Last week my 12v battery failed and I needed a jump start. Well, I had no problem for a week. Now my maintence needed light is on, and just tonight the transmission jumped violently when changing from park to reverse, then again from reverse to drive. When driving there was no noticeble problem. Could the low/dead 12v battery be the cause of the "transmission" problem. And also, is the maintence light on simply because of the 60,000 mile scheduled update? Thanks for help, and if you have any questions regarding clarity let me know.

 

I can't see a relationship between your dead battery, the transmission observation, and the maintenance light. The maintenance light is different from your "check engine" light. The maintenance light merely a reminder that coincides with the factory service intervals (oil changes). If you had a problem that elicited an engine code, then your check engine light would show (which doesn't seem to be the case).

Are you still experiencing violent shifting? There are other HCH I owners who have reported transmission issues. Do a search and you should be able to find a few threads.

 

Thanks for the response.
My reasoning for correalating the dead battery with the "transmission problem" was that I was hoping that it wasnt' a transmission problem at all, but rather the car was trying to go dead when I shifted from park to any other gear. That may be just as unlikely, I know next to nothing about cars.

 

Got in the car today. Jumped violently again. Couldn't possibly be the battery problem. Argh.

 

That's not a good sign. Let us know what happens when you take it in. Hopefully you're still under warranty.

 

Spoke with Honda Care this morning. Said it is very possible, even likely, that it is the 12v battery causing the trouble. Will know for sure in a day or two.

 

My 12v battery went bad and called Honda for a price on the battery. $98, not including the labor. (Probably another $100)

I went to Advance AutoParts and paid $54 for a new one, installed for free.
-Steve

 

Great news superfans! It was just the battery. I paid $60 some odd bucks, replaced it with (gulp) my mom and now the transmission is happy, which makes me happy, cuz besides a new Jetta TDI there isn't another car on the road I want. And I'm not even sure about the Jetta (never driven one.)
I have no idea why a low battery was making the car buck so violently, but I'm pretty sure it was killing the engine, starting up, dying, starting, etc. But I'm a novice sooo.... Who cares, it's running and it was only $60 and ten minutes work.