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Hatchbacks Honda Fit Honda Fit A/C problems
105 messages, Last post on Oct 16, 2009 at 10:47 PM
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Replying to: hqly2001 (Jul 30, 2006 1:33 am)  Prior to selecting the car, I read about the 'not too hot' A/C performance and agree with you. I am trying not to use the A/C all of the time, as I used to. Seems to help with mileage. I went from 20 mpgs to 30. The car has 1,350 miles now, so I am over the break in hump and hope to move up to the 36 mpgs the Fit Sport Automatic is known for. I do not think servicing your A/C will help.  In northern CA we've had nasty heat waves well into the 100s. I do as little driving as possible on those days. I also cave and use the A/C intermittently when I must drive distances on those days. |
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I had the windows on my 08 Fit tinted (30% tint) two weekends ago. That was the best $145 I have spent so far on the Fit! The solar heat gain in the car was cut at least in half, and the car cools and stays cooler a lot better. Gregg 
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Replying to: gsakala (Sep 21, 2008 12:56 pm) Motor on!
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I am about ready to order me an 09' Fit. I happen to stumble across this thread about the A/C. I'd like to hear from anyone who has bought the 09. I am in North carolina and the Summers are very hot and humid. I am concerned about inadequate A/C. I've seen this mentioned on several blogs and user reviews. Unfortunately the real hot days are over so I won't be able to adequately test the A/C. Thanks for any input.
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I have the '09 automatic sports version Fit and have three problems with the A/C. The first is: When it's on the "face/feet" setting, on maximum air flow #4, I get Very Minimal a/c. Within five minutes of having it on this setting, on a NJ hot humid day, I'd be covered in perspiration and gasping for air. On "face" only, it's quite acceptable, although not as cold as my 2002 Ford Focus was. On "face/feet", it "sounds" like it should be a wind tunnel in the car, but sadly, no. Another problem is when it's on just "face", on the lowest air flow setting #1, it frequently emits a chemically smell. I took it to the dealer and told them about the problems and they said they couldn't get it to happen and everything checked out fine (according to them). And my Fit also cycles every 6-8 seconds and if you're standing outside...it's pretty loud. I'm most interested in problems one and two - anyone else have these problems? Thanks!
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Replying to: sixflagssue (Aug 16, 2009 11:04 am)
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Replying to: stephen987 (Aug 16, 2009 12:35 pm) |
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Replying to: sixflagssue (Aug 16, 2009 11:04 am) I was on my way to the flea market yesterday and turned a corner when the loudest noise I've ever heard a car make happened. It was like something blew up and screamed at the same time. I pulled to the curb, turned off the ignition and the AC. Took a few minutes to get my shaking under control. Turned the car on (thank God it started) but didn't try the A/C. Opened the windows and drove 15 minutes to the Honda Dealer. I walked in MAJORLY upset since they had originally dismissed my complaint that there were problems with the unit. They said to calm down and go have a seat and they'd have the shuttle drive me home when it comes back in. So, a day later, I still have no car. They did call and said some part of the A/C did explode...so...all you other Fit owners who are experiencing problems...get ready - a bigger problem may be right around the corner. |
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I purchased a 2009 Honda Fit Sport approximately one year ago. I live in CA (Central Valley) and have noticed the AC compressor shuts off from a start and blows hot air on the occupants. The AC is weak to begin with and usually has to be run on max. to coo. the vehicle to a normal level. I have had the car in three separate times for this problem and have been advised that the compressor shuts down if the gas pedal is pressed over 20% from a start. The dealers solution to the problem is to stay under 20% from all starts. This is not practical and would have every car around you honk at you because your going so slow. The dealer has taken the company line that the vehicle is performing as designed. Since when is it acceptable for the AC unit to blow hot air on occupants at any point in time? It appears Honda is taking the "Cram Down" approach and expects customers to accept this obvious design flaw. My expectation is what I would call the standard norm. Once the AC is turned on you expect it to blow cold air, uninterrupted, meaning not intermittently blow hot air on occupants. How can Honda deviate so far from the accepted norm of what everyone's expectation of AC is and cram their flaw down customer's throats? How can Honda advise customers "the car is performing as designed and expect the customer to accept that? The Honda Accord they rented me does not blow hot air on me after I accelerate from a stop. Yet the Assistant Service Manager told me it does. I have driven the Accord a few days and I can tell you it does not blow hot air on you from a stop. I wonder why Honda choose not to put this ingenious idea in their 2009 Accord model. Please advise if you are having the same problem and/or any solution. The problem is there is not a solution yet. There is a service bulletin on the issue but it only advised the service department to advise customers "the vehicle is performing as designed". That does not fix the problem, it only further aggravates customers and gives Honda a bad name. An additional issue is that the 2009 Fit shocks me every time I get out of the car and close the door. Once again, Honda choose not to fix the problem rather issue a technical service bulletin which advises customers why this is happening and what type of clothing to wear. Once again, my 2009 Honda Accord rental does not shock me when I get out of the car and close the door. I guess Honda believes the people with these defective 2009 Fits are small enough that they can effectively ignore the problem and not worry about it. I don't have much faith in the Lemon Law and don't want to spent huge amounts of time pursuing it. Does anyone out there have any answers? I think it is a pathetic approach Honda is taking towards their customers and it is leaving a bad taste in my mouth about owning a Honda. If there are any prospective Honda Fit buyers out there please pay attention to these issues. Does anyone have any ideas how to get more publicity on the issue? Maybe Honda would address the issue if it appeared in the automotive headlines or front page headlines. rjbates  adelphia.net
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Replying to: kagedude (Aug 01, 2006 12:58 pm) I purchased a 2009 Honda Fit Sport approximately one year ago. I live in CA (Central Valley) and have noticed the AC compressor shuts off from a start and blows hot air on the occupants until it reaches a certain RPM level and the compressor turns back on. Living in the Central Valley it is not uncommon to have summer days of 105 degrees plus. The AC in the Fit is weak to begin with and usually has to be run on maximum to cool the vehicle to a minimal or normal level. The dealer was well aware of the problem and told me the car is designed to turn off the air conditioner compressor from a start if 20% or more throttle is used, the compressor will come back on when the engine reaches a certain RPM. I have had the car in three separate times for this problem and have been advised by the service department that the compressor shuts down if the gas pedal is pressed over 20% from a start. The dealer’s solution to the problem is for the driver to stay under 20% throttle on all starts. This is not practical and would have every car around you honk at you because you’re moving so slow or obstructing traffic. The dealer has taken the company line that the vehicle is performing as designed. That is a true statement, the vehicle is performing as designed but the vehicle has a serious design flaw that they apparently acknowledge but will not fix. Since when is it acceptable for the AC unit to blow hot air on occupants at any point in time? It appears Honda is taking the "Cram Down" approach and expects customers to accept this obvious design flaw. I have never heard of any car which blows hot air on occupants at any point in time. How can Honda deviate so far from the accepted norm / standard of what air conditioning is and think or tell customers it is acceptable? My expectation is what I would call the standard norm. Once the AC is turned on you expect it to blow cold air, uninterrupted cold air, meaning not intermittently blow hot air on occupants from a stop at 20% or more throttle. How can Honda deviate so far from the accepted norm of what everyone's expectation of AC is and cram their design flaw down customer's throats? How can Honda advise customers "the car is performing as designed and expect the customer to accept that? True, the car is in fact performing as designed but the car has a serious design flaw. Had Honda disclosed their design flaw to me before I purchased the car I would not have bought it. Come to think of it, I cannot think of anyone who would want or accept an air-conditioning unit that intermittently blows hot air on you from each and every stop where 20% or more throttle is used. The 2009 Honda Accord they rented for me does not blow hot air on me after I accelerate from a stop. Yet the Assistant Service Manager told me it does. I have driven the Accord a few days and I can tell you it does not blow hot air on you from a stop. I wonder why Honda chooses not to put this ingenious Honda Fit idea in their 2009 Accord model or use it for advertising such as: “cutting edge technology, Honda Fit blows hot air on occupants when air conditioner is on”. Perhaps I should try turning on the heater when I want cold air and turning on the air conditioner when I want hot air. I am surprised the dealer has not suggested trying to rotate the tires at every stop to get the air conditioner to work properly. The dealer retreats to the company line that “the vehicle is performing as designed” even though they admit the car is designed to shut off the air conditioner compressor if 20% or more throttle is used from a start. If the compressor is shut off it cannot produce cold air. If it gets the air from outside if the recirculation feature is not on it takes the ambient air (temperature) and blows it on the occupants of the vehicle. If it is 110 degrees outside, the car will blow 110 degree air on you when the compressor is shut off. Please advise if you are having the same problem and/or any solution. The problem is there is not a solution yet. There is a service bulletin on the issue but it only advised the service department to advise customers "the vehicle is performing as designed". That does not fix the problem; it only further aggravates customers and gives Honda a bad name. It would be nice if Honda would step up to the plate and take ownership of the problem and proceed with the appropriate corrective action instead of advising dealers to inform customers that the vehicle is performing as designed when in fact it has a serious design flaw. I’m not an auto mechanic but as a lay person my guess is that Honda designed the Fit to be too “Green”. The current engine in the 2009 Honda Fit Sport is not large enough to meet the demands / loads placed on it. I would also assume that Honda is familiar enough with the issue that the decision to have the compressor turn off during 20% or more throttle from a stop is the “best choice” from their alternatives. It makes me wonder what the alternatives are. I would assume that the Fit simply cannot run the current air conditioning unit on maximum full time. If my assumptions are in fact true what more do you need to constitute a Lemon vehicle? The air conditioning does not work as compared to every other car in America. I assume that the air conditioning is not a problem in the 2009 Honda Accord as I have experienced simply because the Accord has a larger engine and is able to meet all demands / loads placed on it with ease. An additional issue is that the 2009 Fit shocks me every time I get out of the car and close the door. Once again, Honda chooses not to fix the problem rather issue a technical service bulletin which advises customers why this is happening and what type of clothing to wear to avoid the problem (which in my case did not work and is not a fix). Once again, my 2009 Honda Accord rental does not shock me when I get out of the car and close the door. I guess Honda believes the people with these defective 2009 Fits are small enough that they can effectively ignore the problem and not worry about it. I don't have much faith in the Lemon Law and don't want to spent huge amounts of time pursuing it. Does anyone out there have any answers? I think it is a pathetic approach Honda is taking towards their customers and it is leaving a bad taste in my mouth about owning a Honda. If there are any prospective Honda Fit buyers out there please pay attention to these issues. Does anyone have any ideas how to get more publicity on the issue? Maybe Honda would address the issue if it appeared in the automotive headlines or front page headlines. I have documentation i.e. email with dealer acknowledging the problem and advising that there is not a fix to the problem, my registration documenting my Fit ownership, rental car (Honda Accord) registration, etc. documenting my rental, etc.. I would appreciate some
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