches, one at 70,000 and oxygen sensors. Nothing else. All I can think of. Anything helpful here?

ezone

You're already familiar with start clutch shudder? Ok....



You could try unplug the EGR valve wiring and see if it makes a difference. I've seen a certain type of failure cause bucking and hesitation.


CVT fluid service due? Incorrect fluid used?
Some of the CVTs have a tag on the dipstick saying to use ATF, so some people might dump in anything colored red.....but sometime after those were on the market Honda released improved fluid CVTF, it's not the same as regular ATF..which is what we use on that type of CVT now.

(not to be confused with HCF2 fluid for the new generation of CVT trans)

I've seen some of the CVTs do really strange things that might be attributed to fluids (almost always on cars with high mileage and unknown service history)...but age and high mileage also seems to cause them to do weird things (chain stretch). I guess it boils down to "what will it take to fix it" (trans replacement in many cases) vs "drive it until it blows up because the cost is the same" (with the addition of a tow truck fee LOL)

Soundlubber

VERY HELPFUL. I'm sure my mechanic will know about the EGR Valve.

Can't remember the last time the CVT fluid was serviced. I figure the last time I had the shudder repaired. Will have to check.

Given some of your info it may be a tranny, hopefully not. I love the car and have replaced the IMA battery with all new cells around 80,000. Was even considering a paint job. I still get great mileage on trips (48-52) and actually made it to Burlington VT on one fill-up when first purchased. The odometer kicked in 500miles. Don't know if can still do it. My avg is around 30 stop n go.

Will get back with anything worthy and Thanks!

ezone

Most wouldn't expect EGR valve to cause bucking unless they have had to experience and diagnose one actually caused by it. Most would probably just scan it for codes, see none related to EGR, and assume it's hunky-dory.

On the cars I've diagnosed with this as the cause there was no fault code for the valve, and the action (valve opening and closing very rapidly) happens quicker than a scanner can display values in the datastream.

You would just unplug the EGR valve, close the hood, and drive it a few days to determine if the problem is definitely gone, or if it still acts up.