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Sedans Honda Accord Honda Accord VCM
2179 messages, Last post on Nov 19, 2009 at 8:41 AM
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Replying to: dc10plt (Apr 20, 2009 12:02 pm) Sounds like your experiencing the Grade Logic Control of the 5 spd auto tranny. It does fly in the face of convention that the VCM indicator light stays on as your engine breaking on a downhill incline causing the engine to rev higher then if you were coasting in a higher gear. There are times I feel this feature achieves it's intended goal and times that I wish it would allow for a more efficient coast. It's a smart tranny but nothing can take the place of the human brain and a manual shifter or automated paddle shifter tranny. Like everything else the Accord is built to a price point and remains first and foremost a family sedan, and a fine one at that. |
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Replying to: dc10plt (Apr 20, 2009 12:02 pm) If you want the coast sensation, just keep your foot 'barely' (just touching) on the gas pedal. Only when you completely lift off the pedal does the engine braking come into play. Once you get used to it, you can avoid having to hit the brakes all the time in traffic - unlike the people where the brake lights go on and off every ten seconds. Maybe this will help the rear brake pads last.... The Honda transmission also downshifts as you slow to a stop - almost like a manual (watch the tack bump up each time), and is therefore ready to go if you step back on the gas as well as helping to slow the car a bit. The sensation on the highway (I think) is just what it feels like when you lose or gain a couple cylinders of power. The added power feels like a mini downshift, and when you lose the extra power it feels like a mini up-shift.
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Replying to: jmillerjmiller (Apr 23, 2009 8:41 pm) The fact that so many people here try to make excuses for Honda or make blind statements that they are sure the excellent Honda engineers "have tested the VCM engine and therefore it should be fine" is absolute crap. Bottom line is that Honda had too much vested in this engine and it went to production before it was ready. Honda should be ashamed of putting any car out that requires a driver to adjust their style of driving (to the point of walking on eggshells) in order to get a smooth ride and avoid downshifting drag and a perception of transmission issues while coasting at a constant MPG on the freeway with no rash traffic adjustments. As for my experience with the new car, despite its great new roomy interier and sleek exterior... the car is simply crap without acceptable, smooth engine performance. From my vantage point, if a 4 cylinder Jetta drives more smooth than a Honda Accord V6, then the Honda should be viewed as nothing but a failure by Honda engineers. I'm already marking the months off my calendar until my lease runs out...C'mon 2012!!!! And to those experiencing the same issues... stop making excuses for Honda... they let us down... and we should let them hear about it! All the best to everyone with your cars...
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Replying to: mrmack90 (Apr 26, 2009 1:54 am)
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Replying to: jhinsc (Apr 26, 2009 6:59 am) |
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Replying to: elliott2 (Apr 26, 2009 2:04 pm) Then by all means get every hybrid off the road. You're driving for max economy in those, too. Take a look at the offerings below. Which seems most distracting? How about the ever-changing bar graphs on the mighty screen in the middle of the Altima's dash? Or perhaps you prefer the cartoons to be right there next to your speedo, as in the Camry and Fusion? You decide. By the way, for those who can't quite make it out, the ECO light in the Accord is the dim thing just below the 8 in the tachometer, not the bright green thing between the gauges (that's the D indicator). Face it, the Accord is one of the LEAST distracting models out there. Camry  Fusion  Altima  Accord 
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Replying to: jhinsc (Apr 26, 2009 6:59 am) Believe it or (and despite other comments about constantly looking for the ECO light), I actually don't have a problem with it... not do I pay much attention to it. My primary issue is with breaking. I've found that while simply coasting with no pressure applied to the gas pedal because I know I have a turn or a stop coming up there is a very noticeable "downshift feeling" almost an instant drag in the car the actually lurches you forward a bit. In addition, I also experience this when applying the break with even pressure to come to a complete stop. I've noticed that if I break more aggressively and more at the last minute, I don't sense the "dragging". However, driving conservatively, applying the break with plenty of lead time, you get the noticeably drag... almost consistently between 3rd and 2nd on the downshift. Quite frankly, upon sensing a break, the system should either disengage ECO until the system senses acceleration or lock the ECO distribution (regardless of the number of cylinders in use) so that you have a smooth breaking situation. I've never experienced this issue with the Honda Pilots that contained the same technology in the 2007 models.
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Replying to: mrmack90 (Apr 28, 2009 2:47 pm) What you are describing has nothing to do with VCM or torque converter. It is the Grade-logic software of the transmission. It will hold the current gear going up or down hills to maintain speed. It will also downshift when slowing down as you described. |
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Replying to: mrmack90 (Apr 28, 2009 2:47 pm)
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Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 26, 2009 3:12 pm) It will be interesting to see if Honda continues to invest in this technology. Most of their models with six pot engines (Accord, Pilot, Odyssey) include VCM, yet none of the Acuras offer it. The TL, MDX, and V6 TSX eschew VCM, and it does not appear that the upcoming ZDX will have it. Will the next generation RL offer VCM? Will any Acura model include it? Sure doesn't look like it right now. And as far as I can tell, VCM is offered in Australia, but not in most overseas markets, including Europe. But Honda's answer to fuel economy in Europe is to offer diesel powerplants. I personally am not against VCM, although the complexity and frustrations created for a small minority of Accord owners may ultimately trump its MPG benefits. And you have to wonder---if Honda truly believes in this technology, why do they not make it available on their upscale Acura line? |
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