Budget Red "H" Steering Wheel Emblem

I was digging through the storage box and found some left over red vinyl from a previous project (used for paint masking). So I decided to use it to make a red background for the Honda "H" emblem on the steering wheel.

First, I used regular white masking tape to tape over the emblem. I then used a small knife to cut along the edges of the emblem to make the pattern. Next, I transferred the cut patterns onto a piece of the red vinyl, and proceeded to cut out the pattern on the vinyl. Finally, I taped the cut red vinyl pieces to the steering wheel. Tada! Red background "H" emblem on the steering wheel!



This is super easy to do, and the amount of vinyl needed is so little, you can probably just go to a local sign shop and ask for some scraps of whatever colour you want to use. And the added bonus, since vinyl stickers add 1hp each, I've just gained 4hp!! For Free!

FitFreak Vancouver Feb 2nd Meet

I believe this is the third official meeting of the Vancouver Fitfreak.net members. I had missed the previous two, so I made an effort to make it to this one. I was certainly not disappointed. I got to meet a number of fellow Fitfreak members in person, as well as other enthusiastic owners. We had a nice (and at times confusing for us and the staff) at Estea in Richmond, then proceeded across the street to regroup the cars at Lansdowne Mall, before a short drive to the BCIT AeroTech campus for photos. Unfortunately, we were asked to leave by security. So we headed to the roof parking at Aberdeen Mall before we were forced to leave. Since we didn't have a meeting spot after this, some cars were lost while others headed into Vancouver to finish photos at the Oakridge upper level parking.

In all I believe around 16 to 18 Fits showed up, making this the largest Fit meeting in the Vancouver area so far. I'd like to thank everyone for showing up, and Felix for organizing the meeting. After seeing all the modified Fits, it got me itching to start working on a few things I've put off for a while. Maybe by the next meet, I'll have something new on my car. Who knows, I might even wash it next time. *haha*

Photos:




More photos by others can be found on this Fitfreak.net thread.

Second Recall Notice: Floor Wire Harness Corrosion (14480km)

I had received this 2nd recall notice for the Fit probably over 2 weeks ago. But I was very busy at the time and this recall didn't seem like a really big deal. But I did eventually call the dealer to make an appointment to bring the car in today.

Although I only have the carpeted floor mats, no corrosion was found, and all they had to do was the two splices. No harness replacement needed. It took a couple of hours, but I picked up my brother-in-law's 2004 TL Premium with Nav the day before so I could still drive around and work that day, so I didn't pick up my car until 1/2 hour before service closed.

As a side note, the TL is huge!! But it's a nice cruiser. Not very sporty feeling even though it has 270hp, but it sure gets you to illegal speeds quickly and quietly. Voice command navigation/radio/ac is a fun little toy. Since he was nice enough to let me borrow the car, I replaced his cracked/separating wiper inserts for him, so he should be able to see in the rain/snow again. =)

The Fit Finally Met Its Match

Well, the winning streak is over. Today, after swallowing countless items we did not think would go into the car, we finally encountered something that didn't fit.

My wife and I have a furniture and space design company, so we haul large and odd shape items quite often. This is part of the reason why we chose to purchase the Fit. And truthfully, the car has surpassed our expectations many times in terms of cargo capacity. From full set of dining room chairs, large bar height tables and 4 bar stools, long curtain rods, bookshelves, office chairs, even my mother's luggage while seating 4. And believe me, anyone who knows her knows that is a feat in itself.

Finally today, for the first time, we were unsuccessful in carrying a furniture piece. The item was this Galant left-hand corner table top from Ikea. 160cm x 120cm with a few more cms on each side for the packaging materials. When I saw the package at the full serve counter, I had my doubts that it was going to fit. My wife thought otherwise. And so far, she has been right everytime. So we pushed the cart to our car and decided to give it a go.

If we could only get it inside, it would have worked just fine. The problem was that we were just unable to get the item into the cavernous cargo area. A few more inches either in the back or through the rear doors and we would have made it. We even took it out of the package thinking we can angle it into the Fit, but it still didn't work. We briefly considered putting it on the roof, but we didn't have anything to tie it down properly. So we pushed the cart back to the delivery counter and gave them the address for out client's townhome. Oh well. It was bound to happen sooner or later. But I'm certain this car will continue to surprise me, as well as the many furniture warehouse workers who raise their eyebrows in doubt when they see us pulling up to the loading bay in out Fit.

2nd Oil and Filter Change (11215km)

First oil change was done at the dealership because I had a free one with the purchase of the car. But for the second and future oil changes, I am going to my regular mechanic/friend. I had my second oil and filter changed today with genuine Honda oil filter and the recommended 5W20 weight motor oil. As soon as my mechanic started to remove the old oil filter and it started creaking, he knew the dealership service guys did not put oil on the filter before threading it in. Just more reason why I'd rather bring my car to someone I know and trust. They also checked my air filter, antifreeze strength, and adjusted my tire pressure for the now colder temperatures. I was a little late on this oil change because my parents were visiting, and since we only have one vehicle in the family, I waited until they left.

And of course, I forgot to reset the oil life reminder in the dash until just now. So when I go out later, I will reset it. For those who don't want to dig out the owner's manual from storage, or the bottom of the drawer, the procedure for resetting the service reminder on your Honda Fit can be found here.

Happy Birthday Fitty!

Fitty? It just seemed more personal than just calling it the Fit. Especially for such an occasion. I don't really name my cars... actually, that's not entirely true. I called my Mustang "Bob", and my Mazda "K.I.T.T." due to all the gadgets and the digital dash, but do not use the names on a regular basis.

Anyways, where were we? Oh yes. I had to renew my car insurance yesterday, so that means I've now officially had the Fit for a year. During this time, I have been very happy with it. It's a great in-town hopper, can swallow a lot of cargo, and has been worry-free (just gas-and-go). Sometimes I miss having a more powerful engine (which is any other car I had to pick from at the time), but as you can see from the last post, it's already enough power to get me into trouble.

I also had a look at the odometer, and it's reading just over 10,500km. So time to stop by Honda and pick up a new oil filter and do an oil change again. It's treated me nice. So it's only fair I keep up my end of the deal.

Speeding Ticket? In a Fit?!

I have not had a single entry in my driving record for over 6 or 7 years, but today the streak was ended.

I had crossed the Peach Arch Crossing into Blaine, WA in the morning, on my way down to visit a friend from high school and her new daughter in Renton for a couple of days. I planned to stop by a mail receiving company on the way down as I had ordered some motorcycle gear online in the US, and took advantage of their free shipping within the US offer. However, because I got to the border so early trying to avoid the lineup, The depot wasn't opened yet. So I drove down further and had some breakfast before coming back on the local surface street to pick up my items.

There was a school zone on the street, and so I slowed and follow a couple of cars along the street before they turned off a side street to stop and drop off their kids. As soon as they turned off, I saw the cruiser parked in the school's driveway at the end. I had already slowed down, and was following two other cars through most of the school zone. But I checked my speed anyways. Unfortunately for me, it took me a while to figure out my actual speed because my car's main dial is in KM/H, and the much smaller, and indigo-on-blue MPH markings were difficult to read in the morning light. Sure enough, as I was passing the pullout at the end of the school, the cruiser had put its lights on and was pulling out behind me.

When asked why I was speeding, I tried to explain that it was difficult for me to read the numbers on the gauge. The officer took a look and said that he could read it perfectly even from outside of the car. I don't think he understood I was talking about the MPH markings, but I'm not gonna argue at that point, and I'm not going to bother saying I had followed the two other vehicles (local, Washington plates) through most of the school zone already. He took my license and registration, and came back with a VERY HEFTY fine for speeding in a school zone.

Oh well. I suppose I was speeding, so I'll get a US Dollar bank draft and pay the ticket. But when I mentioned the fine to my friend in Renton, he said it was quite excessive. But since the officer knows very well I'm not likely to get a court date and wait at the border just to get my fine reduced in court, he probably tacked on the maximum fine. So, all the money saved buying my gear in the US versus locally, has gone out the window (and then some).

I'd like to think I'm a safe driver. And my driving record shows it. I wonder if the officer had access to my driving record in BC, and saw my clean record, maybe he would have cut me some slack?

JDM Passenger Sun Visor Installed

Before picking my wife up at work today, I stopped in my mechanic's garage to say hi. He was not too busy at the time, so we walked around the complex to A&J Racing and I picked up a JDM passenger sun visor, while he inquired about the LED daylights for his own vehicle.

The difference between the stock North American one and the JDM visor is that the JDM one has a flip up mirror on the underside of the visor, as well as two pockets in the front for business cards and/or parking passes, etc. The mirror is a big plus as the wife can now fix her makeup easily. The lack of this mirror was a big pet peeve I had about the Fit from the beginning.

Installation of this item is a cinch. There are two exposed torx screws holding the sun visor in place. Remove these two screws and reinstall the new visor in its place. Easy as that. My wife used it as soon as I picked her up from work that day as we were heading straight to a friend's birthday dinner downtown, so it's definitely worth it.

It's Official, I'm a Licensed Rider

Well, It's official. I'm now a fully licensed rider in British Columbia. Thanks again to all the wonderful people at Pacific Riding School, and my family and friends for sending me there. I passed with only a single mark on the sheet for keeping my signal on too long once, and was told by the examiner that I was a very safe rider. That's really all that I was after.

Now I'm hooked and legally allowed to dive into yet another potentially expensive hobby. It's time to start playing the lotto.

My Lame Excuse for Not Updating

Wow, I haven't updated this blog for a while. The reason is, I have not spent any time online looking on Fit related information.

Remember back in my New Years post, I had mentioned that my family and friends were sending me to motorcycle riding school as my Christmas present. Well, I got my Learners in January, but since then, had not done much more about it. Anyways, I finally called up the school and booked myself in July.

I was picking between BCSC and Pacific for schools, mainly due to their proximity. Both had good reputations, but when I finally decided to book my class, BCSC had lost their use of Boundary Bay Airport, and wasn't sure where their lot sessions were going to be held yet. So I went with Pacific. After going through their course, I would highly recommend them. They didn't really teach you how to ride a bike, but how to think when you ride a bike. I had so much fun all the way through the course.

Anyways, Since I completed the course, all I've been looking at online are motorcycle related things. what type of bike, what kind of gear, etc.. I've already went to a few local shops trying out all brands and models of helmets trying to figure out which one fit my head, and sat on a few bikes and read up on what's best for a beginner. So far, I've narrowed my choices down to either a 2003+ Suzuki SV650, or a 2006+ Kawasaki Ninja 650R. I also know that aside from the expensive Shoei helmets, the HJCs fit me best.

Now comes the tough part, picking designs/colours. Motorcycling is all about looking good, let's be honest. If you don't want to be seen, you'd sit inside a car; it's much safer. So now that I know which helmet, I need to pick a design, then the rest of the gear like jacket, gloves, etc as well. It all has to be somewhat neutral in colour since I don't know what colour bike I will get yet, and don't want to have to buy new gear to match each new bike. But the gear still has to look good. Tough huh?

Anyways, my motorcycle road test is next Friday, and it will have been almost a month since I've been on a bike (I don't already have a bike to practice on, unlike some of my classmates), so I'm a bit nervous. We'll see.

And oh, I sold my old Mazda Today.