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.

AES wrote:
> 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.


---------------------------------------

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

http://www.hondasuv.com/stg/viewforu...2ca7ac4 6bced

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

'Curly'

On Sun, 06 Feb 2005 15:08:28 -0800, AES > wrote:

>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.
This is not a defect.

Chris

Chris wrote:
> On Sun, 06 Feb 2005 15:08:28 -0800, AES > wrote:
>
>
>>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.
>
> This is not a defect.
>
> Chris

---------------------------

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/for...ht=speedometer
http://www.elementownersclub.com/for...ht=speedometer
http://www.elementownersclub.com/for...ht=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!


"AES" > wrote in message
...
>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.

get some polarized glasses.

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

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.



"John Horner" > wrote in message
news:wExUd.62514$uc.30495@trnddc04...
> > Net result, at least for my aging and glare-sensitive eyeballs, is that
> > the speedometer is almost unreadable.
>
> 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
>
>

"Les is Moor" > wrote in message
.. .
> 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

In article <JedVd.49851$uc.2387@trnddc08>,
"John Horner" > wrote:

> "Les is Moor" > wrote in message
> .. .
> > 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