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Comments
I realize that. However some times the condensation is on the outside of the car, and when that is the case, having AC on makes the situation worse.
Another reason for having the A/C turn on automatically with the defroster is that the defroster is used often in the winter when A/C isn't need to cool the car. If the A/C isn't used for several months, the seals can dry out with loss of refrigerant and a costly repair to replace the seals.
So, having the A/C turn on automatically with the defroster not only increases the defroster's effectiveness, but also keeps the A/C active during the winter months..........Richard
I've owned 9 Hondas over the past 20 years, and never have run the AC during the winter, nor have ever had any problems with the AC.
It sure sounds like an effort to make a mountain out of a molehill. Why not just operate your vehicle the way the engineers designed it? It will work best that way and you will not have to concern yourself with minutiae.
well in that case you need to have a word with God.
Or your local weather forcaster.
But don't blame you Honda. Or any car, for that matter...
The steps are a little different than the Civic:
1) With vehicle on, push the airflow button for "top vent".
2) Shut car off.
3) Turn temp knob to the coldest setting
4) Turn fan off
5) How down both "Air Recirculation" button and "AC" button. With both buttons depressed, turn key to "ON" position. (don't need to actually start the car) Keep holding the buttons down for at least 7 seconds.
6) The AC and Air Recirculation lights will light up and flash at different points during the 7 second hold-down.
7) When the air recirculation light stops flashing, release the two buttons.
Now you have full control over the AC. When you hit the Defog button, the AC light will now illuminate. You can now shut it off if you so desire and get Defog air without AC!
step1) go to manual AC set to "top vent"
step 3) set to "lo"
step 4) go to manual AC and set fan off
Thanks,
MidCow
P.S.- I will try tonight and let you know
Honda, Keep up the great improvements.
----------- So did you figure out how to fix that too?.......
I don't understand why my desire not to use AC during Defrost is such a foreign concept.
Think of this scenario:
It's 10 degrees out, and your windshield is covered with ice. The first thing I want to do is turn on the car and activate front defrost. Why in the world do I need the AC on to help melt ice on the outside of the windshield? If the AC is on, it is hindering the ice melting process, since the heated air is being cooled by the AC condenser.
At the risk of beating this issue to death....
I have the accord LX, so no auto temp control. When you press AC and it's 5 degrees out, the compressor is going on.
In the winter, it takes about 1-2 minutes of engine run time for the car to start blowing warmish air out the vents. With no AC on, the air temp coming out is, say 80 degrees. If AC is on, the temp is likely a lot less - let's say 50 degrees. Now yes, both 50 degree air and 80 degree air will both melt ice, but which one will do it faster?
Also, in the winter, the relative humidity level is very low. There are two sources of *interior* condensation - melting snow from your shoes and humidity from your breath. In almost all cases, just straight use of hot air defrost (without AC) clears the windows. Occasionally, in winter, I do use AC to dehumidify. But that need is very infrequent.
I don't want to use AC any more than I need to. It robs both performance and fuel economy.
I've had my Accord for a few weeks and there is some sort of factory tint on my car. Anyone have any info on this? How much light does it let through? Is it "in" the glass or is it a removeable film? This wasn't put on by the dealer.
Would getting my windows tinted at a local shop somehow damage the factory tint should the aftermarket need to be removed in the future?
Thanks!
The tint shop should be able to measure how much light it blocks.
The factory tint should not be affected by aftermarket tint should you need to remove the latter.
There's a first time for everything;-).......Richard
Pass it off to, "There are none so blind as those who will not see." While I appreciate the quick ellimination of moisture and frost on the interior glass surfaces when the A/C compressor is dehumidifying cabin air, your tip on how to more efficiently elliminate frozen condensation on the exterior glass is both practical and insightful. Let those who enjoy freezing their buns off outside with an ice scraper revel in the crisp chill of blinding, freezing sleet. Peace, bro. (Don't worry, some who read your tip on how to accomplish defrost sans A/C compressor use will quietly reprogram their Accords to try it out in a month or two.
I don't know remember what the visible light transmission characteristics of factory tinting is, but the tint does block considerable UV and infrared. (It's been a long time since optometry school...) I suspect for night vision safety, factory tinted windows would be held to at least 85% transmission. The factory tint is in the glass in the form of a very fine metallic oxide powder added to the molten glass and mixed to an even overall tint before undergoing the float glass and molding process that forms the actual window shape and contour. In the case of the windshield, which is a glass-plastic film-glass laminant in U.S.-bound cars (and presumably, Canadian cars, too), the plastic film could be tinted with organic dyes, or one of the glass sections may be tinted as described above. In practice, it's the latter since metallic oxides cannot fade (they're already fully oxidized, so they can't chemically change once trapped in the matrix of the glass) The added darker band at the top of windshields is a seperate section of darker tinted glass fused to the main section of the tinted glass section during molding. The factory tinting from neither the window glass nor the windshield is seperately removable.
"Would getting my windows tinted at a local shop somehow damage the factory tint should the aftermarket need to be removed in the future?"
Nope.
Now, just how certain are you that your dealer hadn't already applied a supplemental tint before you ever laid eyes on the car you bought?
I am 100% positive...not sure if your question was rhetorical...
Thanks for the solution, It works great on my '04 ex. I've been looking on the forums and dealerships for this solution.
I'll also help beat this subject to death. I live in the Seattle area where winter weather is cool and wet. In the 30 yrs. of Seattle area driving, running the defroster without AC has worked great except in some extreme conditions. But when AC is run with the defroster all the time, moisture builds up in the vent system (condensor) and each time the car is started this moisture covers the interior of the windshield. As a result, once AC is used very much in the winter, it pretty much is needed all the time. With this bypass hacked in place, the AC only gets used in a few extreme cases. Otherwise the car gets a couple more miles per gallon, which is fine by me current gas prices!
thanks again!
I must take issue with this statement. While this might not be a problem for others living around the country, Florida is an extreme case. I do not believe that the factory tinted green glass is at all effective in blocking UV or infrared. So far, I have not had tint film applied to the windows of my new LX 4. After parking the car, the interior climbs to well over 100 degrees in a very short period. When driving around in the car at midday I get fried; a sure indication that the UV blocking power is very limited. Over the 30 years that I have lived in South Florida, all my cars except this one have had a 3M tint. It really was necessary and I intend to have this car done ASAP.
Factory glass on my 05 EX-L blocks a bit over 40% of the UV and IR rays...and absorbs about 50% of the energy (heat).
Sorry, didn't write the actual numbers but those are in the ball park!
The Ipod website says that Honda will have an Ipod connection "coming soon."
Anyone know which Honda, if any, has an Ipod connection?
Sammy Castagna
Does anyone know where I can find out the 0-60 mile of a 2004 4-cylinder Accord with automatic tranny?
Thanks.
TTB
Anyone who's noticed that their "Transitions" or "Photogray" spectacle lenses don't change very effectively in their car can vouch for your post. Both photochromic materials depend on UV to stimulate their darkening.
(IR [infrared], by the way, is heat.)
Anyways, a good bodyshop with the right equipment can do wonders with a wrecked car. $7500 now a days is not that huge amount of a repair price, so I would guess that it should turn out fine.
Cross your fingers, there is always a chance that when they start on the car, they find more damage to the point that they don't fix it.
Good luck, I hope it turns out good for you.
Mrbill
I suspect mrbill1957 is probably correct, but I am troubled by that change of mind by your insurance company within 24 hours. Will you be restricted to your insurance comapny's choice of body shop? If so, I get the feeling they found a lowball shop that would be using sheet metal pieces stamped in Taiwan and lotsa Bondo to come in under the car's payoff estimate. If you have no choice in the matter (this may depend on your particular state's insurance laws) this may not be a car you want to keep much longer if it'll fetch a decent trade-in allowance. (Though it's hard to fool a car dealer's estimator - they know what to look for.) If you do have a choice in which body shop repairs your car, and you're not sure who's reputable, find out who your local police department uses for body work on their cruisers - odds are their choice is fairly reliable.
I just bought a used 2005 Accord EX automatic with just u>1 key and no owners manual. I love this car. This is my replacement vehicle for our 99 Accord LX V6 which we both love. I prefer to work on my own cars. Can anyone tell me how many quarts of oil this car takes when you do the oil change. Can anyone also tell me how to program the keyless entry remote(another used Accord remote) to this car, the dealer wantd $150 to cut and program a new key, so I thought I just buy a used key on Ebay and use the keyless entry in case I accidentally leave my key in the car. Thank you all.
0 to 60: 9.0 seconds
45 to 65 mph: 5.5 seconds
Quarter mile: 17.0 seconds
That's very good for a 3,200 pound, 4 cylinder car. The above 0--60 time is probably conservative given that it's from C.R. and not an auto enthusiast's magazine.
The Accord was also the top-rated car and was preferred over a number of lesser V6 powered cars.
Apple has teamed up with four additional car manufacturers, among them Volkswagen, to provide customers with an iPod integration solution. At a press even in San Francisco, Steve Jobs announced that Acura, Honda, Audi and Volkswagen will join 15 other car manufacturers such as Ferrari, BMW, and Mercedes Benz with and Apple iPod integration solution.
When installed, a wire connected from behind the dashboard running to either the glove compartment or a lockable center console where the iPod will remain hidden. Commands can be made through the radio controls or steering wheel buttons. The connection will also allow the iPod the charge.
As far as programming they key yourself, I doubt that is possible unless you had the equipment to do it. You may want to check with local locksmiths to see if they can, but I think you will probably be stuck going to the dealer.
If you do find an alternative to the dealer, post what you find here.
Mrbill
When your Accord is 'fixed' , find an area of water puddles in the road. Drive through the puddles as fast as practical several times. Then, check the carpeting on the floors and trunk. If they are damp, make them fix it better. If left in that condition, your car will smell like garbage after a few months.
http://automobiles.honda.com/info/news/article.asp?ArticleID=2005090754437&Category=curren- thonda
Here is the second sentence: "This Genuine Honda accessory was developed to enable Honda drivers to utilize their iPod directly through the audio system in the all-new, redesigned, 2006 Honda Civic."
The announcement only references compatibility with the new 2006 Civic. No mention made of the Accord or older Civic models. So to me, it is unclear if the adaptor will work with anything other than the '06 Civic. I suppose it depends on the radio & steering wheel controls.
Of course, Honda may have just mentioned the new Civic just to tout its redesign. Maybe the adaptor will work on an Accord, but if this is your primary reason for buying an Accord, you better get clarification from Honda first, otherwise you could end up disappointed.
I also remember a post stating that another fourn had info on how to change the Accord LED to the blue one that the TSX uses. I don't think that the color change would make much of a difference, but changing the LED ( and possibly the circuitry that drives it) to one with higher intensity would help.
If anyone has tried this, can they reply with the info on how to make the change?
Mrbill
The procedure to change LED lights from yellow to blue was posted on the 7th genration Accord sight which now seems to be defunct. It was an extremely complicated procedure just to change the LED color.
Cruis'n in 6th :shades: ,
MidCow
I have a few questions regarding proper care of the leather. All my other cars had black leather and right now I have tan.
I wear dress clothes to work every day and I've noticed that on the drivers seat, where the belt on my pants rubs against the seat, a dark 'patch' is starting to develop. I've tried using standard leather cleaners but so far no luck. Does anyone have any recommendations on this problem?
Also, If I have to get seat covers, is there a brand/type that people have used that work/fit well?
Thanks for your help. I love this forum and I love being an Accord owner!
As far as seatcovers, whatever you buy, make sure they are compatible with the side airbag that is mounted in the seat. Obviously you don't want the covers affecting the aribag.
Mrbill
The hack worked great and on the first try. Now I will get the amount of dehumidification that I desire, not some engineer's. I will simply turn off the a/c when the fog clears and heated wintertime air will do the job 90-95% of the time..
Some people just dont like REBELS !
Hermann
Hermann
I did that until they quit fllashing and still cold air with a/c light off in defog mode
Good point. When I bought my base model '03 Sonata (I know, this is an Accord forum, but my information applies to any make.) the upholstery was the ubiquitous "mouse fur" textured synthetic fabric. After three months of wishing I had leather, I bought a full set of tailored leather seatcovers online and installed them myself. (They're available custom fit for all makes.) On the lateral front seat back covers, the material had been processed to allow it to blow-out in the event the side airbags ever deploy. The area was identified with "SRS" embossed on the visible side of the covers just like the factory leather has. Best $487.00 plus shipping I ever spent. The covers from the company I bought from nearly duplicate the factory design and stitching, too. It takes a sharp eye to spot the minimal differences.
100° F in Stuart, FL is no different than 100° F in any other city, state or country. The factory tint of your Honda's windshield provides no less UV protection than any other brand of car's does.
A decent sunshade, plus driving with your A/C on for a couple of minutes, should be all you need. You might also consider leaving your windows open a crack while parked to allow heat venting.