Honda Element: small (but serious) defect

I continue to be very fond of our new Honda Element, but there's one
small but serious defect (for me, anyway).

Under a wide range of daytime lighting conditions I just can't see the
speedometer markings and accurately read the vehicle speed.

The speedometer is deeply recessed in a cylindrical recess in the dash,
not illuminated (in the daytime), and the brightness and color contrast
between the markings and the background is (again, for me anyway) very
inadequate.

If the sun is shining on the left side of the vehicle, the left-hand
side of the speedometer dial (the critical 0 to 50 mph range) is in deep
shadow; if the sun is ahead or overhead, the entire dial is in shadow;
and in both cases there's a large area of diffuse glare from the large
light grey area of the dash in front of the driving.

Net result, at least for my aging and glare-sensitive eyeballs, is that
the speedometer is almost unreadable.

 

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Great point ! I'll bet it would start a good discussion over at:

http://www.hondasuv.com/stg/viewforum.php?f=16&sid=0839bffa21915c5361242ca7ac46bced

You'll probably find somebody there who has tried a good aftermarket
solution (read custom / rice)

'Curly'

 

This is not a defect.

Chris

 

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OK, It's not a 'defect'. . . Just an 'unfortunate engineering error'
that makes it hard for the driver to see their speedometer under certain
lighting conditions. I wonder what an 'expert witness' would call it if
it ever came up in some kind of accident inquest. (I'm not taking sides
one way or the other. I like Hondas)

'Curly'

 

We've discussed this topic over at 'Element Owners Club' already. Come join
us over there. It's the largest group of Honda Element forum with lots of
install and how-to info as well. I think we have over 6,700 members now.
Here are some links directly to your issue though:

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10937&highlight=speedometer
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11132&highlight=speedometer
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7968&highlight=speedometer

I found a lot of links using the search feature on the forum but I narrowed
down the 3 above to get you started. So, there's more to be had on the forum
if you stop by. Good luck!

 

get some polarized glasses.

 

Net result, at least for my aging and glare-sensitive eyeballs, is that

Styling seems to be trumping engineering all over the automotive world
today, including at Honda.

One thing I hate on our '03 Accord is that the position of the front pillars
at either side of the windshield and their massive width makes for huge
blind spots.

John

 

We have a 03 Accord as well and note the same problem. Just found the group
and well tune in.

 

LOL, any sentient being who drives one for a time will notice it. I am
upset with myself for NOT noticing during the test drive/selection process.
I spent many days test driving and researching many models and completely
missed this. Shame on me.

John

 

Did you get the carpeted mats for the floor? It reduces the ambient
noise level immensely.

AL

 

I think a couple of threads on different defects may have gotten
entangled and confused here. But in any case, as the OP on the rain
noise problem, I'd say the noise was like a steady, really loud roar
which appeared to originate mostly in the front portion of the roof,
from the front headrests forward to the windshield; and I doubt that
floormats would have helped that portion of the noise. It was an
unusually heavy rainstorm that day, however, on a California freeway
with traffic moving at 65-70 mph.

 

I have found that the ambient noise level of the vehicle is reduced
significantly with the addition of carpeted floor mats. This may seem
unreasonable, but on greater examination, you might find that the "roar"
effect of the rain is enhanced by the loud interior of the vehicle.
Upon placing such mats on the floor of my Element, I found the noise and
echo effect in the vehicle was greatly reduced. Including rain storms.

Your mileage may vary, but it was worth the $100 to me to get the mats.

Nothing negative or disrespectful intended, but the noise level was
reduced in every situation.

Best wishes,

AL