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Comments
improved from 28 max.. hope to improve even more next time..
mine is msotly all hwy.. without traffic..
i just want 33-35mpg on hwy..
So with a cold engine and air temp of 80, it took 20-25 minutes for fan to come on the first time, them 5 additional minutes for the 2nd cooling fan cycle. A total of 40-45 minutes which includes the extra 10 minutes at the end.
In the FIT get ready procedure the Honda tech is going to have to let that engine idle for quite a while.
Kip
Just did my end of week fill up after idle learn, so now have to go through a tank of gas before really knowing results (presuming no random variations due to driving style or trips). This will another week at least.
:-)
#395 of 438 2007 FIT Start Up Bulletin by bprenderson
for link to uploaded 2007 FIT procedure. [Thank You bprenderson for the upload.] This description is not as detailed or picky as the Pilot procedure, but it is essentially identical.
To cut and paste from the PDF doc:
36. Start the engine, and check for proper operation of
the following items.
• Audio functions, including the auxiliary audio
input jack on Sport models
• Horn
• Front and rear wipers and washers
• Exterior lights and turn signals
• Interior lights
• Power windows, locks, and mirrors
• Seat belt, latch, and inertia lock operation on all
belts
• Accessory power socket
37. Do the idle learn procedure (the engine should be
warmed up and idling from step 36, and the cooling
fans should have already cycled twice):
• Make sure all electrical items (A/C, audio unit,
defogger, lights, etc.) are off.
• Let the engine idle (throttle closed and all
electrical items off) for 10 minutes.
38.
I recently bought a few car accessories to help squeeze out the highest MPG possible. I got a foot-type tire pump and a digital tire pressure gauge. They are helping me more accurately keep my tire pressure up without the hassle of going to gas stations. I've been checking each week to make sure that all my tire pressures are 37.5 psi COLD.
Secondly, I also bought a Scangauge which lets me monitor the Fit's engine computer parameters and gives a real-time MPG readout like that in many luxury and hybrid vehicles. It's not cheap, but if I continue to see this huge improvement it will be worth it to me.
I've been adjusting my driving to better stay in the Fit's "sweet spot" for fuel efficiency. This car has a lot of automated systems that are at work and affect fuel economy (V-TEC, drive-by-wire throttle, Electric steering assist, cruise control, automatic transmission, etc.) but the driver can really impact gas mileage through throttle use, gear selection, and a/c use.
In this one week I've learned that:
City driving is a HUGE factor in dragging down your overall MPG on a tank, but you can improve it. This is the biggest thing I'm learning right now. [more later]
Too much accelerator knocks down MPG and doesn't always necessarily make you go any faster.
Under certain conditions, sometimes the Fit gets better MPG at 70 MPH than 65 MPH. At highway speeds it would be a bigger waste of gas to downshift to make a hill at 65 than to drive 70 and stay in 5th gear. As I learn my route better I can optimize this.
Shifting too early wastes more gas if you need extra torque (for a hill or acceleration) than to stay in that gear at higher rpm's.
A/C use can affect gas mileage by 2 to as much as 10 MPG! It's best to switch off or minimize running the a/c when the engine is under more load (during acceleration, going uphill, or carrying more passengers/cargo than normal). I've been manually switching off the a/c for a few minutes during a long uphill stretch, then switching it back on when the road flattens out.
Anyway, now I feel like the Fit was such a perfect choice for me. I kept wondering if I should have bought the Yaris for that 2 extra MPG, but now that difference is negligible.
Blue Fit Sport m/t
city/hwy mix: 75%/25%
highway speeds: 65 to 70 MPH max
I love this car!
It's nice to not have to stop so often but you have to be careful not to let it overflow.
I filled up yesterday and received 35.5 mpg with about 50-60% highway driving at 65-80 mph and the rest a combination of city, winding backroads, and stop/go traffic. I always think I have more highway driving since my total miles is mostly from my commute, but then I realize how much of that involves just sitting in traffic!
Today I did the same long-distance, mostly highway trip that I did with my record tank of 41.7 mpg. This time I only received 41.2 mpg. Of course, I use the word "only" very lightly since I am quite happy, but I was trying to beat my record tank.
It will be nice when the weather starts to cool down so I don't have to use A/C so much.
My total average miles per gallon so far is 34.2 mpg with my base 5-speed manual.
Anyway, I also will gladly admit I love this car! I think you made the right choice over the Yaris.
It applies to the Fit as well as the Pilot.
There are right ways and wrong ways of doing the procedure.
Go to page 19 article 360 and you will see how all this developed from an off hand idea, to someone finding a way to get the FIT Service bulletin, To people actually doing it. We are waiting for results. Hopefully from many.
Pretty amazing for folks that don't even know each other, but with a common cause.
Kip
Then took 40 minutes to cycle through the two cooling fan starts and the 10 minutes required. I then turned the car off for one minute, restarted and reset the radio. You must do this on a cold engine. I would highly recommend at least the 40 minutes of idle time. Many dealers are not givng enough time. Hopefully, you will have the same mileage improvement I had.
should one be careful about touching the metal part of the negative cable when disconnecting the cable?
it looks like there's a screw does it fall easily once u've unscrewed it?
It is about the same percentage results we saw over on the Pilot Forums.
As you said, the dealer "get ready" folks may not be letting it idle from cold for 40 minutes, with no accessories on.
Very doubtful unless someone there has stressed that they go out and install the fuse and start the car and let it idle for an hour before they do anything to it.
Congratulations,
Kip
That all electrical items be turned off.
The engine started and allowed to warm up until the 2nd cooling fan cycle, then an additional 10 minutes.
The Fit ILP indicates the technician is doing all types of electrical functions, while the engine is warming up (step 36), and letting it idle an additional 10 minutes after the 2nd fan cycle.
I suppose we have to do what we think will work.
For me personally, I know the Pilot owners had great success starting with a cold engine.
Disconnecting the battery for a couple of minutes.
With all accessories turned off, re connecting the battery, starting the engine and letting idle for a full 10 minutes after the 2nd fan cycle.
That is what ashtex did and it seems to have worked.
---------------
hqly2001
You are bogging yourself down with needless worry.
Try this: Start the car and be sure all accessories are off.
Turn off the ignition switch.
Loosen (don't remove) the screw on the black battery cable and take the cable off the battery for a couple of minutes.
Put the cable back on the battery.
Start the car and find something to do for an hour. Unless the ambient temperature is near freezing the hour of idling should be enough time for everything to happen as it should.
-------------------
As a side note:
My 4400# 4WD Automatic Pilot with 240 HP V6 will generally get 27+ MPG on the road if driven the speed limit. We have gotten right at 30 mpg with a constant 60 mph.
Our 4WD auto CR-V Gets 30+ mpg on the road. It is 1000 lbs heavier than the Fit, has a much larger engine and 50+ more horse power.
To my thinking the FIT with its better aerodynamics, lighter weight, and smaller engine should get a lot better mileage than my Pilot or CR-V.
I did the ILP on both cars exactly as ashtex did.
It helped the Pilot by about 3 MPG across the board . Don't know what it did for the CR-V. I did ILP the first day we had it home.
Kip
That is sort of same as Pilot.
Later comment (#453) to just turn stuff off, disconnect/reconnect negative lead, start, and let idle for an hour is perfectly simple and valid. You will get your 2 fan cycles plus at least 10 minutes. Otherwise, stand around and wait for fan cycles and add 10 minutes. I would (myself) do this with hood closed so engine warms up faster.
You've got me worried!
This is the start of a very sad story otherwise methinks...
I'm not trying to be mean, but a lot of people would be on the floor laughing about some of the stories/experiences I've had with customers over 7 years
Be careful.
T
Did highway driving this weekend and a fill up from NJ, my avg was 39.6mpg.
Coming back and getting gas from VA which contains 10% Ethanol, my avg went down to 35.5mpg.
If I used 10% Ethanol during my normal work commute, I would assume my mileage would drop down to 31mpg. Ouch.
I probably don;t have the correct type of wrench to remove the battery. No one mentioned anything about using a correct wrench with a skinny enough head to get between the bolt and metal connector..
I'm determine to disconnect it and witht he right tools i will!
Wait until he fills it himself, and runs another tank through it, then you'll have a better, more accurate idea of the fuel mileage.
Now for the questions:
1) Is there a difference in the gas mileage of the 15' versus the 16' wheel? If so what is it?
2) Does the switch from one tire size to the other require a modification in the computer to acknowledge the change and compensate correctly?
I have passed this problem/solution onto the dealer who sold me the car and they have had complaints about fit milage, maby this will help. They clain to follow the outlined procedure but who knows. The lowest paid person at the dealership is probably doing the breakin procedure for these cars, so you get what you pay for.
On another note, Anyone else having problems with the lower pannels on the fit sport always hitting the road on driveway turnins and speed bumps?
for link to uploaded 2007 FIT procedure. [Thank You bprenderson for the upload.] This description is not as detailed or picky as the Pilot procedure, but it is essentially identical.
To cut and paste from the PDF doc:
36. Start the engine, and check for proper operation of
the following items.
• Audio functions, including the auxiliary audio
input jack on Sport models
• Horn
• Front and rear wipers and washers
• Exterior lights and turn signals
• Interior lights
• Power windows, locks, and mirrors
• Seat belt, latch, and inertia lock operation on all
belts
• Accessory power socket
37. Do the idle learn procedure (the engine should be
warmed up and idling from step 36, and the cooling
fans should have already cycled twice):
• Make sure all electrical items (A/C, audio unit,
defogger, lights, etc.) are off.
• Let the engine idle (throttle closed and all
electrical items off) for 10 minutes.
38.
Just to be clear, this procedure doesn't mention disconnecting the negative battery cable. Is disconnecting the negative battery cable necassary? Thanks.
I redid mine last night, and it took a good 30 minutes for the fan to come on the first time. After that, the subsequent cycles were much closer together. The entire process took about 50 minutes, if you include the downtime for having the battery disconnected.
What was interesting to watch, was the tachometer during the first 15 minutes... it very slowly dropped, until it felt like the car was not running quite as smoothly (not to the point of being rough, mind you). At that point, the tach went up and down ever so slightly, as it appeared that the computer was trying to find the lowest rpm it could run at, while still keeping the smooth "purr" going.
Just make sure you have your radio security code ready to enter, when you are done.
It is only LEV, but I agree with you completely on the last statement.
Now if they could give the Fit an engine that spins up higher and makes another 25 hp, and then did some 16" rims and lowered it a bit, and gave it IRS, all of which would instantly mandate that it be a very low-volume niche car selling for at least $2000 more than the Sport, that would just about be the equivalent of your SI! :-)
And SHEESH! Do I ever wish they would do just that. They are doing a Civic SI sedan for a projected volume of just 5000 per year. Add in the coupes with the same mechanicals, and that is 20K per year. I bet they could sell at least half that many Fit SIs as I just described it. They could make a couple of high-profit items optional to further boost the bottom line, like NAV and leather or something. An optional LSD would be nice....
Anyway, back to reality for me! :-(
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)