2nd Gen CVT shudder issues? anyone?

steve_b1 · 04-12-2011, 03:55 PM

Currently experiencing an occasional & noticeable (alarming?) oscillating/cycling shudder while idling at stops. My "gut" is saying tranny related. Anyone got an I2 w/ a case of the shudders? (I found a thread related to "shudder" but it was more the engine auto-off-on shudder than what I'm describing.) 2010EX 2500miles.

(The "other shudder" The 2010 Insight Shudder...)

Cobb · 04-13-2011, 11:18 AM

Right before the blue cold engine light comes off and the rpms drop at low speed I get a jerking motion. Adding more gas solves it. Sounds like in your case its the clutch pack not releasing completely.

steve_b1 · 04-13-2011, 12:56 PM

No jerkiness or tugging or pulling (or lurching or judder as it's been called elsewhere) with what I'm experiencing - just an occassional (but worrisome) several second cycling of a heavy vibration/droning/buzzy thing through the steering wheel and the seat when I come to a stop (engine still running).

Lukecool · 04-13-2011, 12:57 PM

I get that sometimes too. Like a springy feeling when acelerating lightly from a stop light. I asked my dealer about it and they said it is just the CVT pullys springing a bit. It doesnt hurt it one bit, just add more gas and it will go away.

lat.ch. · 04-13-2011, 02:32 PM

Maybe that explains why I have tried to answer my phone at least twice because I thought it was vibrating.

Cobb · 04-14-2011, 01:09 AM

I had to do a panic stop the other day. I felt a shutter and saw the rpms drop to 500 or so and come back up twice, it seemed the clutch pack didnt want to release. I let off the brake and as I started to roll it quit acting up.

Only other option is to check if not change the cvt fluid.

steve_b1 · 04-14-2011, 01:24 AM

I can't say that I'm panic stopping when it happens to me but the symptoms you describe match mine - a 2 or 3 occurence cycle though I haven't noticed a pronounced drop in rpms... The vibration itself is of a magnitude/similarity that occurs when the car's been parked on a hill (measured grade of 12% w/ my uncalibrated smartphone app). In this case, when I start the car and shift from park to drive the car drones & vibrates which I've come to accept as a quirk of the car/transmission. When I drive off I get the lurchy-shudder that I think has been described by others elsewhere as just a quirk of the car. I'm guessing what's happening when I'm at a stop is the tranny exhibiting a similar condition as to when the car is being driven from a stop. Could the amount of thime the car spends on these San Francisco hills be exacerbating the "quirk"?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobb

I had to do a panic stop the other day. I felt a shutter and saw the rpms drop to 500 or so and come back up twice, it seemed the clutch pack didnt want to release. I let off the brake and as I started to roll it quit acting up.

Only other option is to check if not change the cvt fluid.

Cobb · 04-14-2011, 10:44 AM

Try this, when the car is cold and the way is clear, shift to drive and give it moderate gas. Does it get up and go or do you hear a weed eater sound, see the rpms rise, then dip?

steve_b1 · 04-14-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobb

Try this, when the car is cold and the way is clear, shift to drive and give it moderate gas. Does it get up and go or do you hear a weed eater sound, see the rpms rise, then dip?

Operating from memory - When I do what you suggest w/ less than say moderate gas (a fairly light pedal actually) I get a wah-wah-wah lurchy-chuggy take-off. Now when I do the same take-off when the car's _warm_ I get the weed eater sound (I would have to say it sure sounds like the transmission is slipping too.) I've chalked that stuff up to the nature of the car (not design flaws but, well, the result of cost cutting etc). What's occuring at stops as mentioned earlier feels like a problem creeping in rather than a quirk.

Zwolfe · 04-14-2011, 11:59 AM

That don't sound good. Over 4k on my 11 and it does not have any shudder sensations. After reading some of these posts I'm wondering if some people have been in a car with a trashed transmission that shudders.

The shudder type feel that I know of is when it feels like the wheels of a car have turned into squares and imagine what sort of shudder that would present.

Mine does exhibit a jerking sensation at sub-10 MPH , even threw the back of my head into the headrest before. But it's like having instantaneous HP and then it vanishes, jerking you around. No peculiar associated sounds.