Hi Forum,

Just purchased a new 2015 Fit EX (manual trans) 3 days ago and it's been a dream, with the exception of this one strange and concerning issue:

A few times when I've been stopped at a stop sign on a very slight uphill incline, when I start to go again, I'm in first gear and start to press the gas a bit and the car accelerates in REVERSE. I'm not talking about the normal "roll" that happens with a manual on a hill. I mean the car accelerates in direct proportion with how much I'm pushing on the gas--in the wrong direction.

Same thing has happened on a slight downhill with the car in reverse--it will accelerate forward.

So far it has stopped when I really punch the gas, but it makes me nervous to do so when the car is moving in the wrong direction and I'm not sure if this is a defect or just a quirk of the transmission that I need to learn how to operate. I've driven many manual cars and have never experienced anything like this before. I'm going to call the dealer, but just curious if anyone else has had this issue.

Thanks!

 

Misaligned shifter linkage is all I can think of but I'm not seeing how that fits either. Some kind of a sticking clutch release also comes to mind. Be surprised to see other reports, but you never know. This is a potentially serious problem. Take it in. Soon. If you know how to duplicate, I'd make then drive with you and show them. Unless it happens every time, this will be tough to diagnose/fix.

 

What happens if you do nothing else besides let up on the gas? The car will accelerate down a hill all by itself when you take your foot off the brake with the clutch disengaged.

Have you tried to hold it in place on these or steeper inclines with the clutch alone? Not for a long time obviously, but just to get a better sense of what's going on and how the clutch behaves? Pick an empty street to play around with this…

I should add: in your OP, you never mention clutch once. It's why I'm really wondering how it fits in here.

 

It stops

Agreed, but again, it is not simply rolling, it is actually accelerating.

Have not tried this yet. I don't think it would happen on a steeper incline, because I would instinctually give it enough gas to start it moving in the right direction. But I will experiment.

It actually happens before the clutch is completely disengaged/gear is fully engaged. But normally with a manual, you would just be rolling during that time, no relation to the pressure on the gas pedal until gear is fully engaged, then you go.

 

Very odd.

A point of simple physics and the formal definition of acceleration--cars do accelerate when rolling downhill right up until friction losses (mostly aerodynamic drag) prevent them from going any faster. Acceleration is defined as increasing rate of motion. Think cartoons of cars rolling out of control down hills when the driver walks away. They accelerate.

 

Sure. What I'm trying to describe is the difference between free rolling and being propelled by the engine. Normal for cars to free roll down hill while clutch is in. Not normal for pressure on the gas pedal to propel them in the opposite direction from what gearbox indicates.

 

Understand what you are perceiving.

 

Can't be misaligned shifter linkage because when he applies more gas the car moves in the right direction, the correct gear is engaged.

 

Agreed I couldn't make that fit the report very well.


I'm guessing she is applying more gas.

 

Here is what I feel is happening...on an incline the hill/start assist will be engaged. When you hit the gas the hill/start assist disengages and this probably feels like it's accelerating. It probably gives that sensation because the car suddenly moves when you hit the gas. Your issue, in my opinion, is all related to the hill/start assist and it's normal. Try timing your disengagement of the clutch with hitting the gas on inclines to eliminate moving down the hill.

Again this is my opinion so by all means take it in if you feel you need to.

 

Hadn't thought about Hill Start. That fits all the details including the bit of stopping when she takes her foot back off the gas--HSA is re-engaging. I get back to prior advice on taking a few moments practicing holding the car in place on a hill with the gas and clutch--as a way to get more used to what the clutch engagement is. Starts on flat and HSA probably make it harder to really get a good sense of this since they both are much more tolerant of not having a good familiarity with a specific clutch/acceleration combo--the kind it takes to get your timing well coordinated and in muscle memory.

 

Yeah it took me a while to get completely used to it and to get the clutch in the right spot before I hit the gas to disengage the HSA. Now I do it right everytime and it works great.

 

Take it to the dealer and replicate the issue. I think this kind of issue is best resolved with someone from Honda beside you, watching what you do and how the car behaves under those circumstances. Then they will be able to tell you if the car has an issue, or if you are handling something wrong.

It might be something to do with hill assist feature. I remember when the first time hill assist engaged, it took me by surprise, and I had to adjust how I handle the clutch to cooperate with this feature from then on. Just my 2 cents. When hill assist does not engage on slight inclines, I have to clutch out and accelerate differently. It's all muscle memory now. Sometimes I use the hand brake to hold the car before moving ahead on inclines.

Usually I feel the brake pedal sink in a little bit as hill assist engages, which makes me aware that hill assist is operational at that point in time.