# 2003 Honda Civiv Hybrid: lurching at low speeds, especially deceleration

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-honda-civiv-hybrid-lurching-at-low-speeds-especially-deceleration/78777>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** civichybrid, honda\
**Created:** [April 19, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-honda-civiv-hybrid-lurching-at-low-speeds-especially-deceleration/78777 "2013-04-19T01:57:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Adele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Adele](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Adele)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-honda-civiv-hybrid-lurching-at-low-speeds-especially-deceleration/78777/1 "2013-04-19T01:57:31Z")

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My 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid has lurched for over a year now. The dealership has run tests and can’t seem to figure it out – though my budget has only allowed them to take a look at it 2 or 3 times.

Things I know:

- lurches are accompanied by RPM fluctuations
- only lurches at slow speeds (under 30 mph?)
- only lurches on a slow, steady deceleration – does not lurch in acceleration or quick deceleration
- dealership replaced O2 sensor; had no effect
- Jiffy Lube flushed oil and (I think) transmission fluid systems; had no effect
- previous owner did not perform regular maintenance; missed oil changes, etc.
- lurching seemed to get really bad last summer, getting progressively worse until the car died on the road. The nearest mechanic said I was out of oil (which surprised me because I had changed the oil maybe 2 months prior?)
- lurching can be minimized by turning off AC/heat

Things that MIGHT be playing a part?

- seems like it gets worse in summer heat. Definitely still happens in winter though, so this may be my imagination.

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**Author:** ![Noj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/258eb7/32.png) [@Noj](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Noj)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 6:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-honda-civiv-hybrid-lurching-at-low-speeds-especially-deceleration/78777/2 "2013-04-20T06:27:42Z")

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Adele, it may be the transmission. I have the same model/year, had to replace the transmission at 111K miles when there was a total disconnect to the wheels at 70 mph - I suspect a belt broke inside the transmission. Now have 204K on the car. Both the first and the current transmission occasionally “lurch” when I am going under 40 mph and slowing down while lightly applying the brake. It feels like the transmission is down-shifting as the lurch occurs. I don’t understand how a continuous variable speed (?) transmission works, but I think that’s where the problem is. Good luck!