HELP! Does this problem sound familiar?

I have a 1998 Civic HX with 115,000. I am up to date on maintenance, timing belt has been replaced etc. The car was running kind of crappy about three months ago, so I had a tune up and everything has been great…until recently. I’m not sure how to describe this problem, but to say it is really inconsistent. The car seems to idol strangely, SOMETIMES. Like if I’m on a hill or its been cold, I’ll watch the RPM kind of bounce. If I put the car in park, this stops and it idols normally. This will also happen at higher speeds but after a few miles just stops. Does this sound familiar?

Ok, I've had the tranny flushed and the probelm seemed to have gone away...but now its creeping back. Does anyone know about the CVT transmission? Does that belt wear out and if so, can it be replaced? thanks for any imput anyone has.

sounds like the same problem i've got. my car surges for the first 5 minutes of driving, at almost any speed. it's like it pulsates until the tranny warms up, then it's great. i bought it this way. it doesn't matter if the motor is warmed up for 15 minuted before driving. it seems like it matters if the tranny is warmed up by driving it. maybe someone put the wring fluid in mine or something. i'm thinking of draining it out and flushing it. it looks like it's critical to have genuine honda hvt fluid on it, is that what you've got in yours? does this sound like the same problem as yours? jason

sounds like the same problem i've got. my car surges for the first 5 minutes of driving, at almost any speed. it's like it pulsates until the tranny warms up, then it's great. i bought it this way. it doesn't matter if the motor is warmed up for 15 minuted before driving. it seems like it matters if the tranny is warmed up by driving it. maybe someone put the wring fluid in mine or something. i'm thinking of draining it out and flushing it. it looks like it's critical to have genuine honda hvt fluid on it, is that what you've got in yours? does this sound like the same problem as yours? jason
dude, this thread is from half a year ago and the guy who made it hasn't even been on since then....

Check thread dates before posting. Bringing back old threads is teh suck.

i have the same problem and i know the guy i bought my car from did not put in Honda fliud, so is ur suggestion is flush the tranny?

i still haven't figured mine out. it's summertime now and the surging is still there for the first few minutes of driving, then it's gone. not as bad as when it was cold out though. i'm betting on the fluid but i haven't taken the time to change mine yet. let me know if you try it and how it works. jason

I've got something similar. When I drive the car seems to idol at times and most often going up hill. It's lagging or something but I also notice this when I'm driving in a curve like when merging into the high way. Anyone know what it is yet?

i kind of this thats how they are. the cvt on mine alway seems to lag up hills and stuff to unless you really get onto the gas. i'm thinking these cvt transmissions were pretty bad. i think i'll end up trading mine in for a stick again.

i still haven't figured mine out. it's summertime now and the surging is still there for the first few minutes of driving, then it's gone. not as bad as when it was cold out though. i'm betting on the fluid but i haven't taken the time to change mine yet. let me know if you try it and how it works. jason


Does it go away when ur tranny warm up(after drive for awhile) ? Does u idles kinda rough after ur tranny warm up?

Do u know whats the diff from me changing the fluid than do it by the shop(with mechine)?

yes, it's rough till the tranny warms up. i'm not sure if it's something you can do easily or if the mechanics have something special they do. i would think just drain it and put new in. i need to do it to mine to try it but we don't have a honda dealer anywhere close to here.

fuel injection cleaner.