Hello,

I just picked up a used white 2010 Fit Sport this weekend. It has 15,800 miles on it. After driving a Ford Escort for the past 7 years and the engine dropping a valve after 233,000 trouble-free miles, I felt that the Fit was the perfect replacement for my lifestyle.

I needed to make a 95 mile drive this morning. I enjoyed the drive, however, I came across two issues....

First, I noted that the recirculation lever on the dash does NOT slide to the recirc position. When sliding it to the left, the slide lever binds at about the 1/2 way point. Anyone have anything like this happen to them?

Secondly, while driving down the turnpike (65 mph) with no radio on, I started to notice this very subtle 'ringing' (chinging) noise coming from the dash/engine (hard to tell) that gradually increased and then decreased and went away. It happened quite often, about a minute apart. When I got off the turnpike, I didn't notice it when sitting at a stoplight, but when I started driving even at 40-45 mph, it was doing it. It didn't affect the way the car drove, but more of an annoyance. Let me also add that it's not that loud....the radio would easily cover the noise. It occurred whether I had the heat/ac fan on or off.

I know it's not much to go off of for troubleshooting...it's almost as if maybe it's just a belt or something that occasionally makes a noise while spinning on the pulley or a spinning fan that cavitates. It seems that it would do it enough for a technician to be able to hear if driving with me, but I'm concerned that it's going to be one of those difficult noises to find given when it occurs.

If anyone has any thoughts on what to look for etc., I would love to poke around and save a trip to Honda.

I certainly believe that I'll enjoy this car...it's just a little annoying that I'm having to deal with these things less than 2 days after I purchased it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

I found what was causing the recirculation lever to bind....click on the picture links below. I dropped the glove box so I could peer under the dash and I found this insulation-like material jammed around the fan, and I also found the cabin filter stuffed with small pieces of black filter-like material. How in the world did this stuff get in here? I called and gave the dealer a piece of my mind (Faulker Honda of Harrisburg, PA) as they should have checked this filter before selling the car, especially as certified. The response was that this would not be checked since it is not replaced until 30,000 and the car only has 16,000 miles on it. I said it took me about 30 seconds to find, and that it might be in their best interest to check it on cars. Regardless, they're sending me a new filter in the mail.

1 issue resolved, 1 to go, unless this stuff is what was causing the strange noise.

Filter 1 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Filter 2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

nice buy!
glad you got the lever bind issue resolved. As for me I never encountered either issues. We you using the sports mode or crusie control during your trek?

 

Nice detective work for a first-time Fit owner. If you are patient, eventually someone on these forums will answer your questions. But you are much better off if you can find the answers yourself. And I agree with your opinion on the cabin filter. Such a simple thing to check if the dealer is going to certify the used car. Nice that you got a free filter out of the complaint, though.

 

My trek was cruise control most of the time (in Drive mode, not Sport). When I got off the turnpike (no cruise control), I still heard the noise.

 

Hey 5arnolds,

If you have stock Dunlop tires on your Fit,the tires are making that noise. Yes the tires. BTW, they are dam near dangerous in the wet . In the dry they made a swishing/wizzing noise,and in the wet it got louder depending on the surface of the road. I had my girlfriend drive my Fit and I laid backwards in passenger seat with head in footwell area. The noise comes from both sides of the foot well at or near the dash level. I got rid of the stock Dunlops at 27,000 miles and replaced with Continental Extreme Contact DWS 205/50/16 and the noise left. In fact the Conti's are much much quieter then the Dunlops and FAR better on wet and snow.

BTW if you bought from Faulkner in H-Burg,they have a reputation as rip off artists as far as certifying used Hondas,probably many other things overlooked to keep turn around cost way down. They figure at 15K why bothering to change anything. Only thing Certified from them is the sticker itself.

BTW, I am from York now,but was a life long resident of Lancaster County. Dealer in York{Apple Honda} rarely sees my 2009 Fit as I do most all minor maintenance,oil changes,and tire rotations. I worked on Hondas,Subarus,VW's,and Toyotas a few years back. Fit is simple for most minor maintenance.

BTW, to prove it's the tires,find a bridge or road surface with rain grooves,the noise will go away.

PaFitter

 

"I dropped the glove box so I could peer under the dash and I found this insulation-like material jammed around the fan, and I also found the cabin filter stuffed with small pieces of black filter-like material. How in the world did this stuff get in here?"

Looks like some mice have been in the filter and blower area. You should try to find what they removed the cotton from.

Clifton

 

I noted something when I dropped the glove box down to access the filter/fan area. On the back side of the glove box, there is some type of white quilted material stuck to it with an adhesive. It appears that some of it is missing. It looks like the same material that I found balled up in the fan area (see pics in my earlier post).

WOULD SOMEONE BE ABLE TO DO ME A BIG FAVOR AND DROP THEIR GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOWN TO SEE IF THERE IS A WHITE MATERIAL ADHERED TO THE BACK OF THEIR GLOVEBOX?

I'm assuming it's some type of sound insulator but just want to make sure it is supposed to be there in the first place.

Thanks in advance.

 

From your posted photos, it appears that maybe a mouse had a nest inside your Fit behind the dash.

Take a closer look to make sure you don't have any opening that a tiny mouse might get through.

I've had a few nests in other cars and they can get through tiny openings . . . . . . .

 

I really find it hard to believe that the noise I have heard has to do with the tires....the noise increase/decrease does not align with when I am speeding up/slowing down....it's just sporadic, kind of like the radiator fan that turns on and off. I'll just have to give it time, observe, turn accessories on/off and see if I can pair it down.

As far as dealerships, I had purchased my '05 Odyssey EX from Apple Honda of York. I did have certain maintenance performed by them with no issues. I was a little reluctant to buy from Faulkner Honda Harrisburg but they had what I wanted at a reasonably good price...I'm just hoping I didn't buy a lemon...that there is a history to this vehicle that I am not aware of. Given it has only 16,000 miles on it, has a clean record per the full Carfax report (I know, that's not a guarantee) and is fully warranted (certified), I think I'm safe. We just live in a time when it's hard to trust anyone.

Thanks for all of the input.

 

Yeah it's there. White diaper like material on the back of the lower glove box. Some sort of sound insulation.

The cabin filter really needs to be replaced yearly. It gets stinky in humid weather.

On the ringing noise, I'm not sure. The drive-train and exhaust are a little more noisy on this car than others I've had. You might be hearing exhaust or valve-train noise. Also the A/C evaporator can make some noise, mostly hissing, but the expansion valve might make a "ringing chinging" noise. If you had it on defog/defrost the A/C runs even if the A/C switch is off.

 

5arnolds,

All I know is when I changed tires the noise went away. Proof enough for me. The fact the noise comes and goes is related to the type of pavement you are driving on. I spent a good 10 miles being inverted under the dash as someone else drove the car,shifted gears,turned,stopped and took off again,in both town and highway road surfaces. It bothered me as well,or I wouldn't done what I did to see or hear where it was coming from. The noise DOES come and go but the noise was distinct to the front wheel well area just behind the tire, when the Dunlops were on. One note of satisfaction the noise lessens as the tires wear down. Another tire point is when I mount my dedicated winter tires ,Michelin IceX2's. The noise again comes and goes depending on type of pavement as well and those tires are even louder then the Dunlops in a swishing,whirring,hissing noise they make when wet or light slush. They are but a bit quieter when dry. I have a 2009 manual sport and lack the insulation of later models{2012 and up I think}. There are folks here that put extra insulation to stop the noise in the older models. It must have been a concern enough from complaints for Honda to add insulation to newer models in the firewall and wheel well area. Now that I have mounted the Conti's,the noise went away I am satisfied it's not mechanical in nature.

As for Apple Honda York ,so far they have never given me a reason to dislike the service there. They know I have and automotive background and don't try to pull anything over on me. Their parts are way over priced. I buy online parts from Bernardi Honda and have them shipped for cheaper then Apple Parts prices with Tax. Only time my 2009 has seen the dealer was the valve recall and 1 state inspection. As for Faulkner H-Burg I used to work for the Jeep dealer in Mt Joy in parts. We sold Jeep parts to them when they had a trade in. There were several times they denied new critical parts in favor of junkyard parts for a trade in. Just set me against them on how they certified their used vehicles.Being in the automotive trade at one time you here plenty about the Faulkner group.

Good Luck with Your Fit. I have had very good luck with mine and am well pleased. If you ever see a Milano red Fit in your area with a White Punisher skull decal in the rear window,blink your lights.

PaFitter

 

The under glove cover also has the same type insulation.

Clifton