Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

Hi guys,
I recently bought a 1998 Honda Civic LX Sedan Automatic and have noticed that my car kind of jolts me (bucks me) sometimes. When I'm driving my Honda Civic and I happen to be coming to a hill, I'll let off of the accelerator to let it coast down the hill, but I'll notice that my car will slow down automatically when going down the hill, then it will kind of jolt me forward. Can anyone tell me what this is? Is it normal? Should I be worried? Thanks a lot for your help!

Eric

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

I know this might not be a big deal compared to some of the other problems people are having, but a reply would be deeply appreciated. It's my first car and I want to make sure I don't need to get something fixed with it. Thank you very much!

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

i have a 97 lx automatic too & mine does it too ---kinda feels like an exhaust brake on a big truck--this is my first honda &only put 200 miles on it so far ---i hope thats the way it should work --last thing i want to do is rebuild the tranny [:@]

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

Do you guys have your foot on the brake? Dont push so hard...

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

On an auto I would think it's just down shifting. Thats what it sounds like your feeling too me.
EDIT: auto=automatic; not automobile ;)

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

no foot on anything[:@]

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

no, I don't have my foot on the brake...I'll just be coasting down a hill...and then my car will slow down...then jolt me forward a little bit...no idea what it is...it does it other times too..not just going down hills..like when I accelerate..it will jolt me when it's done accelerating...

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

its fine. its because hondas operate higher in th erev range than most cars, so your gears are a little shorter than a lot of cars, so its more abrubt when you let off of the gas. and hondas also have pretty high compression compared to other cars, so the compression braking effect you get from decelerating is more pronounced.

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

So as far as you can tell (from my description), the jolting/bumping that I'm hearing/feeling is just my Car shifting into different gears? I'm just wondering why it slows down when i'm coasting down a hill. My toyota corrolla 2000 sedan doesn't do that. Are they built differently? Thanks for the answers!

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

yeah, corollas are geared a little higher than civics, so they are a little smoother. if its a knocking sound, not just a somewhat abrupt slowing, then its possible its a worn motor or tranny mount, but im still betting its normal. throw it down a gear and try it again. is it the same thing, just more pronounced? and try it in the Rolla for comparison.

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

I'm pretty new to Hondas, but what you're talking about definitely sounds like the auto tranny downshifting. I've noticed it on mine as well. It is kinda annoying, so I've gotten in the habit (probably bad) of just dropping it into neutral when I'm going down a hill and I know I'll be stopping. Like I said probably not very safe though...

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

ok I'll try that and see what happens. Should I try it in Drive 3 instead of Drive 4? I do all my driving in Drive 4. If I put it into Drive 3 to test it, should the bumping/jolting be more pronounced, or less? Let me know what I should look for. If it's a warn motor or a tranny mount..how much would it be to fix? Is this a lot of money? Thanks again for everyone's insight.

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

if its actually a problem, you should hear a nice thump when you let off the gas in D3, and if not, the jolt should be more pronounced.

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

If I test this, it won't hurt my car in any way would it? And if there is a problem, which I doubt there is, how much would it cost to fix? (tranny mount, etc)

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

you could fix your own mount, depending on which one it is, it could be very simple, or a nightmare. but i think they are around 40-100 bucks, depending on which one you need. but no, as long as you dont redline it itll be fine. just get up to about highway speed, and take it down to D3, an dgive it a little gas. then let off. you could try it in the Rolla too to see if its kinda the same feeling. im really doubting its a problem. i think its just a quirk of the car that you will get used to.

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

what do you mean by "redline it"..and thanks so much for your input too man...You've really helped me out alot. Can I try it in D3 just around my neighborhood..because I get the jolting in my neighborhood too..and it should be a more pronounced jolt, but NO thump or knock. Correct?

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

just shift it to a point where the rpms are a little higher than they are when its in D. "redline" means revving it to the top of its capabilities. usually determined by a red line on the tachometer. or a spot where the numbers turn red. youll know if its revved too high.

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

I hear a thump sometimes when I'm in Drive 4...is that bad? It's not all the time, but sometimes. Should I just have my car examined?

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

then it might be a motor mount. might get it checked out.

RE: Car Slows Down When Coasting Down Hills?
 

should I go to the mechanic and say..I think I have a motor mount problem? Or should I keep my mouth shut..what would be the best thing to do? Should I have him check the whole car and let him drive it to hear/feel the bump that I'm feeling. Becuase it doesn't happen that often. Or should I just say..can you check the tranny mount or the motor mount?