I have a CVT transmission in my car. It has a jerky response in stop/start traffic, in Eco mode and when slowly accelerating... Is this normal for this transmission?
Asked by Richard
I have a 2019 Honda Jazz with the CVT transmission. In the normal transmission mode, it seems quite jerky in that stop/start type traffic where you're always rolling on and off the accelerator while inching forward. Also, when the transmission is in Eco mode, the motor can flare a lot from take-off, going up to 3000 rpm, even when just accelerating gently. It can also sometimes stay at 3000 even when the car has reached its steady 60km/h. You have to take your foot off the accelerator and let the revs drop then re-engage the accelerator and then the revs will drop back to about 1200rpm. Are these normal traits of this transmission?
Answered by CarsGuide
29 Apr 2022To be honest, those do very much sound like the normal characteristics of a CVT transmission. The CVT saves fuel by allowing the engine to work in its most efficient speed range more of the time. That’s why, when you hit the accelerator, the engine sounds like it’s flaring. Which, of course, it is, to get into that sweet spot where it makes more power from less fuel. Essentially, the engine takes off and the rest of the car catches up with it.
The on-board computer can also interpret a burst of acceleration as the driver wanting to press on. That’s why the car will sometimes hold higher engine revs, because it wants to be ready for the next burst. When you back off, the computer interprets that as the need for speed having passed and it drops back to cruising revs…just as you’ve noted.
The jerkiness is another thing some owners notice, others never do. It’s all to do with the way the torque converter is calibrated. If you have any doubts, you could ask for the transmission to be scanned at the next service to see if it’s all in good condition.
Either way, you should report your concerns to Honda now so that if anything goes wrong down the track, the problem will be listed as a pre-existing condition and will still be considered by the factory warranty.
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