I've got a CVT tranny on my 98 Civic HX. My car has a lot of mods, so if that makes any difference. Anyway, what happens, I'll be in Drive, and all of sudden the D in the gauges starts blinking, and the car downshifts to 1st. Then it stays in first and the D still blinks. When I park the car, and turn it off, then turn it back on, the problem is solved. Almost as if something electrical went wrong, and by turning it off, I reset the system or something of that nature.

There is one plug on the front side of the tranny, where you check the fluid, which appears to be problematic. The connections seem loose. I don't have an owner's manual or a shop manual for the car yet so I'm not sure what this connection does.

If anyone has any idea what's wrong with the tranny, please let me know.

Thanks!

Hopefully someone has an answer, I have the same thing happening.

How many miles are on it? does it do this consistently? after how much driving does it do it?

These are questions a dealership will ask you, and where I suggest you taking it.... there's really not enough information out there on CVT transmissions for anyone, other than a honda mechanic, to be much use.

TAke it to a dealership and pull the codes. When that D light starts blinking, it stores a code in trans ecu. Most honda dealerships will charge $40 to pull ther code, but other dealerships likie mine will do it free of charge.

I read somewhere that a faulty gas cap can cause problems with this but I can't remember where. My son had a Hyundai that have stuck in 1st quite often, along with the engine light coming on. Replaceing the gas cap fixed it.
Is the Civic system pressurized and this could be the prob? I am just stabbing for answers with out having to go to the $Dealer$.

weird probbly taking it for codes is best bet
are you hard on it alot cvts dont like beatings from what i understand

No, I drive like an old woman on Sunday. Most of the time I'm with my girlfriend or friends, and once my car hits 2500 RPMs, it becomes almost impossible to have a conversation, so I try and keep it low.

Tony

I read somewhere that a faulty gas cap can cause problems with this but I can't remember where. My son had a Hyundai that have stuck in 1st quite often, along with the engine light coming on. Replaceing the gas cap fixed it.
Is the Civic system pressurized and this could be the prob? I am just stabbing for answers with out having to go to the $Dealer$.

p1456 Evap leak tank system. More of a problem with oddity and accords.

I have a 98 HX w/ a CVT. the 2nd Tranny went out 1-1/2 years ago. the 1st one went out just before the warranty ran out. Dealer Wanted $6K to replace. I got it rebuilt. But it has been in and out of the shop for a year. i don't drive it anymore, but my dad drives it every so often. he says the check engine and blinking "D" comes on sometimes. When it does he just puts the car into nuetral, turn off the car and turn it back on, and put it back into drive.

I have since decided to just piece out the car. Its all stock.

My daughter has a '99 HX. She's had the CVT replaced 3x in 30,000 miles. She has to fight with the dealer each time, but they have covered it. The car starts to shudder upon acceleration, but I've heard of others with the same problem you describe.

Independent Honda shops have told me it might be the CVT computer or a solenoid on the side of the trans that isn't usually replaced when the trans is. Or could be the clutch, although the clutch is probably changed along with the trans and wouldn't go out 3x. One mechanic said the cooler could be clogged.

Anyway, I'd love to hear about anyone who has a solution to this problem. BTW, I've found others online who have had trouble with the CVT on '98 - '01 HXs, but none with an answer yet.