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Honda Fit Suspension/Steering Questions
This is the place to discuss any steering issues you may have with the Fit.
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I have a fit sport AT and have experienced this a couple of times on uneven road surfaces. The car almost feels like it lifts and slides to one side. Had it happen at higher speeds and lower speeds. On smoother roads though, it behaves beautifully!
Going to check my tire inflation today!
On gravel roads, you'll have what's called the "washboard effect", where a wavy or multiple mini-speedbump situation is caused by the repeated oscillation of a vehicle's suspension over the inherently uneaven surface. Each time your wheel gets pushed back down by the suspension, it compacts the gravel (or pushes it away) just a little more. Once the pattern gets started, it's reinforced by each passing vehicle.
Now, if your car's suspension or rate of travel does not match that of the pattern already established on the road, then the "down" action of your tire may hit on the top of the next bump (instead of in the rut), and result in a general loss of stability. It's not the fault of the vehicle. Instinctively, you'll find yourself adjusting your speed to where your tires will bounce at the "right pattern", when compared to the washboard, and you'll feel more in control. Now that your tires are bouncing at the right pattern, you're reinforcing the pattern's existence with your own vehicle.
Having over-inflated tires makes them more "bouncy", which will aggrevate the affect. Having suspension problems (bad shocks, tie-rod issues, etc.), can not only make your ride more troublesome, but can be downright dangerous, because the multiple sequential impacts can be just the straw that breaks that camel's back.
Motorcyclists have an especially hard time with this, as they don't have the two extra wheels to help keep them under control.
I have yet to bring it to honda. All of my instances have happened during the winter and have not had any since the weather has gotten warmer. Have your problems occured only during the winter as well?
Recently, when standing behind the car I noticed a slight "lean" to the left. On further inspection I measured the clearance between the top of the wheel and wheel well. On the right hand side the clearance runs about 2.25 inches but on the left rear it's only 1.75 inches i.e. a half inch less than the right. That's quite a difference in a narrow car like the Fit producing the visible lean. The front left is also around 2.25 inches so the problem seems to be only on the rear left suspension.
Took it the Honda dealer where they measure from the road surface to the bottom of the wheel well. Initially they claimed the difference was 1/16 of an inch but when I insisted they recheck it , it was indeed around half an inch. The foreman called Honda directly. Honda claims that in most of their cars they deliberately put different suspension components on the left and right side to compensate for things like fuel tank position etc. However on the Fit they don't and thus the lean. The dealer measured two other Fits that happened to be in the shop and found differences of between a 1/4 and 3/8 inch but my 1/2 inch was definitely the greatest.
Bottom line was that Honda told the dealer that "that's the way it is!".
So - two questions. One - anyone else got this problem? Two - anyone know what (if anything) can be done to remedy it. Bottom line - it just looks a bit weird with that noticeable lean. It's like a crooked picture hanging on the wall. It's both noticeable and annoying.
Just as a note, the part is on national backorder...I've been waiting over two weeks since they diagnose the problem for the repair.
at speeds over 70 mph . that may be so. but all fits come with the same tires
soft composite dunlops when their worn out ill try something else and see .
i believe the problem to be 50% car 25% tires and 25% road conditions
thats all folks
Thanks so much!
at speeds over 70 mph "
I drive like 60 miles a week at 80 mph, I've never had any handling issues whatsoever. No change to the regular handling. I don't have any idea what that dealer is talking about.
So, has anyone else replaced the stock shocks/struts with something a little stiffer? Seems like that would help the unloaded cornering, and help the car stay level and stable when loaded, too. Any suggestions as to what to look for, or how to shop for replacements? Trusted places to shop? Experiences with upgrades?
Thanks,
Brian
I've moved your post to the Honda Fit Suspension/Steering Problems discussion and you may continue there.
Looks like my question was dumped into the pile in the Steering and Suspension Problems thread.
Is this normal procedure? What a fantastically terrible way to run a forum.
Goodbye, Edmunds.com. Thanks for nothing.
Brian
I took it to my Honda dealer for several hours and he said he couldn't find anything wrong with the power steering. The service manager is suggesting that I bring it in the night before and leave it for the day. He states that he will charge me $35 per day for the rental car. Because it is an intermittent problem, the probablity that it will malfunction during that period is slim.
I did call the corporate headquarters of Honda and gave them the above details. The receptionist said she would record the information She could not tell me what would be done with the info and she said that no one at the corp could give me that info.
Please give me suggestions! Thanks.
Ag
My solution would be to get a rear sway bar from Honda & spend an hour mounting it while also mounting a tow kit, get a nice set of 16" alloys & tires Tire Rack ($820), and an aftermarket cruise control for about $300. Voila -- no rice boy look, better fuel ecomony & handling, & avoid the harsher ride the come from the Sports stiffer springs & shocks. All for less than $1,500.
Both times were after a long (15 min) idle (waiting to put kids on bus).
Turn ignition off then on clears it.
So far it has not happened while traveling down the road at speed.
I tried the "wire wiggle" mentioned earlier, it did not blink or come on.
I drove it to Brandon Honda who diagnosed that the electronic power steering control module was defective due to the latched computer code of 32-09. The EPS control module is $734.80 (P/N 39980SLNA01). Adding labor and taxes for a grand total of $971.00.
When the power steering goes out I would not consider the car "drivable". It is this factor that makes this problem unsafe. A failing EPS control module during driving has a high possibility of resulting in an accident.
I am getting my "failed but working" EPS control module back from the dealer. If anyone has electrical diagrams to connect this module - please post. I would like to put the module in the temperature chamber at work and cycle it through the automotive temperature range of -40C to 125C. I suspect that this a temperature related power on reset and/or initialization problem that impacts all 2007 Honda Fits.
Part Number 39980-SLN-A21. Honda covered the part, I was told it was over $700.
I covered the labor, as my car was just over warranty period by a few miles.
Labor was $131.86.
So far all is well, but it will take some time to regain my confidence that it's really fixed.
I was pleased with how the dealer handled it. Although they claim Honda has no knowledge of an issue. I printed this entire blog and took it in with me.
That really helped.
We're very frustrated about this and not sure what to do next.
Thanks for any ideas.
Thanks again.
Dealer replaced the unit even though they couldn't replicate the problem.
Ken
manual transmission?
I'm familiar with a short shifter on a BMW.
If the Fit has a truly short shifter it will improve
the shifting dramatically.
Anyone have any comments?
Thanks guys
My wifes 2007 Honda Fit sport has the exact same issue with the power steering suddenly becomes stiff and turns on the EPS indicator while turning. We have brought this car to the deale 3 times, btut they could not fix the problem or come up with some other TSB articles r. The last time we left the car on and towed it to the dealer to see the proff becasue it very hard to duplicate. They want us to pay over $300 for goodwill repair cost. I have talked to Honda Corp and been given a case# and case mgr will be in touch soon. Any othter suggestions or comments anyone have to help me?
I'm hoping to prevent some of the battle of having them fix this issue that should in my opinion be covered..
Thanks so much,
Kevin
I hope this will be helpful to you and reply if you have more questions about it.^^
I was wondering if anybody experience this wandering issue with the Honda Fit.