1st Generation (GD 01-08)The one that started it all! Generation specific talk and questions here!
Welcome to Fit Freak!
Welcome to Fit Freak,
You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!
Well, thanks to a 2-month long transit strike, I've been forced to drive through almost every winter condition imaginable--freezing rain, black ice, slush, heavy snow, and temperatures as low as -35°C. I love my Fit but it has some definite winter weaknesses:
- even with winter tires on, it'll skid or lose traction even on small amounts of snow, either when stopping or accelerating from a stop. I was surprised, to be frank; I've previously driven a '96 Neon with winter tires, and it wasn't that big a problem (the Neon was an A/T though). Is the Fit really *that* light that it floats over a bit of snow?
- OEM wipers and blades streak really badly after about 25 minutes in wet snowfall. I think melted snow/wiper fluid gets into the flexing joints/coil/ spring and freezes, so the middle of the blades aren't getting pressed onto the glass like it should. Thankfully more a problem on the passenger-side wiper
- windshield defroster can't keep up with me and three passengers when it's below -25°C
- Mine's the non-Sport trim, but road clearance is still lower than expected on 14" wheels. About five times now I've spotted a chunk of wheel-well ice ahead and couldn't safely evade. They probably sat just a bit higher than a baseball would, and every time I passed over one I would feel it hit and scrape the bottom of the car--argh! I'm worried one might have dented or damaged something, but the dealer reported no issues when I took it in for its first oil change last week.
Anyone else encounter these winter issues?
As is always the case, tires matter the most. If you're trying to drive in midwest snow conditions on OEM Dunslops, I'm surprized you go at all.
Get some good tires - consult other posters and TireRack testing for a good selection.
My Fit does mountain duty regularly in winter and does quite well with IceBears - though others do at least as well based on experience -and even rescued a BMW. (on all-weather tires).
Though my Fit isn't as good as my Geo Metro as it weighs a good 800 lb more it does do well. Contrary to superstitition, lighter the car and the better the snow tires the better in winter. The less weight you have to herd the easier traction and changing course and tires with nice tread designs that increase pressure between tire and snow/ice surface the easier it gets there. There was a reason Saabs and Minis ruled the winter rallies til the 4WD vehicles arrived though weight is still reduced as much as possible.
Well, thanks to a 2-month long transit strike, I've been forced to drive through almost every winter condition imaginable--freezing rain, black ice, slush, heavy snow, and temperatures as low as -35°C. I love my Fit but it has some definite winter weaknesses:
- even with winter tires on, it'll skid or lose traction even on small amounts of snow, either when stopping or accelerating from a stop. I was surprised, to be frank; I've previously driven a '96 Neon with winter tires, and it wasn't that big a problem (the Neon was an A/T though). Is the Fit really *that* light that it floats over a bit of snow?
- OEM wipers and blades streak really badly after about 25 minutes in wet snowfall. I think melted snow/wiper fluid gets into the flexing joints/coil/ spring and freezes, so the middle of the blades aren't getting pressed onto the glass like it should. Thankfully more a problem on the passenger-side wiper
- windshield defroster can't keep up with me and three passengers when it's below -25°C
- Mine's the non-Sport trim, but road clearance is still lower than expected on 14" wheels. About five times now I've spotted a chunk of wheel-well ice ahead and couldn't safely evade. They probably sat just a bit higher than a baseball would, and every time I passed over one I would feel it hit and scrape the bottom of the car--argh! I'm worried one might have dented or damaged something, but the dealer reported no issues when I took it in for its first oil change last week.
Anyone else encounter these winter issues?
Clearance is 5", about same as most cars.
Winter tires are what? Ciompared your experience with TireRack test results?
Check you windshield wiper blades and spring force against winshield. Tried RainX?
Hmm...I just got my fit last week. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio so the winter isn't bad all winter. It usually snows bad once or twice it just depends. We shall see what happens this year, hopefully not much! I hate driving in snow and am nervous to drive my fit in the snow! Hopefully I won't have too many problems!
For that very reason I wish Honda would have implemented that system that heats washer fluid to something like 170 degrees right out of the pump.
I've only had that trouble once with these OEM wipers. The set that was absolutely terrible was that silicone tripledge type on my civic. They were only usable dry in the salt (wet would smear), for a while- then you spray for 15 seconds to clean them off so they'd work for another 5 minutes.
I've always wondered if I should keep some wipes in the car or something, just in case. Maybe just a rag and a windex bottle filled with low-temp washer fluid would work.
I bough a HotShot on eBay in the summer for $62. It is a brand new heated windshield washer fluid warmer that uses in GM cars/SUV. It heats washer fluid to 150F. I cannot wait to use it this winter.
I bough a HotShot on eBay in the summer for $62. It is a brand new heated windshield washer fluid warmer that uses in GM cars/SUV. It heats washer fluid to 160F. I cannot wait to use it this winter.
Is that anything like wrapping your washer fluid bottle with a 12v heating tape powered directly off the battery? That works in mildly cold weather but the truth is that the spray looses heat so fast that it virtually freezes on the windshield at below 20F. The point here is the inability to keep wash water from freezing when it hits the wndshield even if the washer fluid is heated to 180F.
The solution we found works is to use 50% ethylene glycol antifreeze in the washer bottle which doesn't freeze til -30F but I don't think thats too good for paint. There must be another low temp freezing liquid to use. Any suggestions while I do some research?
No, there is nothing wrap the washer bottle. I connected the fluid line from the washer bottle to it. It has a small internal reservoir for heating the fluid. Then connect it to fluid line before getting to nozzles. (Basically, it sits between washer bottle and nozzles). So the location of the HotShot should close to nozzles as much as possible. It gets power directly from battery. Manual states clearly that using HotShot while engine runs only. Otherwise, it will draw power from battery real quick. One press will warn up washer fluid for 3 minutes.
It works the same as in Cadillac CTS since it made from the same manufacture.
my dd's are parked outside. i use a snowbrum to remove most of the snow and also a bottle of washer fluid to spray at the washer nozzle on the car from the outside the car.
the car's only weakness is the tires... get some WS60's and you are on your way.
if you have super cold weather like in the north (as in Canada) get a block heater.
__________________ 08 FitSport (5MT) Storm Silver - My modded dd 09 FitSport (AT) Taffeta White - My stock GE8 as her dd 04 G35Coupe (6MT) Silver - My modded weekend touring car. 09 370Z (6MT) Silver - My weekend sports car.
Post your questions in my Fit Blog
Linear Mode
