TSB/Software Update for Inaccurate MPG Display
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 118
From: Bellingham, WA
+1 for my dealer.
I picked up my new '09 Fit Sport on 12/10. I had purchased it with the door visors but the dealership had to order them. After reading the FF forum, I became aware of the update and when I called to schedule the appointment for the visor install, asked about the possibility of flashing the software. The service manager was not aware of the TSB, but after 10sec on hold told me that it would be no problem to install the update.
The car had 224 miles on it when I accepted delivery and the MPG readout was 22MPG! After the update it read 21.7 
Now I realise the engine is nowhere near being broken in and the weather here, and my short commute, are pretty much worst case scenario as far as fuel economy is concerned so I don't know if the update 'took'. Actually, I don't really care. My initial impression of the readout was that it was a unnecessary gimmick, that impression still holds, and would have much rather preferred if they had spent the extra money on a better stereo.
I picked up my new '09 Fit Sport on 12/10. I had purchased it with the door visors but the dealership had to order them. After reading the FF forum, I became aware of the update and when I called to schedule the appointment for the visor install, asked about the possibility of flashing the software. The service manager was not aware of the TSB, but after 10sec on hold told me that it would be no problem to install the update.
The car had 224 miles on it when I accepted delivery and the MPG readout was 22MPG! After the update it read 21.7 Now I realise the engine is nowhere near being broken in and the weather here, and my short commute, are pretty much worst case scenario as far as fuel economy is concerned so I don't know if the update 'took'. Actually, I don't really care. My initial impression of the readout was that it was a unnecessary gimmick, that impression still holds, and would have much rather preferred if they had spent the extra money on a better stereo.
Great dealer experience. Went in last Wednesday (Dec. 23). Oil life read 20%. Went to the quick service center showed them the TSB and told them I wanted to get my oil changed and the software update. They sent me up to the service center who changed my oil and updated the software per the TSB. No questions asked and no personal mileage calculations needed.
Haven't used an entire tank of gas yet to see the difference, but the dealer experience was excellent.
Haven't used an entire tank of gas yet to see the difference, but the dealer experience was excellent.
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,462
From: Vermont
+1 for my dealer.
I picked up my new '09 Fit Sport on 12/10. I had purchased it with the door visors but the dealership had to order them. After reading the FF forum, I became aware of the update and when I called to schedule the appointment for the visor install, asked about the possibility of flashing the software. The service manager was not aware of the TSB, but after 10sec on hold told me that it would be no problem to install the update. The car had 224 miles on it when I accepted delivery and the MPG readout was 22MPG! After the update it read 21.7 Now I realise the engine is nowhere near being broken in and the weather here, and my short commute, are pretty much worst case scenario as far as fuel economy is concerned so I don't know if the update 'took'. Actually, I don't really care. My initial impression of the readout was that it was a unnecessary gimmick, that impression still holds, and would have much rather preferred if they had spent the extra money on a better stereo.
I picked up my new '09 Fit Sport on 12/10. I had purchased it with the door visors but the dealership had to order them. After reading the FF forum, I became aware of the update and when I called to schedule the appointment for the visor install, asked about the possibility of flashing the software. The service manager was not aware of the TSB, but after 10sec on hold told me that it would be no problem to install the update.
The car had 224 miles on it when I accepted delivery and the MPG readout was 22MPG! After the update it read 21.7 Now I realise the engine is nowhere near being broken in and the weather here, and my short commute, are pretty much worst case scenario as far as fuel economy is concerned so I don't know if the update 'took'. Actually, I don't really care. My initial impression of the readout was that it was a unnecessary gimmick, that impression still holds, and would have much rather preferred if they had spent the extra money on a better stereo.~SB
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,661
From: Georgia
The TSB shows 0.3 hours labor. I don't think there would be any charge for the "part." I suspect they would do it for free if it was in having other work done. What's honda's labor these days $80/hour? That'd make it $24.
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 127
From: Elgin, IL
Brought it in tonight...
I haven't been here for a while, but stopped in today to find the announcement of this fix. I have been seeing about 10% optimistic readings since day one, and have about 15k on the car now. It's always been about 10% off. So you can imagine how excited I was to see this fix. I called the local Honda dealer and gave them the bulletin number and described the problem. I made an appointment to have the work done tonight at 7:30pm. I got to the dealer, filled out the paperwork, and waited almost an hour. The service clerk came back and told me that they looked at it, and my version was the most current. Strange, indeed. What are the chances they were feeding me a line? What are the chances that it IS in fact the most up to date firmware and it's STILL reading about 10% high? Seems kinda' fishy to me....what do you guys think?
Warner
Warner
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,661
From: Georgia
I haven't been here for a while, but stopped in today to find the announcement of this fix. I have been seeing about 10% optimistic readings since day one, and have about 15k on the car now. It's always been about 10% off. So you can imagine how excited I was to see this fix. I called the local Honda dealer and gave them the bulletin number and described the problem. I made an appointment to have the work done tonight at 7:30pm. I got to the dealer, filled out the paperwork, and waited almost an hour. The service clerk came back and told me that they looked at it, and my version was the most current. Strange, indeed. What are the chances they were feeding me a line? What are the chances that it IS in fact the most up to date firmware and it's STILL reading about 10% high? Seems kinda' fishy to me....what do you guys think?
Warner
Warner
The fix is night and day. It's still not perfect but within 3% instead of over 10%.
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 405
From: Phoenix
If you got your car before the TSB in October, I think, you can't have the most recent update. From what I have heard, a lot of the dealers don't want to do the update, for whatever crazy reason they have. Mine was done, and went from 10% over estimating mileage to dead on, and now is back to about 5-7% over estimating. Why? Go figure. Better than before, but creeping up again.
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 127
From: Elgin, IL
If you got your car before the TSB in October, I think, you can't have the most recent update. From what I have heard, a lot of the dealers don't want to do the update, for whatever crazy reason they have. Mine was done, and went from 10% over estimating mileage to dead on, and now is back to about 5-7% over estimating. Why? Go figure. Better than before, but creeping up again.
Warner
I plan on going into the dealer for this soon--however, I haven't kept track off all of my discrepencies...I just do it on my phone everytime (the mpg calculation), and the mpg gauge is always significantly optimistic.
Can someone post their spreadsheet or documentation so that others of us may use it in order to convince our dealer that we are having the issue--without having to wait for 10 more fill-ups? Please...
Can someone post their spreadsheet or documentation so that others of us may use it in order to convince our dealer that we are having the issue--without having to wait for 10 more fill-ups? Please...
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 127
From: Elgin, IL
It may come to that. I just left a message for the service manager. When he returns my call I'm going to ask him how it's possible that my firmware was up to the most current revision when I bought my car in September and the TSB didn't come out until November 18th. It'll be interesting to hear his response. This is McGrath Honda in Elgin, IL for anyone who's interested in which dealer I'm working with.
Warner
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,661
From: Georgia
I plan on going into the dealer for this soon--however, I haven't kept track off all of my discrepencies...I just do it on my phone everytime (the mpg calculation), and the mpg gauge is always significantly optimistic.
Can someone post their spreadsheet or documentation so that others of us may use it in order to convince our dealer that we are having the issue--without having to wait for 10 more fill-ups? Please...
Can someone post their spreadsheet or documentation so that others of us may use it in order to convince our dealer that we are having the issue--without having to wait for 10 more fill-ups? Please...
Email the service dept and make arrangements in advance. Attach a copy of the bulletin.
Or just scribble some numbers on a pad of paper that show what you want in case of weenies.
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,661
From: Georgia
It may come to that. I just left a message for the service manager. When he returns my call I'm going to ask him how it's possible that my firmware was up to the most current revision when I bought my car in September and the TSB didn't come out until November 18th. It'll be interesting to hear his response. This is McGrath Honda in Elgin, IL for anyone who's interested in which dealer I'm working with.
Warner
Warner
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 127
From: Elgin, IL
Warner
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 127
From: Elgin, IL
Since I had an appointment confirmation e-mail from the service manager last night, I replied to it with the following response just now:
Jeff, I called and left a voicemail message for you earlier this morning. My call is in reference to the "service" that I had done on my 2009 Honda Fit last night. I brought the car in because of a wildly inaccurate fuel MPG reading, which is a known problem with these cars. I frequent several forums online and was aware of this issue even before I purchased the car, so it wasn't a surprise. I was pleased to read yesterday (haven't been on that particular forum for several months) that there was a TSB for this very problem, which involves Updating the PGM-FI software with HDS.
So I made my appointment for 7:30 last night, arrived on time, got checked in, and about 45 minutes later the service attendant came back to tell me the car was ready, but that they couldn't do anything since my car already had the most current version. This is simply not possible, since the TSB came out on November 18th and I purchased the car on July 27th, well before the update was even available. I have not had the car in for anything besides an oil change since I bought it. There is no way that it could be up to date. My suspicion is that this was an honest mistake, and that the software that you have in your shop has not been updated, therefore it matched the version that my car has. I would like to get this corrected. If you do not have the latest software that is required to fix the problem, please let me know so I can look for another dealer to service my 3 current and any future Hondas. I have attached a PDF of the TSB so you can see what I'm talking about. Please let me know what my next step should be.
Sincerely,
Warner
Jeff, I called and left a voicemail message for you earlier this morning. My call is in reference to the "service" that I had done on my 2009 Honda Fit last night. I brought the car in because of a wildly inaccurate fuel MPG reading, which is a known problem with these cars. I frequent several forums online and was aware of this issue even before I purchased the car, so it wasn't a surprise. I was pleased to read yesterday (haven't been on that particular forum for several months) that there was a TSB for this very problem, which involves Updating the PGM-FI software with HDS.
So I made my appointment for 7:30 last night, arrived on time, got checked in, and about 45 minutes later the service attendant came back to tell me the car was ready, but that they couldn't do anything since my car already had the most current version. This is simply not possible, since the TSB came out on November 18th and I purchased the car on July 27th, well before the update was even available. I have not had the car in for anything besides an oil change since I bought it. There is no way that it could be up to date. My suspicion is that this was an honest mistake, and that the software that you have in your shop has not been updated, therefore it matched the version that my car has. I would like to get this corrected. If you do not have the latest software that is required to fix the problem, please let me know so I can look for another dealer to service my 3 current and any future Hondas. I have attached a PDF of the TSB so you can see what I'm talking about. Please let me know what my next step should be.
Sincerely,
Warner
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 127
From: Elgin, IL
Wow...already got a call back from the service manager. He is going to look into it...said he AGREES with me that the tech's computer wasn't up to date. He said each technician has his own computer....he'll call me back. He was civil and decent so I'm cautiously optimistic that this WILL get resolved.
Warner
Warner
Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 250
From: Eastern, NC
FWIW