Are the two round dash vents always supposed to be moving air? I find it kind of annoying when it's on floor or defrost that I still get some air flow out of there...

Also.. when I switch from dash to floor.. I noticed that even though the car is warmed up it takes it a minute or two for warm air to come out of the floor vents, and even then it's not really hot air. Why is that?

Yes.. we are using the heat here in the NW in August and September

 

o o Pick me pick me. Thanks to my rice vents I can tell you that air is always flowing through the vents on every setting because the cpu fans in my vents always spin even on footwell, defrost, etc. In fact even when the air is off, air still flows through the vents from the outside to inside at a rate based on vehicle speed. The only time air does not go through is on recirculate and at a stand still. But thats actually really cool because my vent fans spin at a rate in relation to my vehicle speed.

 

what's a rice vent?

With recirculate off and the fan off, the vent is simply letting in ram air from the outside. It has nothing to do with the speed of the fan. Although, I don't know what a rice vent is... so, am I missing something?

 

You'll wish you hadn't asked, clicked, or looked.

 

yes, it does this by design to keep the side windows clear in colder temps. Some air always comes out of the defog/defrost openings too. The only way to defeat this is to close the louvers (unless you've gone full rice). This is typical of all Hondas.

A minute or two after what? Starting the car? adjusting the temp from full cold to full hot?

Remember the heater runs off engine coolant that is circulated through a small radiator behind the dash. I think there is a shut off valve that is activated when the temp knob is fully towards cold to prevent any hot coolant from flowing through the heater core when none is wanted. After starting or adjusting the temp it takes a while for the hot coolant to flow and heat up the core.

I notice it seems to take a longer time than other cars to get fully warm.

 

The system doesn't have a valve to cut flow to the heater core, temp is controlled by the air mix door, coolant is always circulating through the heater core. As you say, it will take a bit of time on a cold start to get sufficient temp up in the neater core as the coolant heats up w/ the engine.

 

Yeah I don't see a valve. It also seems the same coolant warms the throttle body before the heater (engine outlet is at E-15, TB is at E-1, part 5 goes to the heater core). We're sacrificing some heat to keep the engine happy!

 

Well, that's irritating as h3ll! Every vehicle I've ever owned has air moving all of the time... but all are moving through the floor vents, not the upper [dash] vents. I love this little Fit, but Honda implemented a few irritating features(?), for sure! Lol... only Lyon would know... and those of us who saw his "Rice Vents" post. Why, it's only the coolest thing this side of Japan!

Only problem? My wife saw it and now she wants "rice vents" in her car. Thanks, Lyon!

Although I did reply to her, "You have Lyon's instructions... so Just Do It!"

 

This set up is actually quite standard these days, free flow coolant loop. Much more efficient than what used to be common. I've learned the hard way that when replacing a heater core it's critical not to mix up the inflow and outflow hoses. It mucks up the flow characteristics of the system and can lead to 'heating' issues and engine running temps.

Wouldn't want to replace a heater core on the Fit. It's well buried.

 

I know how the heater works

This will be after I driven a ways and either the defrost or the dash is blowing full hot air.. yet switch to the floor setting it'll blow outside temp air for a while and then slowly get warm even though on the other settings it already blows nice hot air. I don't like hot air on my face.. love it on my feet!

 

dunno, it's just flappers that direct the air, there is no reason for the air to be initially cold. I've never noticed this.