User error creeps in...Yesterday I went out to the Fit and it wouldn't start! At first I thought it was the key battery as I couldn't even open the door with the remote (key). After roadside service came and jumped the car, I realized the overhead map light was on. I figured out I had inadvertently turned the light on while putting the huge reflective sunshield into the huge windshield a day or two before.

Lesson: it doesn't take much to drain the Fit tiny toy battery! Or maybe any battery. I did go to the dealer after driving around to recharge. They checked the battery and pronounced it "good", although now I worry it may be weakened.

 

That sucks. I'm surprised the interior lights don't have a timer cutoff like my 10 year old Sentra. Sigh.
That sunshade is a hassle to roll up isn't it?

 

Yes, the sunshade is just gigantic. I got one made to order for the Fit. But it rolls up and I keep it behind the front seats.

When the dealership told me I "must have left something on" in the car as a possible explanation for the dead battery, at first I thought, "no way"...but then remembered the map light being on and how surprised I was to see it--then I put it togther! Yeah I'm not the brightest bulb in the box!--so to speak.

Anyway, MeTaLoFeArTh, I too was surprised anything would stay on in the Fit once the ignition is off--so take heed everyone! I thought I never left anything on but I was wrong. As I placed the sunshade in the windshield it hit the map light without me realizing it, as the light is activated simply by pressing upward on it.

 

I can't have that problem... my sunshades aren't strong enough to press on the menu light.

I bought these super jumbo size shade panels from Walmart. It comes in pairs to cover the whole windshield (there's quite a bit of overlap). It twists to close into about the size of the steering wheel and fits nicely in the seat pocket on the back of the passenger seat.

 

I have run my battery down a few times because I had left the hatch open or whatever and It has been in the car about 6 weeks shy of 6 years...

 

Hey, I didn't know there was a pocket on the back of the passenger seat...gotta check that out!

 

Good to know,,thanks Coyote...

 

Changing out all those bulbs with LED's will buy you a lot more time before the battery runs down. That day or two would turn into 6-12 days!

And nice sites like superbrightleds.com have led's in warm white, like a normal bulb, so you don't have to have the glaring bluish super bright light if you don't want.

 

This. I switched all my internal lights over to leds. I've left the hatch in not quite closed position for a few days and only had a bit of trouble starting the car afterwards.

 

Nothing to see here folks==I must practice reading post before quoting. (I thought the comment was about the driver's side--oops.)

 

I found the seat pocket, won't worry about battery damage, and will check out the LED lights (those Walmart shades sound good too)...thanks FitFreakers! So helpful.

 

My pet peeve is the vanity mirror light on cars that have them... They're battery killers also.

@afreespirit, your battery should be fine. Personally, anything over 36 mos. of battery life is a plus. TC's is an exception, just like he is...

 

Hee, hee...I like to think I am "exceptional", too LOL

 

Ooookkkkkk, but only after you've shared enough stories as he has. Or more...

 

afreespirit, now that you know about the back pocket, be careful when you put the back seats down. I just learned about this the other day.
https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...-question.html

 

2012 Sport and the light goes out after awhile, found out while working on cargo tray I was building.
Map light doesn't discovered before killing battery, LED's are on order.

 

Oh, thank you! Glad to know this...I read the link.

Well, I could tell you about my other recent idiot move, when I locked myself out of the Fit! With my keys, phone, purse and shoes inside. I did it even though I am constantly afraid of doing so and try to guard against it, but ended up doing it anyway. I got out to access the hatch, stupidly hit the door panel unlock button the wrong way, and was almost back to the open driver door when it blew shut from the wind! Arrgghh!

Fortunately I was at a QuikMart and went in and borrowed their phone to call roadside service. Good thing I have the service--and here I thought I would never need it, with a new car and all. Bleh....how's that for exceptional?