[ausev] Question about my Honda Civic Hatchback

[Mark Farver]

Lisa Korf wrote:
> My Honda Civic hatchback just arrived after being
> jostled around in transport from Utah.  After putting
> the batteries back in place (they were jostled quite a
> bit), I took it for a spin.  I noticed a few things
> that I'd like to ask about.
>
> First, when I am moving forward from a stop, in 2nd
> gear so far, there is a "clunking" sound before
> forward motion begins.  
Many conversions, especially those using Curtis controllers, have the 
accelerator pedal wired to the main contactor.  The contactor closes as 
the pedal is first pushed down and turns off when the pedal is 
released.  This is an additional safety feature, but one that has fallen 
out of favor with the newer generation of controllers.  You can test 
this by placing the car in Neutral and very lightly and  quickly 
depressing the accelerator pedal.  (Don't do it hard or for very long, 
or you'll spin the motor fast enough to cause damage.)  If you hear two 
clunks it is probably the contactor.  If you find the noise annoying, 
someone in the group can help you bypass it.  If you are in Austin 
someone in the group would probably be available to swing by and look 
the car over.  Just post a time when you would be free, and your 
approximate location in town.


> it happens.  Could it be the motor?  It seems to
> happen when I accelerate from a state in which the
> series motor is at 0 rpm.  I am not flooring it, I'm
> stepping on the accelerator gradually.
>
>   
It may also be the CV joints.  This will be less of a click sound, and 
more of a clunk noise.   When the joints get worn and loose, they make a 
noise when the slack is taken up just after the motor starts running.  
This is more expensive to fix, but less likely to be the case.

> Second, this car is clutchless, and I'm trying to
> figure out how to shift it.  Upshifting seems fine,
> but how do I downshift without grinding my gears?  Do
> I only downshift if I am at a stop?
>   
Yes.

Mark