New owner here.....

Only had my HCHII for a week but have already noticed a possible problem.

When starting up from a stop light, the engine is up and running before I can move my foot from the brake pedal to the gas, but the cvt does not engage as smoothly as I would like. It's more of a quick jerking motion rather than a lurch. On several occasions, I thought the guy behind me had bumped me.

On those rare occasions where the traffic light turns green just as the auto-stop turns off the engine, it's REALLY noticable then.

Is this normal? or do I have a problem?

Thanks!

If it's brand new, it's more likely a driver-education problem than a car problem. I experienced the same thing you describe when I first got my car, and eventually realized I was moving my foot from brake to gas faster than the IMA could spin up the crankshaft and re-engage the clutch. Slow the motion down a little, ease up on the gas (yes, 4000rpm is excessive), and see where you end up.

Also, which area of the country are you in? There's a couple of folks on here (myself included) who are willing to sit down in the passenger seat if the person lives close enough.

Someday I might even beat that wascally kenny!

No whammies... no whammies... no whammies...

Thanks for the info.
I'm in Maryland btw.

Sounds normal depending on how you're getting onto the throttle. The auto-clutch is really just like a normal clutch in this respect: the "driver" (in this case, the computer) doesn't always get it right, and in those moments you can get a noticeable jerk. On my car, when the weather is cold (20-30 deg. F) and the engine is just started, the clutch engages very abruptly -- if it weren't for the electric assist that keeps the crankshaft turning, the engine would stall.

But all that makes it sound worse than it is, I suspect. Just try different throttle applications (how fast and how far you get into the gas) until you find the feel you want, then drive it that way.

cheers --
doug

2007 HCH: lovin' every minute of it