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Honda Fit Bad Weather Handling

40 messages,  Last post on Jun 09, 2008 at 1:51 AM

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#1 of 40 Snow, Brakes + My Honda Fit by ktms Nov 29, 2006 (8:13 am)
it finally snowed last night, so it was my fit's first time on the road under slick conditions. it handles really well... almost reminds me of driving my old VW bug in the snow. i used the paddle shifters to downshift on the slick spots and everything. but... i slammed on the brakes several times, just to see if i slid, and how far. every time i did, there was a popping/grinding sensation, almost if the whole wheel well where full of big rocks. it stopped just fine... but the sound was disconcerting. i could feel the force of the popping through the brake pedal. when i put the car in the garage last night, the roads were dry, so there isn't a chance that any water splashed up in there and froze. so, i guess my question is: is this normal? if not, what action should i take? i thank you in advance for your response! Replies to this message: jacksan1 (Nov 29, 2006 9:11 am)
#2 of 40 Re: Snow, Brakes + My Honda Fit [ktms] by jacksan1 Nov 29, 2006 (9:11 am)
Replying to: ktms (Nov 29, 2006 8:13 am) but... i slammed on the brakes several times, just to see if i slid, and how far. every time i did, there was a popping/grinding sensation, almost if the whole wheel well where full of big rocks. it stopped just fine... but the sound was disconcerting. i could feel the force of the popping through the brake pedal. when i put the car in the garage last night, the roads were dry, so there isn't a chance that any water splashed up in there and froze. so, i guess my question is: is this normal? if not, what action should i take?   Yes, it is normal. Did you ever own a car with ABS before the Fit? I suspect you did not. That's the ABS doing its job, and although there is some variance in the way it sounds, ABS gives you all the sound and sensation that you describe when it is in operation. It is working. Your action now is to get used to the way it works, so that you can take advantage of ABS when you really need it.
#3 of 40 Re: Snow, Brakes + My Honda Fit by ktms Nov 29, 2006 (11:32 am)
huh... boy do i feel stupid, but that's nothing new. but you're right! i've never had a car with ABS before. sadly, my last car was an 87 nissan pickup... quite a change between that and the fit. thanks for the reply! Replies to this message: crowb (Nov 29, 2006 1:54 pm)
#4 of 40 Re: Snow, Brakes + My Honda Fit [ktms] by crowb Nov 29, 2006 (1:54 pm)
Replying to: ktms (Nov 29, 2006 11:32 am) More importantly, congrats on your new Fit! I know you must be loving it if you upgraded from an '87 pickup. I'm sure that must have been a great little Nissan, but manufacturers are putting lots more bells and whistles on the newer cars (such as ABS). I know I'm loving my Fit. So good luck to you with yours!   Oh, and careful with that snow!
#5 of 40 Winter Driving by cdnfit Dec 18, 2006 (4:30 am)
Our Fit had 40,000 miles on it so we changed to Nokian WR's. As far as I know these are the only tires that can be driven year round and yet still have the "Snowflake Rating" for extreme weather driving. They have good traction in the snow and very good stability. The studded Nokian Hakk 4's weren't available so I settled for the Nokian WR's - at least I won't have to change them in the spring. I've had studded tires before which would be better on ice. But don't expect miracles - everything will slide on ice. Also studs will wear fairly quickly and they eventually will fall out. (But I think the Nokian studs will stay in longer than other brands).   We are not getting such good gas mileage in the winter. I'm not sure if it's because the new tires are heavier and softer - or because we are idling the car more in the sub-zero weather.   As an aside, I wish that I could vent cold air onto my face while still keeping the car warm. My Dad had a 1966 Rover and a 1992 Nissan Maxima with this feature. It kept the kids nice and warm - and still kept the driver fresh and alert on long drives. I just love driving with cold air in my face.   Has anyone installed driving lights on their Fit? What kind? And where did you install them? (There's not much room to install them.)
#6 of 40 Brake grinding by abelha Dec 23, 2006 (5:44 pm)
I have noticed a grinding sound from my brakes. This usually happens when my foot isn't on the direct center of the pedal. Is this the ABS working, and if so, is this normal?
#7 of 40 Honda Fit windshield wash doesn't work in cold weather by cindyj Jan 20, 2007 (5:06 pm)
#8 of 40 Honda Fit windshield wash doesn't work in cold weather by cindyj Jan 20, 2007 (2:51 pm)
Wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem- When the weather is below freezing the windshield wash fluid will not come out of the ports for the front and rear windows. The pump is working- I can hear it. It defineately seems that something is frozen as it only happens when it is cold.
#9 of 40 Fit winshield wash system works here, in Canada, at -30C (~-20f) by gids Jan 20, 2007 (5:06 pm)
If your windshield washer does not work when it is below freezing, but does work when it is warmer, then you do not have enough ww antifreeze solution to keep the solution from freezing as it tries to exit the nozzle.   That would be the case, for example, if you only added ww antifreeze solution after the freezing weather arrived.   So far this winter we've had no problems with our Sport in weather as cool as -28C. We use ww antifreeze good to -40 C (=-40F) because driving lowers temperature of windshield.   Of course, if it doesn't work in warm weather you either have a leak or an empty ww fluid tank. I don't know the Fit design details, but if you didn't protect it before the first freeze, the expansion of water into ice could have split the feed tube or the tank.   Enjoy your Fit.

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