Hot Off The Interstate - Transmission Shutter

6121 Views 35 Replies 15 Participants Last post by dr bob, 14 d ago

Budd0x

Discussion Starter · Feb 5, 2014

This has happened to me twice on my 2012 Pilot EXL around 18,000 and 22,000 miles after driving on the interstate for 3 to 4 hours. The first time, stopped to get gas and when I started the vehicle and put in gear there was quite the shutter and shake. Really couldn't decide if it was engine or transmission. The check engine light flashed and then all seemed normal, got back on the interstate with no more issues the next fuel stop 4 hours later. Had routine maintenance performed the following week since maintenance minder popped up during trip. Dealership checked for codes and none were found. Fast forward about 3 months and the same thing happened except the noise sounded like a Sprag clutch slipping. It shuttered 3 times, feeling like when you are accelerating over slick spots - slip, grab, slip, grab etc. Only lasted about 1 or 2 seconds and all was back to normal, NO check engine light this time. Dealership has been very helpful, but no solution. Any suggestions?

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painter99

· #2 · Feb 5, 2014

This is a re-occurring issue with my pilot. I can drive it a short distance, stop. Shut off the car. After approximately the time it takes to run in and out of ace hardware, I start the car, and ( with my foot still on the brake) I drop it into drive. And at that moment, the engine will do a dance. Jumping up and down. It has gotten significantly less severe. But there none the less. And it lasts 1.5-2 seconds.no codes. Hondafan4ever and others have had similar issues. Don't know. I can take comfort knowing I bought the extended warranty. I have the "Shutters" (vcm) as well.

Rocky

· #3 · Feb 6, 2014 (Edited)

Buddox only cheap way of potentially eliminating the transmission would be a drain and refill the transmission. History has taught me that's often solves many issues.
Were you driving away when this happened or just idling and it went into this major stumble?

13270

· #4 · Feb 6, 2014

painter99 said:
This is a re-occurring issue with my pilot. I can drive it a short distance, stop. Shut off the car. After approximately the time it takes to run in and out of ace hardware, I start the car, and ( with my foot still on the brake) I drop it into drive. And at that moment, the engine will do a dance. Jumping up and down. It has gotten significantly less severe. But there none the less. And it lasts 1.5-2 seconds.no codes. Hondafan4ever and others have had similar issues. Don't know. I can take comfort knowing I bought the extended warranty. I have the "Shutters" (vcm) as well.

painter99, mine had done this 2 or 3 times exactly as you described (drive, short stop, restart and then the engine acts like it wants to jump out of the compartment for a couple seconds....no codes). It has not repeated though in the last few months. I was planning on having the dealer check the mounts soon after I get back from work travel.

DMG

· #5 · Feb 6, 2014

Mine has done this twice in the last year, it sure does get your attention when it happens.

Tmuchacho

· #6 · Feb 6, 2014

2011 Touring purchased in September of that year. Mine has done that at least a half dozen times since purchase. Usually when pulling away after having reversed, steering wheel is always turned (never happened on a straight pull out), has never happened once under way. Like a slipping and bucking going on for a second or two, feels like a serious tranny problem, never brought it up to the dealer since I knew it couldn't be duplicated since it happens so rarely. This and that event at start up that feels like fuel starvation (rough idle) for a couple of seconds are strange Pilot gremlins that some others have reported here.

painter99

· #7 · Feb 6, 2014

I suspect, that the vcm "Shutters" and start up shutter are directly related to the motor mounts. I only surmise this from reading all of the posts. Fix the mount,fix the shutter. And that is a fine, fine vehicle.

Budd0x

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 6, 2014

rocky said:
Buddox only cheap way of potentially eliminating the transmission would be a drain and refill the transmission. History has taught me that's often solves many issues.
Were you driving away when this happened or just idling and it went into this major stumble?

Both times it has occured was when I stopped long enought to get gas. Both times was when I put the transmission in Drive with foot on the brake.

Budd0x

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 6, 2014

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Gave me some good info to send to the Dealer.

mclasser

· #10 · Feb 7, 2014

I've taken my Pilot on plenty of long drives and never experienced this *knock on wood.* Guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

peleuba

· #11 · Feb 11, 2014

painter99 said:
This is a re-occurring issue with my pilot. I can drive it a short distance, stop. Shut off the car. After approximately the time it takes to run in and out of ace hardware, I start the car, and ( with my foot still on the brake) I drop it into drive. And at that moment, the engine will do a dance.

My 2013 EX-L exhibits the exact same behavior - 6 times in the last year - and only occurs when the engine is warm such as you describe above. I've read where the focus has bene on the motor mounts and this makes no sense to me... It does not "feel" like a motor mount issue and its very hard to duplicate. Motor mount issues are easier to to dup and come with more regularity.

Paul

E.Honda

· #12 · Feb 12, 2014

I've had my '13 Pilot little over a year now and have not experienced the VCM shudder. However, I have encountered the issue described here twice and coincidentally it also happened right after refueling. But I read somewhere on this forum that it happens more often if you shift out of park immediately after turning on the ignition. So now, after turning on the ignition I'd wait a good 3 to 5 seconds before shifting out of park and it hasn't shudder for the last 7 months.

SAVpilot

· #13 · Feb 13, 2014

Budd0x said:
Both times it has occured was when I stopped long enought to get gas. Both times was when I put the transmission in Drive with foot on the brake.

Same thing happened to me when driving up to MD from GA on I-95 last October. Stopped to get gas as I had about 2 gallons left in the tank, and as soon as I pulled off from the pump, the "happy dance" started for about 2 seconds. Scared the heck out of me as I was 340 miles from home and in the middle of nowhere on the NC/VA state line. Hasn't repeated itself since, but I too have taken a few more seconds now after starting the truck before putting it in gear. Haven't had that problem since, but Im starting to get the shudders now when traveling 35-45mph or when Im rolling right at 60mph. I'll be getting routine maintenance soon, and will ask about it while there.

mugenc

· #14 · Feb 15, 2014

SAVpilot said:
Same thing happened to me when driving up to MD from GA on I-95 last October. Stopped to get gas as I had about 2 gallons left in the tank, and as soon as I pulled off from the pump, the "happy dance" started for about 2 seconds. Scared the heck out of me as I was 340 miles from home and in the middle of nowhere on the NC/VA state line. Hasn't repeated itself since, but I too have taken a few more seconds now after starting the truck before putting it in gear. Haven't had that problem since, but Im starting to get the shudders now when traveling 35-45mph or when Im rolling right at 60mph. I'll be getting routine maintenance soon, and will ask about it while there.

Curious to know if weather gets warmer, would you still experience the shudder at 60 mph? Mine reduced to minimum when it's above 40 degree, but horrible when it was at zero degree.

SAVpilot

· #15 · Feb 19, 2014

mugenc said:
Curious to know if weather gets warmer, would you still experience the shudder at 60 mph? Mine reduced to minimum when it's above 40 degree, but horrible when it was at zero degree.

Its very mild down here in Savannah, with it rarely going below 32F in the winter time. I dont know about the cold weather driving. I have mostly experienced the 60 mph shudders well above 50 degrees, and when the engine is warm.

Its perplexing.

Tmuchacho

· #16 · Feb 19, 2014

Just had it happen about an hour ago...just played a gig with a Jazz Band I play in, two others in the car, backed out of parking space and turned the wheel, as I pressed on the gas pedal the car bucked like someone learning to drive a stick. It's a rare occurrence, but it's kind of violent when it happens...lasted 1-2 seconds I would say.

IntelInside

· #17 · Feb 19, 2014

Tmuchacho said:
Just had it happen about an hour ago...just played a gig with a Jazz Band I play in, two others in the car, backed out of parking space and turned the wheel, as I pressed on the gas pedal the car bucked like someone learning to drive a stick. It's a rare occurrence, but it's kind of violent when it happens...lasted 1-2 seconds I would say.

I hope you are not pointing at VCM for this too?

Tmuchacho

· #18 · Feb 20, 2014

IntelInside said:
I hope you are not pointing at VCM for this too?

No, I know this absolutely nothing to do with the VCM, and I've never even brought it up to the Dealer since I know they won't duplicate it. In the two and half years I've owned it Intel, it's probably happened less than 10 times. That, and the also rare sputtering at start up (seems like fuel starvation) are the two unexplainable gremlins that rear their head in some Pilots as you may have read on this site. The concerning thing about it is, when it occurs it seem like something major is going on. And unlike some other owners, it only happens when front wheels are turned and pulling away after going in reverse. It's never happened when pulling straight away from a light or stop sign? Maybe it's the Power steering, but you don't feel it so much in the Wheel...feels like tranny problem?

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IntelInside

· #19 · Feb 21, 2014

...

Tmuchacho said:
No, I know this absolutely nothing to do with the VCM, and I've never even brought it up to the Dealer since I know they won't duplicate it. In the two and half years I've owned it Intel, it's probably happened less than 10 times. That, and the also rare sputtering at start up (seems like fuel starvation) are the two unexplainable gremlins that rear their head in some Pilots as you may have read on this site. The concerning thing about it is, when it occurs it seem like something major is going on. And unlike some other owners, it only happens when front wheels are turned and pulling away after going in reverse. It's never happened when pulling straight away from a light or stop sign? Maybe it's the Power steering, but you don't feel it so much in the Wheel...feels like tranny problem?

When you visit your doctor, do you only give half your symptoms too?

Tmuchacho

· #20 · Feb 21, 2014

IntelInside said:
When you visit your doctor, do you only give half your symptoms too?

Occasionally, especially when I forget to write down all my questions and topics. I just didn't think it was worth chasing this stuff with the dealer, I'm sure I've been put in the "difficult customer" group by now. It did get me a free "accidental" oil change once though...my car was in the greeting area and the service manager saw it sitting there for longer than he thought acceptable, and ordered someone to take it back and start the service without giving them any work order. So the tech dropped the oil, and then when he was given the paperwork and saw it wasn't called for, they told me not to be surprised to see the maintenance minder reset. So that free oil change is the only thing Honda has offered me for my problem Pilot...oh well.

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