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I hate having a deep seat - I'd hate putting a wedge cushion in the way described above, where the wide part of the cushion is on the front of the seat. I have back problems and sitting half-folded up like that would cause my back to really bother me (that's how the seating in an old Tacoma was). I don't use anything with the Fit's seats, while I use a small cushion to raise up the back part of the seat bottom in the '04 Unlimited, so my legs are more at a 90 degree angle to my torso.
The longest drive timewise I've taken was one time driving from Vegas to north of L.A. I left Vegas at 8:30 one Sunday morning and finally getting home around 6. Other than being hot, a bit sunburnt, and stiff, I didn't have any physical discomfort.
The more I drive this vehicle (over 17,000 miles on the odo, split between my hubby and me driving), the more comfortable I find it. I do feel for anyone who isn't comfortable with their Fits - I suffered 4 long years with that Tacoma, and wouldn't wish it on anyone. Hope you either solve your problems or can find another car soon.
It is not a car for us shorties
Take the paddles away and give us the lift we need...
How many people really use the paddles?
Ouch. My A/C switch is officially broken. It has to happen the night before my road trip. I hear a click when I push the A/C button but it doesn't hold to the "on" position. Bringing it to the dealership tomorrow morning and speaking with the tech, its probably the spring. Hopefully, this can be fixed right away. :sick:
My mom's trusty Hyundai Elantra saves the day again!
Steve
As per the dealer, the A/C switch needs to be replaced. They don't have the part and its currently backordered. I've been waiting 2 weeks. The workaround for the A/C is to put it into the defogger setting but it fogs up your windshield. :P
The dealership scratched/chipped the dash panel by the "aux" button when they tried to remove the face panel. Before I drove off the service lot, I tested the knobs and vents and found that turning the knob to the front vent did not engage anymore. The face panel was also misaligned and you can see that it is not flush with the inside hooks very visible. The dealership also left a minute scratch on the rear driverside door. To the service tech's credit, he was honest enough to fess up that its his first time working on the Fit and no one is familiar yet with the car. They did resolve the panel and vent issue right away. An extra 30 min.
I opened a case with Honda regarding my lock button (occasionally making a whirring sound when engaged to the lock position) and bumper/paint issue. The service manager looked at it and said the usual "everything is up to spec" or "can't reproduce the problem" and "bring it back to the selling dealership" for the paint issue. I'll monitor these 2 issues for now.
Fit Owners, can you just run your index finger on that area and tell me if its flush or if there is a gap widening once you reach that area (rear defogger button)?
Also right under the 3 knob dials, there is a plastic panel. Does it vibrate when you tap on it? I'm not sure if it was like that before on mine or it was dealer caused.
Thanks in advance.
I'm not sure exactly what you are refering to regarding the noticeable gap, but I press everything in that area on my car and there was no movement whatsoever.
I checked my Fit maintenance manual and it appears that it's not just the A/C button was replaced. The A/C and defogger come in a single plug-like unit, so the entire two button section should be new.
As for the plastic panel below the air control knobs, mine does not vibrate when I tap on it, but that piece is the first part that comes off when disassembling the center panel. Since that entire center panel (including radio, air flow controls) must come off to replace the A/C-defogger switch, that might be the problem caused by the dealer. You might be able to just tighten it.
Note: I haven't removed this myself, I am just referring to the instructions from the Honda maintenance manual for this car.
Somewhere there is an electronic version of the maintenance manual for the Fit on the Internet. I will post the link if I can find it.
Good luck!
Thank you. I'll try and take pics and post it somehow. Oh no, I really hate going back to the dealership.
I just checked, and it does seem a little bit wider there on the right side, as opposed to left of the CD eject button. Still, the difference is not too significant, and there is no movement when I press the plastic panel.
If you could take a picture that would be great, just to show how large of a panel gap there is. You can try posting them on your Carspace page.
Unfortunately, the electronic version of the manual I found is not for the US-market car. The main differences in the dashboard of the US-market model are the lack of navigation system, the lower positioned glove compartment, and the slightly different location of the A/C switch. However, the structure of the panel is almost identical and the location of the screws and bolts are basically the same...step 6 is the only one that seems truly different.
Personally, I would ask the dealer to try and secure it better.
Here is the link...click on the gray buttons to expand the pictures.
I guess the dealership did not read the beginning instructions of:
1. Put on gloves to protect your hands.
2. Do not pry the panel surface with a flat-tip screwdriver, to prevent damage.
3. Take care not to scratch the dashboard and related parts.
Here you go... http://www.carspace.com/kagedude/Albums/2007%20Honda%20Fit%20Sport/Picture%20007- - - .jpg/page/photo.html
Can you do me one more favor? When you turn the knob airflow to the foot position, do you have the same air flow as below?
1. air flow stronger/coming directly from floor vent on passenger side
2. air flow on driver side feels more like a draft
3. air flow also coming from front left/right window/defogger vents
Thanks!
It's really too bad about those scratches. It looks like the dealer did exactly what they are not supposed to do and use a screwdriver or other prying instrument...not to mention being careless about it. :sick:
No wonder you were furious about it!
Airflow
When the knob is in the footwell-only position, the air on the driver side vent (left of steering wheel) and the same one on the passenger side slows considerably (even in speed 4 it feels like a draft). The two center vents above the radio shut off completely, and there is air coming out of the defogger vent. And of course the strongest flow goes into the footwell.
When the knob is in the position to the left (footwell/face), the air going to the footwell is not quite as strong, and the two center vents (above radio) still have a draft coming from them.
So in other words, numbers 1, 2, and 3 all apply when putting the airflow in the footwell-only position compared to the other two to the left.
At least the dealer didn't mess that up.
This made me paranoid that after checking that area to make sure they didn't damage anything else, I noticed my center console/cupholder has a "bit" of movement on it (it can tilt left and right), I'll try and tighten the screws tomorrow to see if that fixes it. Do let me know if yours has a little play too, then I'll just consider it a-okay.
What did the dealership do to your car! :surprise:
No, mine does not have any movement and definitely no tilting...it's as solid as a rock. Try tightening the screws.
I can however sympathize with your dealership problems. We just took another one of our Hondas (not the Fit) in for a scheduled maintenance and have noticed no less than 4 dealer-related issues since the return, one of which was relatively serious. Needless to say I will be making some complaints as soon as they open tomorrow.
I guess a lot of my issues now are adjustment issues so I'll wait to hear from Honda Customer service to let me know the recourse I can take. Gulp.
Good luck with your issue. Let us know how it turns out. Thanks again!
On a happy note, took the car to upstate NY yesterday for some apple picking. The car is fun driving through the grass fields. It got a lot of looks too and people stopping by to ask about the Happy Fit!
http://www.backdesigns.com/ab1921000store/product1.asp?SID=1&Product_ID=206
I got my Fit last week. It's an AMAZING car, but I too am having trouble adjusting the seat so I have comfortable access to the pedals and steering wheel. I think I need a couple more inches of seat height and more support on the front of the seat, and this seat insert may accomplish both.
Yes, paying $100 for a seat insert might seem a little steep...but isn't it worth it to be able to fully enjoy a $15000 car?
A word of caution to anyone who tries this...when you attach the insert to the seat, you must not cover up the side airbag deployment path!!!
Does anybody know anybody that manufactures seat tracks?
If you go more than 5.5 inches the tracks would interfere with the back seat when it is folded down.
I drive with my seat in farthest back position, and have to move it up a couple of notches, when the rear seat is folded flat. If I don't, then the top edge of the rear seatback puts a lot of pressure on the vinyl trim on the outboard edge of the driver's seat, as well as against the back of the driver's seat, itself. My vinyl already has a stress line across it, where it's been pressed against the metal support beneath it.
To me, there's just something really weird about the steering wheel/driver's seat/pedal setup on this car...
I have found that with my seat all the way back my foot is quite comfortable, if I put it behind the gas pedal. This is only possible when the cruise control is turned on. This also poses a safety issue as getting that foot into position to hit the break is difficult.
I visited a couple of automotive shops this morning both want to unbolt the seat and rebolt it in a new location. I don't think that this is the solution I am looking for. I would really like to find a set of "Seat tracks" that are five inches longer and replace the existing seat tracks.
Can you help?
Dealer could only tell me to get a cushion or sell it on Craigslist. (Lose $1500 overnight). I'm sick. Car is great in so many ways-- :sick: but I can't sit in it. Tried 2 cushions (one on top of the other) Still a HARD KNOB LIKE PRESSURE IN MY RIGHT THIGH.
Okay, I'm NOT fit...but NEITHER IS THE CAR! :sick::mad:
There are a couple of downsides to this. I can no longer fold the seat behind the driver down with the headrest attached, and I can't put the driver side into refresh mode. Since this is primarily a commuter vehicle for me, and 99% of the time I will be the only one in the car, I think I can work with this.
There are so many choices of cars. The Fit is not so great that one should have to go to those lengths to make it "fit". I'm beginning to think the Fit is a misnomer!
~marc
Anyway, since I was getting aggravated and needed to get out of there, the service tech that wrote me up was really nice enough to walk me inside the Honda service bay to go over the issue with the tech working on my car. After I explained to the tech what needs to be done thinking he knew what needs to be done, he started by unscrewing the LED lights under the HVAC knobs. I had to scream at him and say "no, no, thats the lights!". :sick: Once he finally got that panel open, he didn't know about the 2 bolts and he told me to the effect of "To be honest with you, this is the first time I'm working on this car and am supposed to go to training". Its funny the first guy that worked on my car that created this problem said the same exact thing. :mad: So Hungarian83, thank you so much for the diagram! I should have printed it out and given it to the Honda techs. Anyway, he tightened the bolts and he did note one side was loose. However, after driving off it was still the same. From the diagram, it looks like the 2 bolts are the only thing holding the panel up so maybe it needs to be unscrewed, aligned and retightened?
I compared with my first pics of my Fit and from Honda's website and you can clearly see that the dashboard center panel is misaligned right now. I think I will wait at least half a year for the techs to familiarize themselves with the Fit before bringing it back in.
I would suggest that you try and re-install the lower panel yourself being that there is only one screw and two clips, but I think the problem might be greater than that. The three HVAC knobs are part of the large single center panel unit. So if that center panel is misaligned in anyway, it might not allow the lower cover to sit properly.
I checked my US-market book again as well as the online manual (there are only two differences that I mentioned earlier) and both have the two bolts and 7 clips holding the center panel up, so it's not just the two bolts.
I am wondering if one of the 7 clips (probably one of the two closer to the glove compartment) was damaged or broken. That might be what is causing the gap between the panel and the rest of the dashboard.
As for the dealership issue I experienced with our other Honda, all of it was quickly resolved and it was the case of a sloppy technician and not generally poor dealership service. I spoke directly to the lead service manager and made sure to include a print-out of two pictures showing the oil leak. He said he didn't tolerate that kind of work and then proceeded to offer us a free oil change and didn't charge labor on the diagnosis of the headlight issue. Which incidentally was the fault of a bad headlight switch.
I am thinking you might want to consult with a different dealership.
Best of luck, and keep us informed of how it goes!
Anyway, I actually bypassed her and spoke to the tech working on my car and we went over what is wrong and went over the diagrams I brought and printed out (Thanks again Hungarian83!) and I'm comfortable he understands what needs to be done so I'll wait once they get the display replacement. They will need to remove the center panel again anyway and hopefully the 2nd reseat will be better.
I should have made the service manager eat her "commercially acceptable" words. When I got the car back and ran my fingers through the problem area, I did find that the panel under the hvac dials have the teeth outside. I know this is so because there is a gap between the center panel and dashboard that if you install it normally with the 3 teeth in its groove, there will be a lot of play. Yup, IMHO on a technicality, this is not "commercially acceptable". :P
Hopefully this next time will be the last time. If you end up needing to re-install yourself though, and you have any questions, I will try to help and answer them.
http://www.carspace.com/kagedude/Albums/3rd%20trip%20to%20Honda%20service/
The next time will definitely be the last time. Again, I think on my side, I'm being very fair and very patient. If they do not fix the center panel, the dim light and the rattle above/around the center vent (somehow I think these are all related), I am going up as high as I can possibly can with Honda. The car is a 2007 car and we are not even in that year yet and I'm already having this many problems from service work. :mad:
http://www.honda.co.jp/Fit/equipment/index.html
I guess they may introduce those options next year or so or may be not at all~ :confuse:
Just read your whole story and I'm feeling for you man. You must have my kinda luck. I picked up my brand new Fit last Tuesday after a 3 week wait. Was very excited to get it. The very next morning, I'm on my way to work in the first snow-storm of the season only to discover the heater doesn't work. Fans don't come on, A/C indicator doesn't light, nada. I had the iPod accessory installed so I started wondering if they just forgot to hook some wires back up or something (anybody know if they have to take the radio out to install the iPod accessory?).
Anyway, to make a very long story short... 2 bad experiences with the service dept later and I finally decided to take it to an entirely different dealership. I don't think I'd trust the original service dept with my lawnmower let alone my brand new Fit. (Yup, got the same scratches you describe, and at first they told me they were going to rip the a/c switch that I needed out of a Fit on the showroom floor... which ALREADY HAD A 'SOLD' SIGN IN IT!)
You know, when the service tech starts spinning the volume to test the fans not coming on, that should have been my initial signal that I had some cause for concern. (I said, "uhhh, that's the radio". He said, "Oh, I'm not very familiar with these new cars." D'oh!!!!)
Anyway, just got it back from the other dealership who cleared the red SRS light (par for the course, my original dealership forgot to hook the airbag sensors back up after working on the a/c) and all seems to be well for now.
The interesting thing about this whole experience has been how keen the sales staff were to make sure I gave them the highest marks on a survey that apparently Honda is going to be calling me about soon. They showed me the list of questions before I even picked up the car to make sure there wasn't anything on there that I couldn't give them highest marks for. I jokingly referred to the last question which goes something like "The car was delivered without any problems" and said "guess we'll see how that turns out." Apparently I jinxed myself. But interestingly, after the first problem they still kept asking me to look past the problem and give them highest marks even on "question #9". After the second problem, they didn't mention it again. But I got the impression that the survey results are extremely important to the dealership. My two sales guy were so awesome, I really hate to have them get dinged by my answer to question #9, especially since it was their service dept that really foiled the whole thing. I'd give Sales 5 out of 5, but really have to give their service department a big fat zero.
Why, why, why.... when I have a basic, no-frills '93 Civic in my driveway with basically the same push-button AC, which has NEVER had a problem?!
I will need to take it to a different dealer than where I bought it, as I picked it up from a dealership about 2 hours away (actually found one on the lot!) Thanks to your story, I now know to ask whether they have a tech who knows something about Fits (but will they be honest in answering?) and stress that I will HAVE a FIT(!!) if my dash is messed up. I have printed out the manual with the expanded diagrams and will take it. I am really disturbed and worried now - my dash is PERFECT right now - no rattles, no gaps. I had thought Hondas, especially made in Japan, were a lot better than this. I hope someone from Honda looks at these forums once in a while. I will definitely be calling national Honda customer service to complain.
I really like my sales guy. I also am casually in contact with the dealership president outside of the dealership. I hope that counts for something. As of yet I have my housemate who had a CRX who reports very good service dept with his previous issues/maintenance.
So I am keeping my fingers crossed.
My sales guy had a plaque on his wall about his "Fit certification". Hopefully by the time my fit gets in they can at least install the floor mats without tearing up the carpet.
But all of this reading does alot for me. I am more then willing to pay msrp because I know they make little initial profit off of the car. They didnt try to jack me up, I didnt try to talk them down. I am happy with msrp.
So what I will do upon delivery is make sure that they havent knocked, dinged, scratched, or screwed anything up. I know better what to keep my eyes out for.
Thanks to all so far who have contributed to my education.
Lets just hope that if they are sloppy about anything, that I can at minimum get them down on price of my car. If they are horrible errors, I might have to look elsewhere but I really want this car!
Take care all. And good luck with ongoing problems.
Oh yeah, if you need the A/C on, you can set it to defogger setting. You will still have the vent on the driver and passenger side. That was my workaround while waiting for the part for 2 weeks.
Good luck!
Sad but with all the cars I've owned, my previous Acura TSX and Honda Fit seems to be the ones giving me so much problems and the most dealer trips and those surveys they send a day after their non-service are really aggravating.
Yeah, I bought the floor mats too -- but they didn't "install" them. They just gave me the hardware to do it myself (although for some reason still charged the $100 or so for the install.) I recall the MSRP for the mats being $109 or so on the Honda website, not including installation, which came to $209 as I recall from the dealership. Nice.
>> Thanks to all so far who have contributed to my education.
Yeah, ditto. This forum was a major factor in my research too. Overall, problems and all, I have to say I'm quite happy with the Fit itself.
It's not too complicated, but definitely the most work I have ever done putting floor mats into a car.