Ask the Car People.SM


Honda Fit Lighting and Electrical Questions

195 messages,  Last post on Feb 13, 2012 at 6:08 PM

You are in the Honda Fit Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Fit, Lights, Electrical, Hatchback

    
Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153

Messages Page 9 of 20

#80 of 195 Jumping Honda Fit battery by mariau

Dec 30, 2007 (11:04 am)

Suffice it to say I am having a hard time getting used to headlights that do not turn themselves off. After having to jump my car several times already in the 6 weeks I have owned it, I purchased a Black & Decker Smart Start that will allow me to theoretically charge my dead battery through the cigarette lighter. I called my Honda dealer's service dept to run this by them and they said it should be fine. Well... I just tried it out and my car not only didn't start, it made a very unusual clicking sound when I turned the key. I am recharging it to try again (assuming that I can't damage it any more than I already have) before I try jumping it the traditional way. Has anyone else had any experience with an external charger like this? Did I kill my electrical system?

#81 of 195 Re: Jumping Honda Fit battery [mariau] by rob22315

Mar 08, 2008 (7:40 pm)

Replying to: mariau (Dec 30, 2007 11:04 am)
The clicking sound means the external battery didn't have enough juice to engage the solenoid on the starter. I can't say anything about whether or not anything else got damaged but the starter shouldn't be damaged by this.
 
If' I'm jumping a vehicle, I'll sometimes get the clicking if I try to start the car too soon. The dead battery needs a little time to charge otherwise the starter doesn't get enough current.

#82 of 195 Re: Jumping Honda Fit battery [rob22315] by mustangxr

Mar 09, 2008 (11:54 pm)

Replying to: rob22315 (Mar 08, 2008 7:40 pm)
Yeah, the real reason is that the lighter plug in is not connected to the battery when the key is turned off.
 
to verify this, If you have a GPS plugged in to the socket and then shut off the engine the external power source is disconnected from the GPS. It follows then that the plug-in socket cannot charge the battery with the key turned off. The electrical lines to the plug-in socket are not heavy enough to start the engine with anything plugged into the socket. Use a real battery charger connected to the battery terminals, or some jumper cables connected the same way.

#83 of 195 Re: Jumping Honda Fit battery [mustangxr] by mariau

Mar 10, 2008 (3:41 pm)

Replying to: mustangxr (Mar 09, 2008 11:54 pm)
That's why the charger says to turn the key to Accessory when using it. The battery did get a charge; it went from being stone dead to clicking. It just didn't get enough of a charge to actually start the car. (I tried repeating the entire process several times). Needless to say, I did not damage my electrical system by the exercise; I just wasted $40 and an afternoon of my time.
 
BTW, after 2 months the car succeeded in training me to turn its lights off, so this is no longer an issue. (I hope!) Thanks for your replies!

#84 of 195 Re: Jumping Honda Fit battery [mariau] by ellenoc

Mar 10, 2008 (6:32 pm)

Replying to: mariau (Mar 10, 2008 3:41 pm)
"BTW, after 2 months the car succeeded in training me to turn its lights off, so this is no longer an issue. (I hope!) Thanks for your replies!"
 
You know, I'm a little curious about this. I've started to get out of my 08 Sport MT (US) a couple of times with the lights still on. When I did, the car started making a steady beeping noise, different in tone than the seat belt beep and steady. Didn't stop until I realized what I'd done and turned the lights off. I think turning the car off with the lights still on is what triggers the noise, maybe taking the key out, haven't tested. The fact is I can't see how I could make this mistake because of the noise. I take it all Fits don't do this?

#85 of 195 2007 Dome light stopped working by jaypare

Oct 12, 2011 (10:01 am)

The interior dome light in my car stopped working in my 2007 honda fit sport and I’d like to know what fuse to check for troubleshooting. I’ve looked at the owner’s manual, but none of the fuse descriptions state interior or dome light. Any help would be appreciated.

#87 of 195 About the Honda Fit instrument gauges....are they... by bobinhawaii

Jun 27, 2006 (12:47 am)

....illuminated just when the lights are on or are they the type that are on all day regardless?
 
Thanx for the help...Aloha

#88 of 195 Re: About the Honda Fit instrument gauges....are they... [bobinhawaii] by fit_ness

Jun 27, 2006 (3:06 am)

Replying to: bobinhawaii (Jun 27, 2006 12:47 am)
All day. Always.

#89 of 195 Re: About the Honda Fit instrument gauges....are they... [bobinhawaii] by sfinster

Jun 27, 2006 (6:54 pm)

Replying to: bobinhawaii (Jun 27, 2006 12:47 am)
The instrument panel is always lit. I find that at night, they're too bright and I have to turn them down. If I'm driving with the headlights on during the day (if it's raining, for instance) I have to turn the instrument lighting up all the way in order to be able to read the radio display. Easy to adjust, though; you twist the trip meter stalk.

Messages Page 9 of 20

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement