Civic HX with CVT

I'm looking for blunt, honest feedback, positive and negative, on the
Constant Variable Transmission (CVT) that came with the Civic HX
in '96/'97 or so.

I remember Subaru offered one of these transmissions a while back that,
... um ... , sucked.

Thanks folks.

 

sucked, meaning? i dont remember any recalls on it, or anyone saying it was
a lemon. the justy wasnt a very popular model anyway, and im sure most
people that bought one opted for a stick

 

It is currently offered on the HX and the Hybrid.
I have the Hybrid, and I love it. The CVT makes the car glide away from
a stop. It is an altogether different sensation than my friend's LX
with 4speed auto. On easy acceleration, the RPM goes to 1200 and stays
there up to about 25 mph. When passing on a two lane road, it's wierd.
The RPM leaps to some point, maybe 4500RPM, maybe 5800RPM, and stays
there, from 45mph until you back off the gas. The mileage is nearly
equal to the highway mileage of the five speed, and higher for city.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov lists the following versions of 2003 Civic Hybrid:
City/Hwy
CVT 47/48
Man(5) 45/51

 

runaway!!!!!!!

The early CVT models were plauged with issues.

--
Charles Tague
93 Honda Civic DX HB
1.6L SOHC VTEC 14.85 @ 89 mph,1.98 60 ft.
With ZEX 85 hp ZEX 13.09 @ 103 mph, 1.81 60ft.
86 Pontiac Trans Am
225/50/15 GForce Drag Radials
305 peanut cammed 15.29 @ 88 mph
http://home.cinci.rr.com/mistab0ne/

 

I also have a Hybrid and also LOVE the CVT. I bought the Hybrid mainly
for Gas+Electric fuel efficiency. But I fell in love with the CVT and
my affection for it has grown. It makes for smooth ride and a sensation
I've never felt in driving before.

 

Rebuild every 2 years. With my mother driving it.

 

Thanks for the response.

Do you know what some of the issues were, if they were addressed with
recalls or redesigns, and what to look for?

 

Not clear whether he means early Honda CVTs or those of other
manufacturers. Can't recall ever seeing a complaint about Honda CVTs
in this forum but then there aren't that many out there.

 

Most problems with CVT's center on the drive belt. The Honda CVT's use a
different type of belt than all other makers and has had very few problems
with it. IIRC, the metal belt is a Swedish design and is sourced from
there. A section of it looks like a stack of bent razor blades--very
unusual! It is limited to low power applications, which is why you see it
in the models currently available.

 

I've no idea what the current state of the art is on CVT belts but the
first I saw of it was in DAFs (taken over by Volvo in the '80s) built in
the Netherlands in the 70s. It was very popular in lightweight city
delivery vans but had some very weird quirks... especially on heavy
overrun.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Translating the English to English, I have a 2003 Civic Hybrid with CVT.
On long downhill stretches, I "shift" into "S". The compression braking is
non-existent on the Hybrid due to the fact that three cylinders are shut
down by VTEC for better regeneration into the battery pack. Eventually the
batteries fill completely, and I have little compression braking.

Prior to the batteries filling, I don't detect that there is any problem
associated with the CVT and deceleration braking, which I assume is the
same as "overrun".

Now a 70's Saab, with a two stroke motor and the freewheeling clutch...
that was a problem on overrun ;-)



The only quirk seems to be the lack of shifting on heavy acceleration.
When the engine is holding at 5500 RPM as you are accelerating up a hill,
it sounds like you are making no progress. My wife was verbally
encouraging the car to shift from the passenger seat. I had the benefit
of seeing the speedometer climbing, but it is a really strange sound,
as if you are not gaining speed, and you are at or near red line.