Hi Guys!!
I'm new here. I'm on my 2nd Honda...last one was an 81 Civic... this one is the 09 v6 sedan. I thought it was because I had to trade my beloved Grand Prix but it's not really. I love everything about this car except how it drives. I got the automatic and it seems to shift weird. I live in a kinda hilly area. Not major grades or anything but it acts like it can't figure out what gear to be in. I have found it does do better if I us D3 but I was told by the dealer to only use D3 up to 40mph. Some roads around here are faster than that.
Did I just get a bad one? Am I doing something wrong?? The test drive was a straight away...never dawned on me to go up and down hills in a Honda. Making me wish I had gotten the TL.
Help!! Make me like my car, please!!
Collette

What exactly do you mean by "shifts weird"?

It may be the VCM. I have this "jerkiness" also if accelerating slowly, but not if accelerating with some gusto. You know about VCM, right? The car operates on fewer than 6 cylinders depending on the car's speen and necessity. Saves fuel. I'm used to it now. On a straight away, flat surface, you shouldn't notice it, eg, on a highway.

I know about the VCM..but for example in my neighborhood there is one short street that is an up and down hill..basically up down and then right back up. On the up side it lugs or jerks, whatever you want to call it. I also seem to have these problems when going 25 and 45 mph repectively. At these times I am NOT accelerating..I am maintaining speed or slowing down. This cannot be normal!!
On the hwy it's great...but most of my driving is around town..I do the mom thing. And this really sucks!

Welcome to the 'imperceptible' world of VCM. Should have gotten the 6MT :hic:. Nature of the beast buddy.
JC.

VCM... It is not that bad really... at first it wierded me out... now i am used to it...

Welcome to the 'imperceptible' world of VCM. Should have gotten the 6MT :hic:. Nature of the beast buddy.
JC.

I am too old for shifting now..lol I will say this would be a bitchen car if it was a manual.

Here ya go Collette, maybe this'll help explain what your feeling with your fabulous new car. By the way, Congratulations. post some pics of your new ride.:wave:

http://forwheelers.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/honda-accords-new-vcm-v6/

Welcome to the 'imperceptible' world of VCM. Should have gotten the 6MT :hic:. Nature of the beast buddy.
JC.

VCM should not cause this unless you have a problem. Once you start going up any type of incline VCM will turn all six cyl. on. If I drive down the highway at steady speed and reach any area greater than ~5-10 degree incline the car goes into 6cyl. I do not feel the transition. In fact i have tried many times to see if I could hear or feel anything when the cyl. mode is switched but I sense nothing. It has always been a smooth transition. Even going up steep inclines the ECO light is off and the engine is automatically in 6cyl. I have never had what the OP is experiencing. When the OP is going up one of his hills the ECO light should be off and there should be no hesitation. Also VCM has nothing to do with what gear the car is in. So if it feels like it is shifting weirdly there is some other problem.

JC, I respect all the posts I have read from you. You sound like a very knowledgeable guy and have some great tips and insights. But one thing I have noticed is that when there are any posts that people are experiencing weird behavior on the AT's you tend to say "Well you have VCM, just the nature of the beast". I know you have the MT and don't like VCM on the AT, and I can understand why do to performance differences, but VCM works well, at least on my car. If it wasn't for the ECO light I would never know the car had it or when it shifted between cyl. modes. If people are experiencing weird behavior especially with changing of gears I would suggest you take it to the dealer.