Exceptional video. I like how you completely disassemble the transmission while explaining in a clear and straightforward way the function of the various parts without wasting any time. I also like the occasional joke that you mix in. 👌👏
Self taught DIYer. I had my 2015 CRV CVT belt shatter at 265k miles. Since then I’ve been looking for thorough videos on transmissions. This channel is gold.
Transmissions are fascinating. Some ideas are great till they fly apart. Not a fan of cvt but wasn’t a fan of automatic trans till recently when I got weirdly into how they worked and different units are good.
not sure about nowadays, but CVTs were notorious for failing in bad ways... not with little or normal usage mind you, just that when they go, they go. Saw the most interesting use of a CVT being on an F1 car, but it would rev at max RPM the entire track, which would require a new belt after about every lap... did set an amazing course record though that was like 11 or so seconds faster on its first try. Also used this automatically adjusting shock absorber setup that looked super advanced. Don't know much about cars, but have finally started taking an interest in them lol.
We own a 2014 Honda Accord with one of these transmissions. It’s been bullet proof since new (10 years and counting). I could tell the owner(s) of this unit didn’t take care of it.
@@RayanMADAO ""Lifetime fluid"". I think they updated the owner's manual recently. The manual of my new civic recommended changing the transmission oil every 30k but the dealer told me it was "Lifetime fluid".
I put 140,000 miles on a 2014 Civic with a CVT. I don't like CVTs generally, but this one hasn't given me any problems yet. Important note is, I drive mine mostly on the freeway (to the office and home, so its 90% + freeway driving) and I change out the CVT fluids fairly often.
Nothing beats the older 5 speed automatics honda used to make. 185,000 miles all I've done is change the fluid and filter and I still can barely feel it shift. Still get 30 mpg with k series 2.4L DOHC.
I think the biggest issue with CVTs is the average Joe in the U.S. and Canada aren’t even aware that there’s a difference between a regular automatic transmission and CVT. A friend of mine bought a new Nissan Sentra so I had to explain to him why not to floor the vehicle from a standing stop. Same thing applies with unnecessary hard acceleration when you’re already at a good speed. CVTs aren’t designed to take the same abuse as regular transmissions.
Toyota solved that problem in their CVTs. They have an acceleration gear that hard connects to the output at launch or passing. This takes the strain load off the belt. It deactivates when not needed. I believe their first generation of CVTs had problems before this solution was implemented.
2015 Honda accord, one owner, 160k miles, trans fluid and filter change once at 100k miles, & drive it like a grandma. Still drives like new. Most reliable car I’ve ever experienced. Only thing I’ve ever had to replace was pcv valve at about 100k. I recommend a Honda accord to anyone and everyone. My father in law in PR has 2010 or so crv. He has used and abused that thing, uses it to load up construction equipment. Treats it like a damn work truck. Bitch won’t die. It has over 200k miles on an island that is only 100x35 miles and is all full of mountains, hills and pot holes. Honda knows how to build dependable vehicles.
Change your fluid often, and don't forget your cvt filters. There are high mileage cvts out there, and those are from people who did drain and fills every 30k, and did the filters. Especially the cartridge type filter.
Also, check to see if your Honda CVT has internal filter on the valve body. I have 2012 Honda Insight EX and the internal filter, cartridge filter, and oem honda cvt fluid was change at 48K miles with 3 CVT fluids changes in last 15K to flush out any leftover CVT fluid. Please check for the correct CVT fluid capacity when changing for DIY. The car shifts a lot smoother and my mpg went up. There are many honda dealerships website with a part dept page-to search to see if your Honda CVT transmission has internal filter. Perform a 4 wheel alignment once a year to get better tire wear and better mpg.
Toyota (AISIN) are kings of the CVTs but Honda’s are a respectable 2nd. From what I know, generally there’s no major issues/concerns with Honda CVTs. Time to time you’ll see a failure but that depends on maintenance history and driving style.
If this is anything like my accord's CVT, that hole is just a fill plug. Our car has 140K on it and the CVT has never given us issues. I bought it certified used at 60K and did a drain and fill at around 110K. Still runs fine. I'll likely do another drain and fill within the next year because it doesn't drain everything out.
Exactly. We own a 2014 Honda Accord and it never gave us any issues. It’s been 10 years of non-stop service and it’s still as smooth as when new. One thing I’m noticing in this video is that the owner(s) of this unit never took care of it. I’d like to know how old this unit really is.
My parents have a 2013 Accord with 210,000 miles. They are aggressive drivers and are quite hard on it, but sometimes they will service it at the dealer instead of express oil, where they change the transmission fluid. The car still drives the same way it did when it was new. Out of all CVTs I've driven, I find Hondas to be the best
I have a 2018 Civic hatchback. I tuned that thing from the get go after break in period. Everything is stock besides the tune. Bought the car brand new. Today, it's sitting at roughly 110k miles. Still shifting smoothly after all the abuse i put it through. The key is to change your cvt fluid more often depending on your driving habit. I change my cvt fluid every 20k. Sometimes i do wish it has more torque but it's a civic afterall.
We don't now the history of this transmission. We don't know how it's cared for etc. For example, we have a lot of Chrysler products in our family (my dad is a mechanic), even all the models that are known to have transmission issues because of Chrysler's weak transmissions, they all have survived long lives of 300K or more because they were well maintained and not abused. (Spinning tires in the winter, pulling tree stumps, towing a heavy trailer etc.) I'm a firm believer in that any transmission can last if it's kept cool and the fluid is changed regularly. Even the terrible Jatco's from Nissan / Mitsubishi. (External cooler on these, and frequent fluid changes makes them last. Also using Amsoil CVT Fluid and not the Dealer stuff. Huge difference in longevity).
There are many people who drive by flooring the gas pedal when accelerating, and slam on the brakes to stop as late as possible.They rev up to like 5000 every time they go. I told a guy once he shouldn't drive like that. Ideally you should coast as much as possible and not GAS/BRAKE/GAS/BRAKE. And that the engine should not be revved higher than 3000 unless absolutely necessary to accelerate quickly. He looked at me like I had two heads when I told him that. "My entire family drives like this". I told him he wasting money on gas and he is literally killing his car. Be nice to your cars. Cars are the center of many people's lives and the sad part is, most people don't see it that way.
@@corkbulb2895 I know what you mean, my aunt drives like she's competing in a race and she floors it on a cold engine, and is constantly downshifting/up-shifting because of how she throttles the accelerator. She can't understand why she always needs 1-2 transmissions in the cars life yet I have never needed to replace my transmission in any vehicle I have owned, despite keeping them 2-3x longer than she does.
I'm privileged enough to have my grandparents gift me their 2018 honda crv on my 18th birthday. I'm super greatful for it however, they give me the most unreliable car in their fleet so now i have to make sure that cvt don't go out in the next few years or they'll be pisssed, but that cvt oil is so damn expensive 😳😳
It's expensive for a fluid, but much less than repairs or a new vehicle. Build an ethic of rigorous maintenance in your youth, and it will pay off for a lifetime. Even with flaws, most Hondas are very reliable machines.
I hate the fact they have removed dip sticks from transmissions . At least with a dip stick you can check if the fluid was changed or not, now you just have to take the workshops word that they changed it.
What are people supposed to do when the torque converter or axle shaft seals on a new conventional or CVT transmission starts leaking? Take the wheel off and remove a side plug in the transmission once a week? It's insane. It will end up totaling cars.
@@JohnSmith-pl2bk It should be illegal. We need minimum repairability standards for cars and appliances. Starting with mandatory engine and transmission fluid dipsticks.
@@gregorymalchuk272 Every vehicle I own has a dipstick. But I am old and intolerant of stupidity... So I don't buy modern vehicles that treat owners/drivers like they are idiots.
@@gregorymalchuk272 Actually, yes, that's what you gotta do. I had a leaking axle seal in my Camry, but I had to do the fill hole/overflow straw every time I topped the fluid off. Ridiculous.
My lady neighbor, has not changed their CVT oil for over 200k miles in their 2005 1st gen honda fit. God knows what's inside in that poor transmission. Got a chance to drive it when I helped her change the batteries, so far it still drives fine. I told her to change the car's CVT fluid and she said "what the hell is a cvt fluid?" Not sure if she followed my advise, but getting a chance to drive that car, I can confirm, honda cvt's are definitely reliable lol
All the mixing machines I use to service had CVT drives BEFORE VFDs were and option for speed variations NOTHING but trouble then and everything is run by a VFD NOW
father was trying to replace his exhaust manifold (had a hole in it :P) and noticed the three bolts connecting it on the exhaust side were rusted near completely through. two bolts came out with very careful force applied, while one broke off leaving the screw portion attached... about 13-20 hours of buying tools, testing, and welding later, my father got the second socket wrench welded on good enough to pull it out. whole process took about 2 months if I remember correctly (was paying off the last functional car at 2x than before, so like 1k a month for a 2011 Lexus with 100k miles).
I've replaced a ton of these! And last week a 2024 Civic came in on the tow truck, customer states vehicle will not move in any gear. 396 miles on it and the trans is toast.......😅😅😅😅😅
04:00 it's like that so you can remove the oil pump without having to disassemble the rest of the transmission first - if it was just an oil pump problem you could fix without even having to remove the transmission from the car
@@Conservator. possibly - with the pump gone the torque converter prob wouldn't work (effectively), the forward drive clutch wouldn't be engaged and the variators wouldn't have pressure on them, enough to cause significant wear anyway.
As an ex Honda tech, the hrv had a terrible cvt and I think a few more than I know, I’d love to see one out of a civic, accord or crv to see how it went bc that’s a real mystery to me
The 5 speed autos had issues with the lubrication system to where they came out with a jetpack that took fluid from the outlet side of the ext trans filter and plumbed into the fill hole. It was a special adapter that allowed fluid to run back in there. The baya trans which started in 2005 to 07 was fixed internally The previous years were the dreaded maya. The 4 speed in the 99 tl and accords didnt have this issue.
I’m not a fan of the CVT, but compared to when VW and Nissan first launched them, they have all around improved and they do churn out excellent mpg. The key is to only put them in low hp / torque cars, change their fluids no more than every 50k, and in general drive it like it’s a car you want to take care of. I still prefer the manual or a traditional TC auto
This is sad. Our daughter has a 2018 and we just bought a 2024. Love these cars even if they don't have lots of power. I have changed her CVT fluid several times, each time using a 3 step drain and fill process. Drain and fill it once, drive it around a bit, then drain and fill again. Do that three times. Sure it's probably overkill but I don't care. I'd rather change it too often than not often enough. The same goes with engine and rear differential oil, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. EDIT: I know these HR-V's have no power steering fluid because they're electric, but for my other cars (two Honda Accords) it gets changed often.
Hahahaha the underwear joke STILL cracks me up to this day. I've been a fan of your channel for like 5 years or so. Under a different account that is. I even started my own mechanic channel.
CVT would be great on a commuter car if the manufacturers would make it easy. Instead of having it sealed, make the fluid widely available and have a dipstick to check the level with a regular drain bolt and say change it every 30k like they used to. It's all about screwing the customer to get as much money as possible anymore.
@@speedkar99I guess that’s why you have to pay to use the remote start and heated seats that came equipped with the car too. People just did something wrong…
The Honda Jazz from 2004 has a known weak first gear CVT. But it has a drain plug on the bottom Drain what comes out... replace the drain plug. Then fill through the fill port on the side of the trans with the 3.5 litre jug that Honda sells as the refill. Put the whole jug in...and replace the fill plug. There will be exactly the right amount of fluid in the trans. The 3.5 litre jug is 1/4 of the trans full fluid capacity ...... Basically just drain and refill DIY @ 10k intervals.... There is a small EFI fuel filter sized canister CVT filter under the battery tray external to the trans...replace that as well...
I have a 2022 Accord Sport SE with the 1.5 turbo and CVT. I just drained and refilled the CVT fluid for the first time at 18k miles, and it came out dark amber and with a pungent odor (the scent filled the garage). The magnet had collected a small amount of shavings, but nothing that seemed unusual. I am sticking with the Honda specified HCF 2 fluid during the powertrain warranty period. Out of the bottle, HCF 2 is almost clear and for some reason does not instill much confidence - it just feels so thin and watery. It is ludicrous to believe this fluid is lifetime, and with noticeable degradation in only 18k miles, I'm going to stick to a 20k drain and refill schedule. By the way, the procedure is easy with a reasonably accessible ribbed rubber fill plug from the top. If you can change your own oil, you can change your Honda CVT fluid.
@@FunkatronicDingus And tell us how much CVT transmission repair cost and most mechanics don't have the knowledge or skill how to repair a CVT transmission. Good ole automatic transmission is way better......
Interesting, Japanese Type 10 (10式戦車, Hitomaru-shiki sensha) main battle tank features CVT. This enables it to have the same max speed either forward or reverse. Top speed: 70 kmh.
so...metal-on-metal between the belt and the varietor?? alright. my next car is the new 2025 Honda Civic hybrid which doesn't have a transmission, thankfully. I've never owned a CVT and I really don't believe I ever will. I know Honda recommends a fluid change interval of 80-160k km (50-100k miles). I find that's stretching it quite a bit (no pun intended). On any transmission, manual, DCT, torque converter or CVT, I wouldn't go past 100k km. You want it to last? Take care of it. Another thing I heard, and someone correct me here, CVTs have a weakness of operating in traffic, stop & go, where clutches keep engaging and disengaging. Much like anything with clutches, they wear out the more they're used, but in a CVT they're seemingly built significantly thinner. Also the belt. I don't understand how a belt can operate like the one shown and not experience tremendous wear. It just doesn't seem like a good design to me.
@@JohnSmith-pl2bk i mean, not quite the same. Chain saws are like bicycles where the chain is being spun by sprokets; the chain isn't depending on surface contact friction for power transmission. In the CVT, the chain has a contact patch with the metal cone.
All my vehicles have had manual transmissions. I have never had a problem. I am not about to take my work home with me. This is why I will never own anything with a CVT.
The difference in cope in the comments on a Honda CVT vs other automaker is astonishing. Yeah this doesn't have the boneheaded issues the Nissan one has, but Hondas aren't some bastion of perfection anymore.
110k so far on my 2016 Civic LX, changing the CVT fluid every ~30k miles. I’ve seen examples with 200k+ on there, but I don’t expect these to last 300k even with fluid changes.
I took a look at the Civic a few years ago in a dealership and I saw the CVT was made in India. I literally laughed and walked out. You can keep that for yourself, Honda.
On the note of reliable CVTs; Chrysler CVTs from 2012-2016 were something special. I've seen them with 200k+ miles and no oil change, while the owner hauls several thousand pounds inside.😂
It really seems like the "lifetime fluid" thing is a scam. Honda's own service manual for my car specifies a 40,000 km/2 year "severe" replacement schedule for the CVT fluid, and you can bet that's what I follow (and it's more like every 25,000 km in practice as I don't rack up much distance in a year).
honest question here, if the clutch disks were the main fail point can I just buy new original parts or good enough after market parts and reassemble and fix it?
It comes down to labor. You have to remove it and disassemble, and then there's the "while you're in there" things to change like gasket, seals, filter and fluid. It'll add up to the same cost of putting a rebuilt one back in there.
We have a 2014 Honda Accord with a CVT. It’s been bullet proof since brand new. Looking at the video, you could tell the owner(s) never serviced this transmission.
Honda CVT's are more reliable ones, especially in smaller vehicles where not a lot of torque is applied. I suspect this one was result of neglect. It ran on dirty fluid and/or low fluid, thus burnt up the clutches.
The CVT is not necessarily less reliable than geared automatics, its all about design/maintenance. I had a Honda Accord 1999 model with a geared automatic go bad at low mileage many years ago in 2007. It began to pop and slip at only 150,000km. So it isn't just the CVT that fails, its all about maintenance. I did a fluid change but it was too late for that tranny in the 99 Accord. What I do know is this: you have to ignore the official automobile manufacturer's manual/instruction in today's world. CVT's run hot, the transmission oil breaks down more quickly. The manuals in many vehicles dare to say its a 'lifeitme' fluid. That is absurd. People need to be changing out the transmission fluid every 25,000km (15,000 miles for Americans or Brits reading this) in any CVT operated automobile. I am not a mechanic nor an auto specialist, but I've seen this play out over many years now, Nissan and Chrysler started putting CVT's in most of their cars 20 years ago, this isn't new anymore. You DO NOT need to use the manufacturer's fluid, but you DO have to change it frequently and get a CVT spec fluid. CVT's will fail pre-maturely if the fluid/oil is not changed frequently and regularly. The oil cannot avoid breaking down at the high temperatures a CVT operates at. Its something that goes unnoticed often, and manufacturers are too quick to just replace the entire transmission when it fails at 120,000km because the oil is burnt up, despite the manual saying you shouldn't change it. Its almost like they want to make money on the replacement... Imagine that. People need to change transmission fluid far more often than is recommended. That's what I think can extend the life of these products.
Any CVT can be reliable if you do proper maintenance CVT run a lot hotter than other transmissions so the fluid breaks down faster which causes slippage because it’s traction fluid and the filter screens get clogged, and it be cleaned out every time transmission service
Maybe it is a jatco built by honda under license and thats why the honda cvts are better than nissan. Heres another example, the ZF 9 speed. The units used in Honda and Nissans are built by ZF in south carolina while the same unit in Chrysler products (starting with the 2014 cherokee) are built under license by chrysler in michigan and the chrysler built units are nutorious for problems while the units in hondas and nissans have a far better rep (althoug still known for being shuddery). Thats a transmission Id like to see broken down too!
Toyota uses a regular first gear on some or all of their CVTs. I understand that it eliminates the high torque strain on take off, making it more durable.
@@speedkar99 yah it had a sprocket more like Nissan cvts & the gears switched to lower sprockets as i went up and down hills switching gears like a good boy but I had a chain instead of a belt witch was more reliable
@@speedkar99 They are as unreliable as they are in other parts of the world. They give out right after the 3-year warranty expires. It's partly due to hotter ambient temperatures and always being used in traffic-ridden streets where the frequent stop&starts cause more mechanical stress due to the initial takeup. They are unrepairable and are therefore considered disposable trannys.
Im curious if any auto company ever made pure electromechanical actuated CVT? so instead of oil pushing and engaging things around, it is just actuators and motors.
@@speedkar99 yamaha and suzuki both have electric servos for their cvt on NMAX and brugman scooter, so its not really a nouvelle idea. But i guess it doesn't scale up really well for heavier duty application.
Honda reliability go downhill when they use CVT. I'll buy used 5 speed automatic, I don't want to spend more money and time to maintain it, it got 2 filter and fluid change every 30k miles. It's not if but when it fail.
Exceptional video. I like how you completely disassemble the transmission while explaining in a clear and straightforward way the function of the various parts without wasting any time.
I also like the occasional joke that you mix in. 👌👏
Glad you like my video style and catch my sense of humor. Thanks
That’s precisely the reason that I subscribed a few months ago! The excellent work continues. Thank you.
If the manual says change the fluid at 60, you better be changing it at 30!!
Lol fanboy
@@mann_idonotreadreplies I’m a pretty big fan of not buying a new CVT at 100k
Well i replaces mine on 20k km or 4x changing the engine oil and replaced the filter every 40k km
I do mine every 20,000 miles. Lots of short distance driving
Self taught DIYer. I had my 2015 CRV CVT belt shatter at 265k miles. Since then I’ve been looking for thorough videos on transmissions. This channel is gold.
Glad you like my video style, I love taking stuff apart, that's how I learn too!
Transmissions are fascinating. Some ideas are great till they fly apart. Not a fan of cvt but wasn’t a fan of automatic trans till recently when I got weirdly into how they worked and different units are good.
not sure about nowadays, but CVTs were notorious for failing in bad ways... not with little or normal usage mind you, just that when they go, they go. Saw the most interesting use of a CVT being on an F1 car, but it would rev at max RPM the entire track, which would require a new belt after about every lap... did set an amazing course record though that was like 11 or so seconds faster on its first try. Also used this automatically adjusting shock absorber setup that looked super advanced. Don't know much about cars, but have finally started taking an interest in them lol.
We own a 2014 Honda Accord with one of these transmissions. It’s been bullet proof since new (10 years and counting). I could tell the owner(s) of this unit didn’t take care of it.
I don’t think you can blame Honda for this one…that fluid was never changed
Lifetime fluid ;)
@@RayanMADAO ""Lifetime fluid"". I think they updated the owner's manual recently. The manual of my new civic recommended changing the transmission oil every 30k but the dealer told me it was "Lifetime fluid".
@@berkeliumklifetime fluid is the biggest fucking scam ever
@RayanMADAO it was a lifetime fluid apparently....just a shortened lifetime since no maintenance
That’s what Honda told the customer to do
They said it was a “lifetime fluid”
Never gave it much thought until I saw your videos as to how much energy goes into just one component on one car. Whoa...mind boggling. Thank you 99!
I put 140,000 miles on a 2014 Civic with a CVT. I don't like CVTs generally, but this one hasn't given me any problems yet. Important note is, I drive mine mostly on the freeway (to the office and home, so its 90% + freeway driving) and I change out the CVT fluids fairly often.
Nothing beats the older 5 speed automatics honda used to make. 185,000 miles all I've done is change the fluid and filter and I still can barely feel it shift. Still get 30 mpg with k series 2.4L DOHC.
The 5 speed in general before the baya trans was used because it was a lubrication flaw. The 4 speed in the 99 didnt have this issue.
I think the biggest issue with CVTs is the average Joe in the U.S. and Canada aren’t even aware that there’s a difference between a regular automatic transmission and CVT. A friend of mine bought a new Nissan Sentra so I had to explain to him why not to floor the vehicle from a standing stop. Same thing applies with unnecessary hard acceleration when you’re already at a good speed.
CVTs aren’t designed to take the same abuse as regular transmissions.
Toyota solved that problem in their CVTs. They have an acceleration gear that hard connects to the output at launch or passing. This takes the strain load off the belt. It deactivates when not needed. I believe their first generation of CVTs had problems before this solution was implemented.
@@telcobillyyeah, the D-CVT
2015 Honda accord, one owner, 160k miles, trans fluid and filter change once at 100k miles, & drive it like a grandma. Still drives like new. Most reliable car I’ve ever experienced. Only thing I’ve ever had to replace was pcv valve at about 100k. I recommend a Honda accord to anyone and everyone. My father in law in PR has 2010 or so crv. He has used and abused that thing, uses it to load up construction equipment. Treats it like a damn work truck. Bitch won’t die. It has over 200k miles on an island that is only 100x35 miles and is all full of mountains, hills and pot holes. Honda knows how to build dependable vehicles.
Those don't use a tiny turbo engine mated to an unrepairable CVT.
Change your fluid often, and don't forget your cvt filters. There are high mileage cvts out there, and those are from people who did drain and fills every 30k, and did the filters. Especially the cartridge type filter.
Very good advice. I just changed my cartridge filter at 170,000 km.
@@scarboroughnorthfoodiechange filter and fluid every 30k miles.
Also, check to see if your Honda CVT has internal filter on the valve body. I have 2012 Honda Insight EX and the internal filter, cartridge filter, and oem honda cvt fluid was change at 48K miles with 3 CVT fluids changes in last 15K to flush out any leftover CVT fluid. Please check for the correct CVT fluid capacity when changing for DIY. The car shifts a lot smoother and my mpg went up. There are many honda dealerships website with a part dept page-to search to see if your Honda CVT transmission has internal filter. Perform a 4 wheel alignment once a year to get better tire wear and better mpg.
@@edwardclark8808 do you replace the filters in the dealer shop?
Toyota (AISIN) are kings of the CVTs but Honda’s are a respectable 2nd.
From what I know, generally there’s no major issues/concerns with Honda CVTs.
Time to time you’ll see a failure but that depends on maintenance history and driving style.
If this is anything like my accord's CVT, that hole is just a fill plug. Our car has 140K on it and the CVT has never given us issues. I bought it certified used at 60K and did a drain and fill at around 110K. Still runs fine. I'll likely do another drain and fill within the next year because it doesn't drain everything out.
Exactly. We own a 2014 Honda Accord and it never gave us any issues. It’s been 10 years of non-stop service and it’s still as smooth as when new. One thing I’m noticing in this video is that the owner(s) of this unit never took care of it. I’d like to know how old this unit really is.
Reassembly is simply the reverse procedure for disassembly.
My parents have a 2013 Accord with 210,000 miles. They are aggressive drivers and are quite hard on it, but sometimes they will service it at the dealer instead of express oil, where they change the transmission fluid. The car still drives the same way it did when it was new. Out of all CVTs I've driven, I find Hondas to be the best
Can you do a quick garden tour?
Lol nah. My garden did not do that great this year. Some squashes, Cucumber, celery.
I have a 2018 Civic hatchback. I tuned that thing from the get go after break in period. Everything is stock besides the tune. Bought the car brand new. Today, it's sitting at roughly 110k miles. Still shifting smoothly after all the abuse i put it through. The key is to change your cvt fluid more often depending on your driving habit. I change my cvt fluid every 20k. Sometimes i do wish it has more torque but it's a civic afterall.
We don't now the history of this transmission. We don't know how it's cared for etc. For example, we have a lot of Chrysler products in our family (my dad is a mechanic), even all the models that are known to have transmission issues because of Chrysler's weak transmissions, they all have survived long lives of 300K or more because they were well maintained and not abused. (Spinning tires in the winter, pulling tree stumps, towing a heavy trailer etc.) I'm a firm believer in that any transmission can last if it's kept cool and the fluid is changed regularly. Even the terrible Jatco's from Nissan / Mitsubishi. (External cooler on these, and frequent fluid changes makes them last. Also using Amsoil CVT Fluid and not the Dealer stuff. Huge difference in longevity).
There are many people who drive by flooring the gas pedal when accelerating, and slam on the brakes to stop as late as possible.They rev up to like 5000 every time they go. I told a guy once he shouldn't drive like that. Ideally you should coast as much as possible and not GAS/BRAKE/GAS/BRAKE. And that the engine should not be revved higher than 3000 unless absolutely necessary to accelerate quickly. He looked at me like I had two heads when I told him that. "My entire family drives like this". I told him he wasting money on gas and he is literally killing his car. Be nice to your cars. Cars are the center of many people's lives and the sad part is, most people don't see it that way.
@@corkbulb2895 I know what you mean, my aunt drives like she's competing in a race and she floors it on a cold engine, and is constantly downshifting/up-shifting because of how she throttles the accelerator. She can't understand why she always needs 1-2 transmissions in the cars life yet I have never needed to replace my transmission in any vehicle I have owned, despite keeping them 2-3x longer than she does.
It's wild that I wrote a similar comment, then scrolled down and read this.
Those Chrysler CVTs are just something special
@@YourFriendlyHoodVampire They aren't actually made by Chrysler, they are made for Chrysler by JAT CO. Same as the makers for Nissan.
Agreed. It it seems like Honda had a trend with the failing belts. At least it's not as bad as Nissan's
I'm privileged enough to have my grandparents gift me their 2018 honda crv on my 18th birthday. I'm super greatful for it however, they give me the most unreliable car in their fleet so now i have to make sure that cvt don't go out in the next few years or they'll be pisssed, but that cvt oil is so damn expensive 😳😳
Change your fluids!
And filter every 30k miles that's the reality of CVT. Or buy used Honda 5 speed automatic and never think about it.
@@GF-mf7mlpretty certain there is not a filter in the CRV trans
It's expensive for a fluid, but much less than repairs or a new vehicle. Build an ethic of rigorous maintenance in your youth, and it will pay off for a lifetime. Even with flaws, most Hondas are very reliable machines.
CVT Fluid is cheap. Transmission replacement is expensive. 💰💸🤑
I hate the fact they have removed dip sticks from transmissions . At least with a dip stick you can check if the fluid was changed or not, now you just have to take the workshops word that they changed it.
What are people supposed to do when the torque converter or axle shaft seals on a new conventional or CVT transmission starts leaking? Take the wheel off and remove a side plug in the transmission once a week? It's insane. It will end up totaling cars.
@@gregorymalchuk272
Part of the plan of the parts sales team...
@@JohnSmith-pl2bk It should be illegal. We need minimum repairability standards for cars and appliances. Starting with mandatory engine and transmission fluid dipsticks.
@@gregorymalchuk272
Every vehicle I own has a dipstick.
But I am old and intolerant of stupidity...
So I don't buy modern vehicles that treat owners/drivers like they are idiots.
@@gregorymalchuk272 Actually, yes, that's what you gotta do. I had a leaking axle seal in my Camry, but I had to do the fill hole/overflow straw every time I topped the fluid off. Ridiculous.
Friend, you are gold! ❤
You restore the gearbox?
Please source an Audi 7speed S-tronic 0B5 trans in future for us...and thanks for the consistent work❤. Your biggest follower from Botswana🇧🇼
Literally a shadetree mechanic! 😊
My lady neighbor, has not changed their CVT oil for over 200k miles in their 2005 1st gen honda fit. God knows what's inside in that poor transmission.
Got a chance to drive it when I helped her change the batteries, so far it still drives fine. I told her to change the car's CVT fluid and she said "what the hell is a cvt fluid?"
Not sure if she followed my advise, but getting a chance to drive that car, I can confirm, honda cvt's are definitely reliable lol
When you come back from deployment of 18 months to see "your newborn child" - @ 0:30
Bruh im dead!!!
Read you comment and i was like "huh?" Clicked the timestamp link and the audio just goes "its black" and i die laughing
Legendary
why wake up like this bro lol. chill out
All the mixing machines I use to service had CVT drives BEFORE VFDs were and option for speed variations NOTHING but trouble then and everything is run by a VFD NOW
It would be cool if you could make a detailed video about how Secondary Air Injection works
father was trying to replace his exhaust manifold (had a hole in it :P) and noticed the three bolts connecting it on the exhaust side were rusted near completely through. two bolts came out with very careful force applied, while one broke off leaving the screw portion attached... about 13-20 hours of buying tools, testing, and welding later, my father got the second socket wrench welded on good enough to pull it out. whole process took about 2 months if I remember correctly (was paying off the last functional car at 2x than before, so like 1k a month for a 2011 Lexus with 100k miles).
Maintenance is EVERYTHING
I've replaced a ton of these! And last week a 2024 Civic came in on the tow truck, customer states vehicle will not move in any gear. 396 miles on it and the trans is toast.......😅😅😅😅😅
Uh oh.
Keep us informed please re cause..
I presume it's warranty work?
Dunno. My wife's 2015 CRV has 120k on it and the trans has been flawless. She does maintain the car religiously.
Nice, but 120k is young
04:00 it's like that so you can remove the oil pump without having to disassemble the rest of the transmission first - if it was just an oil pump problem you could fix without even having to remove the transmission from the car
But would a transmission survive any oil pump failure?
@@Conservator. possibly - with the pump gone the torque converter prob wouldn't work (effectively), the forward drive clutch wouldn't be engaged and the variators wouldn't have pressure on them, enough to cause significant wear anyway.
@@te71se Thanks!
Oil pump isn't supposed to be a service item 🙄
As an ex Honda tech, the hrv had a terrible cvt and I think a few more than I know, I’d love to see one out of a civic, accord or crv to see how it went bc that’s a real mystery to me
Which generation HRV is this CVT and the terrible ones from?
@@Blank00HRV = CVT.
Humans invented this for the sake of complexity
Honda and Toyota atleast make there own . A lot of people don't keep up on maintenance either
I want to see a CVT on a turbo rotary engine. Wouldn't have much take-off. But should be good for high speeds
The 5 speed autos had issues with the lubrication system to where they came out with a jetpack that took fluid from the outlet side of the ext trans filter and plumbed into the fill hole. It was a special adapter that allowed fluid to run back in there. The baya trans which started in 2005 to 07 was fixed internally The previous years were the dreaded maya. The 4 speed in the 99 tl and accords didnt have this issue.
I’m not a fan of the CVT, but compared to when VW and Nissan first launched them, they have all around improved and they do churn out excellent mpg.
The key is to only put them in low hp / torque cars, change their fluids no more than every 50k, and in general drive it like it’s a car you want to take care of.
I still prefer the manual or a traditional TC auto
This is sad. Our daughter has a 2018 and we just bought a 2024. Love these cars even if they don't have lots of power. I have changed her CVT fluid several times, each time using a 3 step drain and fill process. Drain and fill it once, drive it around a bit, then drain and fill again. Do that three times. Sure it's probably overkill but I don't care. I'd rather change it too often than not often enough. The same goes with engine and rear differential oil, brake fluid, and power steering fluid.
EDIT: I know these HR-V's have no power steering fluid because they're electric, but for my other cars (two Honda Accords) it gets changed often.
Great video, very interesting
Glad you learned something
I've never seen anyone so knowledgeable on so many brands and components, awesome and funny too. The wife's toothbrush always makes me laugh.
Some teenager gave his first car pure hell 😂
Hahahaha the underwear joke STILL cracks me up to this day. I've been a fan of your channel for like 5 years or so. Under a different account that is. I even started my own mechanic channel.
Glad you enjoy the little humor 🤣
A lot of people don't even know a transmission has fluid.
Alot of people don't know Tesla's have fluid too
CVT would be great on a commuter car if the manufacturers would make it easy. Instead of having it sealed, make the fluid widely available and have a dipstick to check the level with a regular drain bolt and say change it every 30k like they used to. It's all about screwing the customer to get as much money as possible anymore.
People used to put crap in there so they sealed it off the average joe
@@speedkar99I guess that’s why you have to pay to use the remote start and heated seats that came equipped with the car too. People just did something wrong…
The Honda Jazz from 2004 has a known weak first gear CVT.
But it has a drain plug on the bottom
Drain what comes out...
replace the drain plug.
Then fill through the fill port on the side of the trans with the 3.5 litre jug that Honda sells as the refill.
Put the whole jug in...and replace the fill plug.
There will be exactly the right amount of fluid in the trans.
The 3.5 litre jug is 1/4 of the trans full fluid capacity ......
Basically just drain and refill DIY @ 10k intervals....
There is a small EFI fuel filter sized canister CVT filter under the battery tray external to the trans...replace that as well...
I have a 2022 Accord Sport SE with the 1.5 turbo and CVT. I just drained and refilled the CVT fluid for the first time at 18k miles, and it came out dark amber and with a pungent odor (the scent filled the garage). The magnet had collected a small amount of shavings, but nothing that seemed unusual. I am sticking with the Honda specified HCF 2 fluid during the powertrain warranty period. Out of the bottle, HCF 2 is almost clear and for some reason does not instill much confidence - it just feels so thin and watery. It is ludicrous to believe this fluid is lifetime, and with noticeable degradation in only 18k miles, I'm going to stick to a 20k drain and refill schedule. By the way, the procedure is easy with a reasonably accessible ribbed rubber fill plug from the top. If you can change your own oil, you can change your Honda CVT fluid.
I'll never buy a CVT regardless of manufacture. My 2015 manual hardboy Nissan pickup will possible outlast me
100% agreed. I won't even trust so called reliable Toyota. CVT are expensive to maintain and super expensive to repair.......
"Manual hardboy" does not sound like an automotive term.😁
@@crow_2k11beatsbydre8 Buddy, all you do is swap the fluid at regular intervals like any other transmission.
@@FunkatronicDingus And tell us how much CVT transmission repair cost and most mechanics don't have the knowledge or skill how to repair a CVT transmission. Good ole automatic transmission is way better......
I have a Corolla 2010 with CVT. No issues, just change the fluid every 50k. Maintenance is not expensive mind you.
Interesting, Japanese Type 10 (10式戦車, Hitomaru-shiki sensha) main battle tank features CVT. This enables it to have the same max speed either forward or reverse. Top speed: 70 kmh.
so...metal-on-metal between the belt and the varietor?? alright.
my next car is the new 2025 Honda Civic hybrid which doesn't have a transmission, thankfully. I've never owned a CVT and I really don't believe I ever will.
I know Honda recommends a fluid change interval of 80-160k km (50-100k miles). I find that's stretching it quite a bit (no pun intended). On any transmission, manual, DCT, torque converter or CVT, I wouldn't go past 100k km. You want it to last? Take care of it.
Another thing I heard, and someone correct me here, CVTs have a weakness of operating in traffic, stop & go, where clutches keep engaging and disengaging. Much like anything with clutches, they wear out the more they're used, but in a CVT they're seemingly built significantly thinner. Also the belt. I don't understand how a belt can operate like the one shown and not experience tremendous wear. It just doesn't seem like a good design to me.
Stop and go with clutches are referred to " dual clutch " transmissions.
Chains are metal on metal...and they need lubrication...but continue to work for years????
@@JohnSmith-pl2bk i mean, not quite the same. Chain saws are like bicycles where the chain is being spun by sprokets; the chain isn't depending on surface contact friction for power transmission. In the CVT, the chain has a contact patch with the metal cone.
2013 Honda AccordCVT with 225,000 miles always do trans fluid maintenance.
Nice. How many changes have you done?
I bought it new. So every 30,000-35,000 miles it gets done.
Thanks for sharing a great video
Top knowledge as always.
All my vehicles have had manual transmissions. I have never had a problem. I am not about to take my work home with me. This is why I will never own anything with a CVT.
How much do clutch replacements cost?
❤Thank you very much for this lesson publisher
The difference in cope in the comments on a Honda CVT vs other automaker is astonishing. Yeah this doesn't have the boneheaded issues the Nissan one has, but Hondas aren't some bastion of perfection anymore.
Also, yes sometimes parts just eventually wear out, theres just a lot of justifying this dying from neglect vs others that died from neglect
Agreed. Not as bad as Nissan !
110k so far on my 2016 Civic LX, changing the CVT fluid every ~30k miles. I’ve seen examples with 200k+ on there, but I don’t expect these to last 300k even with fluid changes.
I took a look at the Civic a few years ago in a dealership and I saw the CVT was made in India. I literally laughed and walked out. You can keep that for yourself, Honda.
They never changed the fluid. All you have to do is change it with factory fluid every 30K to 50K miles. It will last a very long time.
Cool story bra
as always very educative. regards
Many thanks!
Honda's CVT are generally thought to be as some of the best most reliable transmissions.
Until 100k miles
@@GF-mf7ml true story... My friends 2013 Accord with a CVT is approaching 300,000 miles on the clock with no issues.
That is incredibly complex. No wonder cars are so expensive.
It sure is a neat engineering marvel.
On the note of reliable CVTs; Chrysler CVTs from 2012-2016 were something special.
I've seen them with 200k+ miles and no oil change, while the owner hauls several thousand pounds inside.😂
It really seems like the "lifetime fluid" thing is a scam. Honda's own service manual for my car specifies a 40,000 km/2 year "severe" replacement schedule for the CVT fluid, and you can bet that's what I follow (and it's more like every 25,000 km in practice as I don't rack up much distance in a year).
It's for the lifetime of the transmission. Not the vehicle.
Honda does make a decent CVT
The engineering is incredible. Rhetorical question, but how do people even come up with these contraceptions?
It's an interactive process, it started with a bicycle
My son has an unusual transmission in his FIT. When things start slipping you keep the transmission and just replace the clutch disc. Whoda' thunk?
Honda love to use clutches on all their transmission, including eCVT hybrid.
honest question here, if the clutch disks were the main fail point can I just buy new original parts or good enough after market parts and reassemble and fix it?
It comes down to labor. You have to remove it and disassemble, and then there's the "while you're in there" things to change like gasket, seals, filter and fluid.
It'll add up to the same cost of putting a rebuilt one back in there.
Goes to show that a CVT is a CVT, no matter who makes it. Not even Honda can fight CVT entropy
We have a 2014 Honda Accord with a CVT. It’s been bullet proof since brand new. Looking at the video, you could tell the owner(s) never serviced this transmission.
There's some CRV owners have CVT failed under warranty because of heavy foot. CVT need more fluid and filter change then automatic.
Hybrid eCVTs aren't CVTs.
Have 2006 Honda City with CVT and it still running well and give the least headache
They're stubborn. They don't want to surrender belt drive transmissions lol. Even more stubborn is very CVT owner 😂
Here's to hoping that you're wearing safety glasses when removing those snap rings.
Honda CVT's are more reliable ones, especially in smaller vehicles where not a lot of torque is applied. I suspect this one was result of neglect. It ran on dirty fluid and/or low fluid, thus burnt up the clutches.
I wonder if they make coolers for c. V. T's like like with Regular transmissions and wouldit make them last longer
Yeah the same ATF coolers should work. They use them on Nissan's since they overheat alot.
At least Honda didn't offer it on the V-6. Thank god
How many miles? Did it ever get the fluid changed?
The CVT is not necessarily less reliable than geared automatics, its all about design/maintenance. I had a Honda Accord 1999 model with a geared automatic go bad at low mileage many years ago in 2007. It began to pop and slip at only 150,000km. So it isn't just the CVT that fails, its all about maintenance. I did a fluid change but it was too late for that tranny in the 99 Accord. What I do know is this: you have to ignore the official automobile manufacturer's manual/instruction in today's world. CVT's run hot, the transmission oil breaks down more quickly. The manuals in many vehicles dare to say its a 'lifeitme' fluid. That is absurd. People need to be changing out the transmission fluid every 25,000km (15,000 miles for Americans or Brits reading this) in any CVT operated automobile. I am not a mechanic nor an auto specialist, but I've seen this play out over many years now, Nissan and Chrysler started putting CVT's in most of their cars 20 years ago, this isn't new anymore. You DO NOT need to use the manufacturer's fluid, but you DO have to change it frequently and get a CVT spec fluid. CVT's will fail pre-maturely if the fluid/oil is not changed frequently and regularly. The oil cannot avoid breaking down at the high temperatures a CVT operates at. Its something that goes unnoticed often, and manufacturers are too quick to just replace the entire transmission when it fails at 120,000km because the oil is burnt up, despite the manual saying you shouldn't change it. Its almost like they want to make money on the replacement... Imagine that. People need to change transmission fluid far more often than is recommended. That's what I think can extend the life of these products.
Any CVT can be reliable if you do proper maintenance CVT run a lot hotter than other transmissions so the fluid breaks down faster which causes slippage because it’s traction fluid and the filter screens get clogged, and it be cleaned out every time transmission service
Well if it was reliable, it wouldn't be on your bench.
Honda should have kept CVT on their scooter not a car. I bet it can't handle VTEC power
The i-VTEC used on these are economy VTEC anyway
They use it in SUV with AWD. If you drive uphill it'll overheat.
R & L series engines don't even have real VTEC anymore, just generic cam-phasing VVT.
So, the good-ol` planetary gear system, common in traditional automatics, is what failed here, possibly because of lack of maintenance.
Hondas cvt here in indonesia fails at minimum 60k km, average at 100k 😅
what do you think of Toyota CVTS? my mom has a 2014 corolla.
CVT is designed to fail. Traditional auto transmissions last hundreds of thousands of miles without needing to change fluid.
Change the oil, people!
I use a Honda hr-v CvT from 1999
Excellent, thanks!
You're welcome!
What does a torque converter do in CVT? Pls explain
Please see my other video on how torque converters work
Maybe it is a jatco built by honda under license and thats why the honda cvts are better than nissan. Heres another example, the ZF 9 speed. The units used in Honda and Nissans are built by ZF in south carolina while the same unit in Chrysler products (starting with the 2014 cherokee) are built under license by chrysler in michigan and the chrysler built units are nutorious for problems while the units in hondas and nissans have a far better rep (althoug still known for being shuddery). Thats a transmission Id like to see broken down too!
Looks like my 12 speed bike when I was 5
How about Toyota's CVT?
Would you say:
1. Toyota
2. Honda
3. Nissan?
Toyota uses a regular first gear on some or all of their CVTs.
I understand that it eliminates the high torque strain on take off, making it more durable.
Subaru would also be up near the top too - they make very reliable CVT’s now and have for a while.
Honda parts aren't reliable anymore IMHO.
Agreed. Honda was reliable back in the mid to late 90s and early 2000s decade........
@@crow_2k11beatsbydre82015 civic is known as the most reliable car ever lol
Best transmission is a manual transmission
I guarantee you it's irreparablility is a completely avoidable design flaw.
The internals look like my trek 12-speed bike when I was 8
You had a CVT bike?
@@speedkar99 yah it had a sprocket more like Nissan cvts & the gears switched to lower sprockets as i went up and down hills switching gears like a good boy but I had a chain instead of a belt witch was more reliable
DAF has a lot to answer for!
New video😍
Hiiiii😁
God Bless you
Tiny turbocharged engines and unrepairable/disposable CVTs are what destroyed Honda's reliability ratings for years now. Avoid them.
Honda CVT in southeast asia countries: ☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
How do they hold up there?
@@speedkar99 They are as unreliable as they are in other parts of the world. They give out right after the 3-year warranty expires. It's partly due to hotter ambient temperatures and always being used in traffic-ridden streets where the frequent stop&starts cause more mechanical stress due to the initial takeup. They are unrepairable and are therefore considered disposable trannys.
Honestly, it looks identical to a Nissan CVT
It actually does. Wonder if these are made by Jatco...
Honda and Subaru both manufacture their own CVTs. Toyota sources theirs from a company called AISIN.
The design is the same, they just claim that they manufacture it themselves. Only difference is the new ones have a geared 1st gear like in Toyotas.
Im curious if any auto company ever made pure electromechanical actuated CVT?
so instead of oil pushing and engaging things around, it is just actuators and motors.
It would be way too heavy and unreliable
Thats an interesting concept. As interesting as the free valve from konisgeg
@@speedkar99 yamaha and suzuki both have electric servos for their cvt on NMAX and brugman scooter, so its not really a nouvelle idea. But i guess it doesn't scale up really well for heavier duty application.
Honda reliability go downhill when they use CVT. I'll buy used 5 speed automatic, I don't want to spend more money and time to maintain it, it got 2 filter and fluid change every 30k miles. It's not if but when it fail.
Honda is not using belts anymore, they use a hybrid system