Anyone know what causes this?

[john70t]

Originally Posted by stevej37

It rips through the gears and still gets 40mpg. Never owned a car like it.

My 1989 4th 2dr Gen Civic hatchback with TBI did the same thing.
Ugly little booger on the outside.
Plus it was more than three times as solid, held more in the trunk, and far more comfortable to drive. IMHO it was almost perfect.
(and had a universal tape player cutout in the dash. no proprietary dealer replacement required.)

The 2009 Fit is a saucy little auto-crosser though.
It needs a 6th gear: 4k rpm at 80mph is too much buzz on a long trip. V-Tech drains mileage quick.
1st, and especially 2nd gear, are far too short and not a band aid for the lack of torque.

I'm not complaining though. Just an observation.

[stevej37]

^^^ The only complaint I have on my 2010 Fit...at 75mph or over...the gas mileage suffers.
I can get 40 mpg all day long...until going over 75 mph.

[john70t]

I've read V-Tech kicks in at 3500rpm but idk.

An RPM "shift light" with different colors would be a viable upgrade, providing it could be installed without surgery.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by john70t

I've read V-Tech kicks in at 3500rpm but idk.

An RPM "shift light" with different colors would be a viable upgrade, providing it could be installed without surgery.

5500-6000 on my Prelude. The Fit has variable v-tec. It kicks in whenever needed....but the Prelude has a stronger 'kick in'
As far as a shift light....lol..no thanks.

[john70t]

The drive-by-wire system (A completely wrong technical name btw) completely messes with my driving.

Sometimes it's too much.
Sometimes it's not enough. I've even stalled a few times like a newbie beginner. Like it's messing with me.
Completely unreliable and variable.

I can't feel the engine vibrations in my right foot...

The only good thing is a mechanical manual shift into neutral with key switch and separate brake systems for emergencies.
Otherwise, those dang computers can just go to hell for all I care.

[stevej37]

^^^ The auto tranny is not worth the diff.
Gas mileage is worse, and it's not nearly as fun.

My Sprint throttle controller made a big difference in the 'fun to drive'...it's great.

Also...I installed a pull-back spring on the gas pedal...it makes the foot pressure more like a cable operated throttle....way easier to drive.

[look 171]

All right, Steve. I just noticed that I have that moving streak under a certain angle of the sun. I have seen it many times before, so its a squirt of the old wiper fluid and it goes away. Mine is really dirty.

[nota]

if you stop the car at the same angle and get outside
do you still see the streak from the side or front ?
if you block the headlite from the sun do you see it ?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by nota

if you stop the car at the same angle and get outside
do you still see the streak from the side or front ?
if you block the headlite from the sun do you see it ?

I'm sorry but you lost me on this.
If stopping the car at the same angle? What angle?

The streak is only seen from inside the car when facing the sun.
I tried covering the dash and it didn't make any difference.
The angle doesn't change the image...except that it moves across the windshield.

Hope that helps explain.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by look 171

All right, Steve. I just noticed that I have that moving streak under a certain angle of the sun. I have seen it many times before, so its a squirt of the old wiper fluid and it goes away. Mine is really dirty.

Makes no difference with mine. I have spent hours getting it super clean.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by stevej37

The angle doesn't change the image...except that it moves across the windshield.

Which seems to indicate the entire windshield is producing the same effect.
The entire windshield..

So if cleaning inside and outside doesn't produce any change, this magnification effect likely must originate from inside the windshield itself.

(to fix: replace windshield, or use better sunglasses, or change commute times, or just deal with it?)

[stevej37]

That's where I'm at right now.
Replacing windshield is my next option....if I can't live with it.
I have no commute times...so I'll prob live with it. With the age and miles of the Fit...not worth putting a new windshield in.

[look 171]

It moves just like you described. I did not take an after pic but its gone. I found sometimes an oily substance will cost that.

[stevej37]

A couple more that I took this spring. Lots of reflections off the dash.

[cabmandone]

I'm sticking with micro scratches. I'd give this stuff a try. It took scratches out of the windshield on my daughters car.

https://www.amazon.com/GP21005-Windshield-Polishing-Removes-Surface/dp/B001RAQGXC?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

[stevej37]

^^^ I'll prob get some of that to try it....I can surely use it on my SC also. That windshield is sand pitted bad. I'll report back on if it works on the Fit.

[cabmandone]

I'll go out and make sure that's the kit I bought but I think it is. You basically use to different sanding pads and wet sand the windshield. Then you put the compound on the buffing pad and buff the windshield. I did it to two cars and it really helped. The first one looked like someone took a red scotchbrite pad to the windshield and it has some windshield wiper scratches from wipers being run with bad blades in them. I was really impressed with how well it worked.

[stevej37]

Revived this thread because of a new discovery....

The Fit is long gone with the windshield problem.
The new Civic SI has the same problem...just not quite as bad yet.

So...that tells me that it is a windshield curvature problem.
If I still had the Fit, I would compare windshield numbers....

[944 S2]

Are you seeing distortion in a particular area? Focus on a point in the horizon and move your head side to side. Not uncommon to have some distortion due to the manufacturing of the glass, although there are specifications for how much is acceptable. Windshield are what we call sag bent which is heated on a ring supporting the perimeter of the glass and allowed to sag to a defined shape. Its basically an art form. It’s more cost effective and is widely used in the auto glass industry. Press bend is the other method usually used for a single layer glass like the doors or the rear glass. Generally speaking its more accurate since its pressed into a tool on both inner and outer surfaces. Hope this helps.

[masraum]

I feel like some sort of film or coating of oil or something has caused this. I'd say "scratches" but since the civic is new, that seems less likely. So oil/gunk from the road seems likely. It could be something on the inside of the window. I know that all of the cars that I've had eventually get a film on the inside of the windows/dash even thought I've got the windows up 99.9% of the time with the AC running. I don't smoke, so that's got nothing to do with it.

I suppose it could be from the window (glass or safety film inside the glass) itself.