Faults:

EGR had to be replaced when the car encountered jerking at about 1500rpm.

Car is experiencing vibration at 1500rpm. This is believed to be either due to the lockup clutch wear or the CVT fluid used not being optimized.

General Comments:

This is an update from my earlier report in 2003.

Overall, the fuel consumption is still hovering around 16.1km/litre at 95 Octane petrol with 50% city & 50% highway driving.

In the earlier post, I mentioned that the car jerks at 1500rpm & the problem was resolved by resetting the ECU. However, over time, the engine failure light started to light up. It can be reset by disconnecting the batteries, but it'll light up again when the accelerator is depressed harshly.

I later found that the EGR valve was not working properly. I had it replaced (DIY) & the problem went away. I understand from some forumer(?) that the EGR may be cleaned. I tried doing it myself, but it just seemed too difficult.

Next, I encountered some vibration when when the car was moving from stand-still to 1500 rpm. This happened when the car was 2.5 years old.

I understand that the CVT solution (ATF-Z1) Honda uses was not optimized. They have since recommended using CVTF or HMMF. This provides better friction. I've yet to replace the CVT fluid, but have heard testimonies that the new solution will take longer time to break down, thus offering a longer period between changes.

In any case, some are recommending that the CVT fluid be replaced every 10K instead of the recommended 40K (Instruction booklet). If so, this would offset the savings one gets from the excellent fuel consumption that this car offers.

This is still a very versatile car with its seats which can be folded till you get a flat bed in the cabin. It has allowed me to transport many bulky item including a large baby crib.

Since this car is bought through a parallel importer, I did not expect good after sales service. The first EGR issues were not fully acknowledged resulting in my having to resolve it through a private mechanic.