Ek3 Civic Cold Starting Cvt Transmission

ms.leena · February 24, 2012

When my car is not in use for a while, I have to "warm" it up for about 20-25mins before I pull off. If I don't do that, the gears will not engage unless I press the gas pedal to about 2000-3000rpm, and then it jerks really hard before moving. While driving though, I have no problem. The problem only occurs when the car is cold. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

NZer · February 25, 2012

Do an oil change and filter change. Should fix the issue.

charitha19 · February 25, 2012

man CVT gearboxes are quite sensitive.. make sure you put the correct oil.. do not cut corners on these boxes.

Duminda_CR · February 25, 2012

definitly this should be a gear box oil problem. have you done oil change every 25000kms? use only honda cvt gearbox oil.

kalinga · February 27, 2012

On 2/25/2012 at 12:55 PM, Duminda_CR said:

definitly this should be a gear box oil problem. have you done oil change every 25000kms? use only honda cvt gearbox oil.

agreed, i think its an oil issue as well. make sure the level of oil is right.

25,000km ? Stafford says to do it ever 20,000 but its recommended for 15,000 if the car is normally driven in heavy traffic.

Komisiripala · February 28, 2012

My humble 2 cents, fellow autolankans: I had the exact same problem OP described. Changing the oil only Burnt an 8000 rupee hole in my pocket. Had to repair the gearbox.

It happens because the oil filters and pressure washers in the box have degraded. The oil then isn't pushed through the mechanicals of the box when it's "cold" and more viscous. It needs the engine rpm to develop more pressure, and then it suddenly shoots thru when u pass 2000-3000. Once the oil heats up, the viscosity lessens and the jerk goes away.

Basically the filters and washers need to be replaced. And if you keep driving the car with this problem, the ratchets on the cvt torque-transfer cones will wear out fr, further worsening the problem, causing the belt to slip, damaging the belt, and eventually making the car less efficient (the latter, to my petrolhead heart, being the least of the aforementioned worries)

My box was bad when I bought the car. Learned the hard way. RepaIred it, and replaced the torque transfer cones as well. Belt was in good nick. Cost 22k. A new box is much more than that and you wouldn't know the condition of a recon part til u use it...

Just my experience I'm sharing. I don't mean to contradict anyone here. But I lived and breathed EK3 for quite some time. And the fact that it fetched 19.25 on the market speaks for how lovingly I maintained it.

Duminda_CR · March 1, 2012

On 2/28/2012 at 1:49 AM, Komisiripala said:

My humble 2 cents, fellow autolankans: I had the exact same problem OP described. Changing the oil only Burnt an 8000 rupee hole in my pocket. Had to repair the gearbox.

It happens because the oil filters and pressure washers in the box have degraded. The oil then isn't pushed through the mechanicals of the box when it's "cold" and more viscous. It needs the engine rpm to develop more pressure, and then it suddenly shoots thru when u pass 2000-3000. Once the oil heats up, the viscosity lessens and the jerk goes away.

Basically the filters and washers need to be replaced. And if you keep driving the car with this problem, the ratchets on the cvt torque-transfer cones will wear out fr, further worsening the problem, causing the belt to slip, damaging the belt, and eventually making the car less efficient (the latter, to my petrolhead heart, being the least of the aforementioned worries)

My box was bad when I bought the car. Learned the hard way. RepaIred it, and replaced the torque transfer cones as well. Belt was in good nick. Cost 22k. A new box is much more than that and you wouldn't know the condition of a recon part til u use it...

Just my experience I'm sharing. I don't mean to contradict anyone here. But I lived and breathed EK3 for quite some time. And the fact that it fetched 19.25 on the market speaks for how lovingly I maintained it.

This may happend due to bad maintanance only right? changing oil and filers may lead the long run without any issue

Komisiripala · March 1, 2012

On 3/1/2012 at 10:04 AM, Duminda_CR said:

This may happend due to bad maintanance only right? changing oil and filers may lead the long run without any issue

I don't quite understand what you mean.

Sam9 · October 3, 2012

On 2/28/2012 at 1:49 AM, Komisiripala said:

My humble 2 cents, fellow autolankans: I had the exact same problem OP described. Changing the oil only Burnt an 8000 rupee hole in my pocket. Had to repair the gearbox.

It happens because the oil filters and pressure washers in the box have degraded. The oil then isn't pushed through the mechanicals of the box when it's "cold" and more viscous. It needs the engine rpm to develop more pressure, and then it suddenly shoots thru when u pass 2000-3000. Once the oil heats up, the viscosity lessens and the jerk goes away.

Basically the filters and washers need to be replaced. And if you keep driving the car with this problem, the ratchets on the cvt torque-transfer cones will wear out fr, further worsening the problem, causing the belt to slip, damaging the belt, and eventually making the car less efficient (the latter, to my petrolhead heart, being the least of the aforementioned worries)

My box was bad when I bought the car. Learned the hard way. RepaIred it, and replaced the torque transfer cones as well. Belt was in good nick. Cost 22k. A new box is much more than that and you wouldn't know the condition of a recon part til u use it...

Just my experience I'm sharing. I don't mean to contradict anyone here. But I lived and breathed EK3 for quite some time. And the fact that it fetched 19.25 on the market speaks for how lovingly I maintained it.

I also have a same kind of problem in my ek3

From where did you get it fixed ? and any contact number please...

Komisiripala · October 4, 2012

On 10/3/2012 at 3:34 PM, Sam9 said:

I also have a same kind of problem in my ek3

From where did you get it fixed ? and any contact number please...

My mech is in kolonnawa. Names Indika. (77) 730 9859

Sam9 · October 4, 2012

On 10/4/2012 at 1:25 AM, Komisiripala said:

My mech is in kolonnawa. Names Indika. (77) 730 9859

thank you for the update , will check with him

Sam9 · July 20, 2013

Hi ,

I have an ek3 VTi and earlier I had the same problem , when the engine is cold I had to wait for sometime or I need to get the rpm around 3000 or so to get the car running.

But like 2 days ago , when I am driving at lower gears , the car vibrates and that goes away when I reach around 60Km/h .

Anyone had a similer problem before ?

pls help

maheshw · July 20, 2013

may be your'e having the same problem or somthng related to that. best thingis to meet your mechanic before it's get spread.

Sam9 · July 20, 2013

thank you -

found out one of my front tyres are causing the problem , need to replace and thus the vibration...

and abt the gearbox problem , i heard that a new kind of oil is there to replace the origional Honda CVT along with some filters and stuff costing around 18000.

anyone have any idea abt that ? or done the same with any results ?

MkX · July 20, 2013

On 7/20/2013 at 2:31 PM, Sam9 said:
thank you -
found out one of my front tyres are causing the problem , need to replace and thus the vibration...

and abt the gearbox problem , i heard that a new kind of oil is there to replace the origional Honda CVT along with some filters and stuff costing around 18000.

anyone have any idea abt that ? or done the same with any results ?

Sam9 I would never ever recommend any other CVT oil for Honda EK3 CVT box (Multimatic). And leaving Honda original oil for some other brand will most likely cause severe damage for your gear box.

Above discussed issues seems to be early signs of CVT gear box failures in EK3. Get it diagnosed properly before it's too late.

And as Komi rightly said, changing oil only will not help to solve the problem. May be you'll feel good for couple of days but it will not solve it. As a Honda lover, EK3 is my personal favorite. And there are few good Vi and ViRS with CVT boxes left in the country. Please don't ruin them.

Sam9 · July 20, 2013

Yes I know, and really appreciate your interest on ek3.

its a risk to do that and that's why I am looking for anyone who has any experience by any chance.

The car never gives any trouble and runs like a baby except for this annoying thing after every cold start and I am in the look for the best option.

I called Embuldeniya Auto-box repair person and told will cost around 50 000 for a CVT repair and he suggest for a new box costing at least 80k .

MkX · July 21, 2013

On 7/20/2013 at 5:56 PM, Sam9 said:
The car never gives any trouble and runs like a baby except for this annoying thing after every cold start and I am in the look for the best option.
I called Embuldeniya Auto-box repair person and told will cost around 50 000 for a CVT repair and he suggest for a new box costing at least 80k .

As I remember about year or year half ago there was about one month shortage for Honda CVT oil at agents. Few guys actually stopped running their ViRS for couple of weeks as they reached the oil change period. If you already have this don't keep using the car.. take it to proper place or agents to rectify it.

Reason for the jerk is that CVT oil don't produce enough torque to rotate the output shaft in the gear box. This can happen only in two cases, either you used the car too long without oil change, or as Komi said the internal parts are not functioning. In either case the best option is to inspect it before running in this condition.

Sam9 · July 21, 2013

On 7/21/2013 at 3:13 AM, MkX said:
As I remember about year or year half ago there was about one month shortage for Honda CVT oil at agents. Few guys actually stopped running their ViRS for couple of weeks as they reached the oil change period. If you already have this don't keep using the car.. take it to proper place or agents to rectify it.
Reason for the jerk is that CVT oil don't produce enough torque to rotate the output shaft in the gear box. This can happen only in two cases, either you used the car too long without oil change, or as Komi said the internal parts are not functioning. In either case the best option is to inspect it before running in this condition.

My car had this problem when I bought the car like an year ago but I did not see it when purchasing. The oil was bad and did a change just after the purchase from the agent , and the morning jerk was there . I think the previous owners had already given the cvt box a hard time already. My oil is new and had run like 7000/-kms since the change .

Anyway like you suggest I need to do a proper gearbox checkup rather than running at this situation.

MkX · July 21, 2013

Yes its clear then that previous owners have not done the maintenance properly. Any way as per your description I think you have either EK3 Vi or ViRS with manual standard or sports mode selection options. Still this is a good ride. Good luck with the repair.

blkr6 · July 21, 2013

honda need to hire a better engneers to design there transmissions. I just love their engines but some transmissions are nighmares no matter how well you maintain or how you easy you drive it.

My past experiences

05 Civic Hybrid CVT: bad starter clutch

05 Honda odyssey: bad tranny

00 Acura TL: bad tranny

if you own a honda always use genuine honda ATF and change it earlier than factory recomendation.

Sam9 · July 23, 2013

Bad luck , the car is not moving now

When I put to D , it does not move , when I change the gear for R , still the D is blinking .

Has anybody come across with such scenario and any recommandations on a place to fix it and cost it took ?

Will I need to swap a gearbox ?

MkX · July 23, 2013

On 7/23/2013 at 7:17 AM, Sam9 said:
Bad luck , the car is not moving now
When I put to D , it does not move , when I change the gear for R , still the D is blinking .

Has anybody come across with such scenario and any recommandations on a place to fix it and cost it took ?

Will I need to swap a gearbox ?

Oh sad indeed. Going through your thread shows that you had early symptoms of gear box issue too. Topic started in 2012 october. So if you drove the car all this period with the issue or temporary remeady, now it may be beyond reparable. Best is getting it checked at Agents and get a picture of what really went wrong.

BTW I just sold my EK3 after 4 and half years of taking care of her.