I will be looking at a CVT FIT tomorrow. Can the shift lever be moved between D and S while moving or should the car be stopped to change?

 

You can do that while moving. You can go to any forward gear (range) or neutral, as long as you are moving forward.

Don't ever try to move the lever to R or P while moving forward and you'll be ok.

 

I do it all the time. D to S, S to D while moving.

 

Note that your engine RPMs will increase if you go from D to S. Won't hurt anything, it's like downshifting.

es

 

Does your Fit with a CVT have a longer than expected gear change engagement time? Whether my 2019 LX CVT is cold or fully warmed up it takes about 2-2.5 seconds for the transmission to shift and engage (smoothly) when a change in gear is selected. This is my first CVT but I wonder if I should wait for that engagement time (hearing or feeling that it's completed) before moving from rest for CVT longevity?

Drive (D) to Reverse (R) and Park (P) to Drive (D) both have about a 2-2.5 second engagement time.

 

I've never timed it, but 2-2.5s seems like a long time. I found this in the manual:

 

There is certainly a lag compared to non-CVT transmissions. I noticed it straight off and got used to it. It doesn't seem too temperature-dependent for me. I just have to remind myself that the gear will change when it wants to and not when I want it to.

 

I've never noticed a lag of that magnitude. You also have the 'S' mode to try out.

 

It's hard to tell what the CVT is doing, but I've never felt anything I would associate with lag. I'm always observing my tachometer and whenever I change between D and S modes, the shift in RPMs is instantaneous. I imagine the CVT ratios are likewise changing just as fast. If the RPM shot up from 2k to 4k and the CVT ratio did not "downshift" just as fast it'd probably shoot me into the rear-end of the car in front of me!

 

IDK, I've never taken another Fit for a drive, just my '15 GK... but I will say mine is pretty snappy in all situations. Normal, Eco, Sport, doesn't seem to matter.

I can override the CVT choice easily and promptly, and it "shifts" extremely fast in Sport.

 

I'm more referring to the time it takes to fully engage from P to R, R to D, or D to R. It seems like when it's warm or cold it take a while as compared to other cars I've driven.

 

It's only in this day and age where we think that 2.5-3 seconds is a long time.
I'm just going to say, if you think it's taking that long, just give the vehicle that amount of time. I don't know about you but when I get going in the morning, I;m probably taking at least that amount of time anyway, just looking out mirrors, checking behind me..etc, etc.

Even if you notice the lag, or think you do, the amount of time it took to read this post...is more than you would need to feel confident you're in the ride drive selection.
I can live with that.

 

The OP concerns is not the time lost, but the question is whether there is a problem with the CVT.

 

My key question is once D shows up can I start moving forward (even though I can feel the CVT still engaging). It might be a first timer with a 2019 CVT with 4000 miles on it that notices this lag vs. a standard automatic.

 

I have a 2017 CVT. I have not noticed any delay in engagement. Maybe you should change the CVT oil to see if that resolves the delay? Since 2018 the Fit with CVT lost 2 hp from the engine spec, 130 to 128 hp. Maybe Honda changed the engagement software?

 

It's your CVT, you can do anything you want with it. I've gotten into the habit years ago to always keep my foot on the brake pedal and wait a few seconds before moving over to the gas pedal. I've done that with every automatic transmission I've ever owned. That few seconds doesn't bother me - I'm never in any rush to go somewhere.

 

Same here.

 

2016 Honda Fit EX-L with just about no issues, 42000 miles. I rarely post here and drive mostly my 07 Accord V6. I recently noticed that the CVT trans would whine from possible strain after letting go of the brake pedal to take off only when I'm on an uphill. I already changed the HCF2 fluid recently with Honda OEM HCF2, filled to the fill hole level, however, the issue is still there. The car seems to rollback a bit when on a hill. I get this is mostly normal but the sometimes loud whine isn't comforting.

thanks

 

Is it the hill start assist kicking in?

 

How do I even verify it's kicking in? I don't have VSA turned off, if that means hill start assist is in operation.

It's as if I'm getting on the gas too fast right after I let go of the brake pedal and I'm fighting with hill start assist.