2006 Civic heater controls
 

The 06/07/08 civic heater controls are at the bottom-center of the
dash, in the spot traditionally occupied by a radio. the left knob
controls temperature, and the right controls fan speed. This as I
recollect is the reverse of the usual. Getting the settings as you
want them requires multiple prolonged glances away from the road, and
a bit of thought: pushing buttons and reading the result on the lcd
display. If you switch the thing completely off, and then back on,
there's a fair amount of resetting needed if you had it on anything
other than full "auto". One of my favourite tricks is to try to turn
down the radio and find I'm turning down the temperature.

I know a lot of this is gripe, but considering small, incremental bits
of inattention and confusion can have major consequences, I think
Honda could have done better. Any other current model civic owners
care to comment?

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:54:10 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:

> The 06/07/08 civic heater controls are at the bottom-center of the
> dash, in the spot traditionally occupied by a radio. the left knob
> controls temperature, and the right controls fan speed. This as I
> recollect is the reverse of the usual. Getting the settings as you
> want them requires multiple prolonged glances away from the road, and
> a bit of thought: pushing buttons and reading the result on the lcd
> display. If you switch the thing completely off, and then back on,
> there's a fair amount of resetting needed if you had it on anything
> other than full "auto". One of my favourite tricks is to try to turn
> down the radio and find I'm turning down the temperature.
>
> I know a lot of this is gripe, but considering small, incremental bits
> of inattention and confusion can have major consequences, I think
> Honda could have done better. Any other current model civic owners
> care to comment?

You didn't notice this before you bought it?

Why'd you buy it?


--
"Bother!" said Pooh, as Christopher Robin pleaded to be spanked again.

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:54:10 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:

> The 06/07/08 civic heater controls are at the bottom-center of the
> dash, in the spot traditionally occupied by a radio. the left knob
> controls temperature, and the right controls fan speed. This as I
> recollect is the reverse of the usual. Getting the settings as you
> want them requires multiple prolonged glances away from the road, and
> a bit of thought: pushing buttons and reading the result on the lcd
> display. If you switch the thing completely off, and then back on,
> there's a fair amount of resetting needed if you had it on anything
> other than full "auto". One of my favourite tricks is to try to turn
> down the radio and find I'm turning down the temperature.
>
> I know a lot of this is gripe, but considering small, incremental bits
> of inattention and confusion can have major consequences, I think
> Honda could have done better. Any other current model civic owners
> care to comment?

You didn't notice this before you bought it?

Why'd you buy it?


--
"Bother!" said Pooh, as Christopher Robin pleaded to be spanked again.

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:54:10 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:

> The 06/07/08 civic heater controls are at the bottom-center of the dash,
> in the spot traditionally occupied by a radio. the left knob controls
> temperature, and the right controls fan speed. This as I recollect is
> the reverse of the usual. Getting the settings as you want them requires
> multiple prolonged glances away from the road, and a bit of thought:
> pushing buttons and reading the result on the lcd display. If you switch
> the thing completely off, and then back on, there's a fair amount of
> resetting needed if you had it on anything other than full "auto". One
> of my favourite tricks is to try to turn down the radio and find I'm
> turning down the temperature.
>
> I know a lot of this is gripe, but considering small, incremental bits
> of inattention and confusion can have major consequences, I think Honda
> could have done better. Any other current model civic owners care to
> comment?

I have an 06 Si, and I have had no problems with the controls. I do not
have a Navi system, so mine is obviously different than yours, as there
is no "LCD" to look at, and the controls do not change when I turn it
off.

Every car has controls in different places, and you probably shouldn't be
adjusting these things while driving, anyhow. Wait till you get to a
stop light. You'll be OK.




--
Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:54:10 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:

> The 06/07/08 civic heater controls are at the bottom-center of the dash,
> in the spot traditionally occupied by a radio. the left knob controls
> temperature, and the right controls fan speed. This as I recollect is
> the reverse of the usual. Getting the settings as you want them requires
> multiple prolonged glances away from the road, and a bit of thought:
> pushing buttons and reading the result on the lcd display. If you switch
> the thing completely off, and then back on, there's a fair amount of
> resetting needed if you had it on anything other than full "auto". One
> of my favourite tricks is to try to turn down the radio and find I'm
> turning down the temperature.
>
> I know a lot of this is gripe, but considering small, incremental bits
> of inattention and confusion can have major consequences, I think Honda
> could have done better. Any other current model civic owners care to
> comment?

I have an 06 Si, and I have had no problems with the controls. I do not
have a Navi system, so mine is obviously different than yours, as there
is no "LCD" to look at, and the controls do not change when I turn it
off.

Every car has controls in different places, and you probably shouldn't be
adjusting these things while driving, anyhow. Wait till you get to a
stop light. You'll be OK.




--
Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

Mendel Leisk <mendel_leisknospam@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:1191297250.149939.23390@n39g2000hsh.googlegro ups.com:

> The 06/07/08 civic heater controls are at the bottom-center of the
> dash, in the spot traditionally occupied by a radio. the left knob
> controls temperature, and the right controls fan speed. This as I
> recollect is the reverse of the usual. Getting the settings as you
> want them requires multiple prolonged glances away from the road, and
> a bit of thought: pushing buttons and reading the result on the lcd
> display. If you switch the thing completely off, and then back on,
> there's a fair amount of resetting needed if you had it on anything
> other than full "auto". One of my favourite tricks is to try to turn
> down the radio and find I'm turning down the temperature.
>
> I know a lot of this is gripe, but considering small, incremental bits
> of inattention and confusion can have major consequences, I think
> Honda could have done better. Any other current model civic owners
> care to comment?
>


Honda did this on purpose. People play with the radio far more often than
they do the ventilation system. Besides, eventually you learn the vent
system by feel, so you shouldn't ever have to look at it.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

Mendel Leisk <mendel_leisknospam@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:1191297250.149939.23390@n39g2000hsh.googlegro ups.com:

> The 06/07/08 civic heater controls are at the bottom-center of the
> dash, in the spot traditionally occupied by a radio. the left knob
> controls temperature, and the right controls fan speed. This as I
> recollect is the reverse of the usual. Getting the settings as you
> want them requires multiple prolonged glances away from the road, and
> a bit of thought: pushing buttons and reading the result on the lcd
> display. If you switch the thing completely off, and then back on,
> there's a fair amount of resetting needed if you had it on anything
> other than full "auto". One of my favourite tricks is to try to turn
> down the radio and find I'm turning down the temperature.
>
> I know a lot of this is gripe, but considering small, incremental bits
> of inattention and confusion can have major consequences, I think
> Honda could have done better. Any other current model civic owners
> care to comment?
>


Honda did this on purpose. People play with the radio far more often than
they do the ventilation system. Besides, eventually you learn the vent
system by feel, so you shouldn't ever have to look at it.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

To Dan C:

Our car is an 06 Civic Hybrid. The heater controls were not a deal
breaker.

To Joe:

We don't have the Navi system either. On ours, and I think this is the
the current outlet setup for all the current model civics, the air
flow mode is shown on a compact lcd in top center of the controls. You
repeatedly push the "mode" button to cycle through the options (heat,
high-low, etc). This requires your full visual attention, whereas the
old slider or dial could be done by the braille method.

Your suggestion to adjust the controls only when stopped is sound, the
current controls *are* similar to a cell phone, and equally
distracting. But when you're on the freeway and fogging up...

To Tegger:

You can't adjust the heater by feel, you have to look down at the lcd
to see what the button pushing is accomplishing. One of the settings:
directing all the air flow to the windshield, is now on a special
button. Pushing this automatically turns on the air. So, if you want
the flow to go to just the windshield but no AC, more hunting for
buttons is required to shut the AC off. Compared to the old days where
AC was a distinct button, and getting the air flow to windshield was
accomplished simply, by pushing a slider (or dial) all the way to the
right.

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

To Dan C:

Our car is an 06 Civic Hybrid. The heater controls were not a deal
breaker.

To Joe:

We don't have the Navi system either. On ours, and I think this is the
the current outlet setup for all the current model civics, the air
flow mode is shown on a compact lcd in top center of the controls. You
repeatedly push the "mode" button to cycle through the options (heat,
high-low, etc). This requires your full visual attention, whereas the
old slider or dial could be done by the braille method.

Your suggestion to adjust the controls only when stopped is sound, the
current controls *are* similar to a cell phone, and equally
distracting. But when you're on the freeway and fogging up...

To Tegger:

You can't adjust the heater by feel, you have to look down at the lcd
to see what the button pushing is accomplishing. One of the settings:
directing all the air flow to the windshield, is now on a special
button. Pushing this automatically turns on the air. So, if you want
the flow to go to just the windshield but no AC, more hunting for
buttons is required to shut the AC off. Compared to the old days where
AC was a distinct button, and getting the air flow to windshield was
accomplished simply, by pushing a slider (or dial) all the way to the
right.

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:40:53 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:

> To Dan C:
>
> Our car is an 06 Civic Hybrid. The heater controls were not a deal
> breaker.
>
> To Joe:
>
> We don't have the Navi system either. On ours, and I think this is the
> the current outlet setup for all the current model civics, the air flow
> mode is shown on a compact lcd in top center of the controls. You
> repeatedly push the "mode" button to cycle through the options (heat,
> high-low, etc). This requires your full visual attention, whereas the
> old slider or dial could be done by the braille method.

No, I am pretty sure the Hybrid uses a different setup than the rest of
the civic line. My Si looks just like all of the other standard civics I
have seen.

On the left is the fan dial. In the middle are the several buttons for
the different modes (floorboard, vents, defogger, and the mixed modes on
top, the AC controls below them), and the temp dial on the right.


>
> Your suggestion to adjust the controls only when stopped is sound, the
> current controls *are* similar to a cell phone, and equally distracting.
> But when you're on the freeway and fogging up...

Once you are used to the controls, you shouldn't have to take your eye
off of the road to use them. If you do, it is a design flaw, IMO.




--
Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:40:53 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:

> To Dan C:
>
> Our car is an 06 Civic Hybrid. The heater controls were not a deal
> breaker.
>
> To Joe:
>
> We don't have the Navi system either. On ours, and I think this is the
> the current outlet setup for all the current model civics, the air flow
> mode is shown on a compact lcd in top center of the controls. You
> repeatedly push the "mode" button to cycle through the options (heat,
> high-low, etc). This requires your full visual attention, whereas the
> old slider or dial could be done by the braille method.

No, I am pretty sure the Hybrid uses a different setup than the rest of
the civic line. My Si looks just like all of the other standard civics I
have seen.

On the left is the fan dial. In the middle are the several buttons for
the different modes (floorboard, vents, defogger, and the mixed modes on
top, the AC controls below them), and the temp dial on the right.


>
> Your suggestion to adjust the controls only when stopped is sound, the
> current controls *are* similar to a cell phone, and equally distracting.
> But when you're on the freeway and fogging up...

Once you are used to the controls, you shouldn't have to take your eye
off of the road to use them. If you do, it is a design flaw, IMO.




--
Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Oct 3, 12:39 am, Joe <j...@hits-buffalo.no.spam.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:40:53 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:
> > To Dan C:
>
> > Our car is an 06 Civic Hybrid. The heater controls were not a deal
> > breaker.
>
> > To Joe:
>
> > We don't have the Navi system either. On ours, and I think this is the
> > the current outlet setup for all the current model civics, the air flow
> > mode is shown on a compact lcd in top center of the controls. You
> > repeatedly push the "mode" button to cycle through the options (heat,
> > high-low, etc). This requires your full visual attention, whereas the
> > old slider or dial could be done by the braille method.
>
> No, I am pretty sure the Hybrid uses a different setup than the rest of
> the civic line. My Si looks just like all of the other standard civics I
> have seen.
>
> On the left is the fan dial. In the middle are the several buttons for
> the different modes (floorboard, vents, defogger, and the mixed modes on
> top, the AC controls below them), and the temp dial on the right.
>
>
>
> > Your suggestion to adjust the controls only when stopped is sound, the
> > current controls *are* similar to a cell phone, and equally distracting.
> > But when you're on the freeway and fogging up...
>
> Once you are used to the controls, you shouldn't have to take your eye
> off of the road to use them. If you do, it is a design flaw, IMO.
>
> --
> Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
> joe at hits - buffalo dot com
> "Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
> time..." - Danny, American History X

That sounds like our 91 accord. Push buttons for each air flow
configuration are marginally more difficult than a slider or dial, but
not bad. No, on our hybrid there's one button called mode. Now that I
think about, I believe it's because the hybrid has the automatic
climate control. I think some of the other civic trim levels have this
as well. I've got a pdf of the manual with a pic but I don't think I
can post a picture here. Thanks for the feedback!

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Oct 3, 12:39 am, Joe <j...@hits-buffalo.no.spam.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:40:53 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:
> > To Dan C:
>
> > Our car is an 06 Civic Hybrid. The heater controls were not a deal
> > breaker.
>
> > To Joe:
>
> > We don't have the Navi system either. On ours, and I think this is the
> > the current outlet setup for all the current model civics, the air flow
> > mode is shown on a compact lcd in top center of the controls. You
> > repeatedly push the "mode" button to cycle through the options (heat,
> > high-low, etc). This requires your full visual attention, whereas the
> > old slider or dial could be done by the braille method.
>
> No, I am pretty sure the Hybrid uses a different setup than the rest of
> the civic line. My Si looks just like all of the other standard civics I
> have seen.
>
> On the left is the fan dial. In the middle are the several buttons for
> the different modes (floorboard, vents, defogger, and the mixed modes on
> top, the AC controls below them), and the temp dial on the right.
>
>
>
> > Your suggestion to adjust the controls only when stopped is sound, the
> > current controls *are* similar to a cell phone, and equally distracting.
> > But when you're on the freeway and fogging up...
>
> Once you are used to the controls, you shouldn't have to take your eye
> off of the road to use them. If you do, it is a design flaw, IMO.
>
> --
> Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
> joe at hits - buffalo dot com
> "Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
> time..." - Danny, American History X

That sounds like our 91 accord. Push buttons for each air flow
configuration are marginally more difficult than a slider or dial, but
not bad. No, on our hybrid there's one button called mode. Now that I
think about, I believe it's because the hybrid has the automatic
climate control. I think some of the other civic trim levels have this
as well. I've got a pdf of the manual with a pic but I don't think I
can post a picture here. Thanks for the feedback!

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:37:04 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:

> On Oct 3, 12:39 am, Joe <j...@hits-buffalo.no.spam.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:40:53 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:
>> > To Dan C:
>>
>> > Our car is an 06 Civic Hybrid. The heater controls were not a deal
>> > breaker.
>>
>> > To Joe:
>>
>> > We don't have the Navi system either. On ours, and I think this is
>> > the the current outlet setup for all the current model civics, the
>> > air flow mode is shown on a compact lcd in top center of the
>> > controls. You repeatedly push the "mode" button to cycle through the
>> > options (heat, high-low, etc). This requires your full visual
>> > attention, whereas the old slider or dial could be done by the
>> > braille method.
>>
>> No, I am pretty sure the Hybrid uses a different setup than the rest of
>> the civic line. My Si looks just like all of the other standard civics
>> I have seen.
>>
>> On the left is the fan dial. In the middle are the several buttons for
>> the different modes (floorboard, vents, defogger, and the mixed modes
>> on top, the AC controls below them), and the temp dial on the right.
>>
>>
>>
>> > Your suggestion to adjust the controls only when stopped is sound,
>> > the current controls *are* similar to a cell phone, and equally
>> > distracting. But when you're on the freeway and fogging up...
>>
>> Once you are used to the controls, you shouldn't have to take your eye
>> off of the road to use them. If you do, it is a design flaw, IMO.
>>
>> --
>> Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
>> joe at hits - buffalo dot com
>> "Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
>> time..." - Danny, American History X
>
> That sounds like our 91 accord. Push buttons for each air flow
> configuration are marginally more difficult than a slider or dial, but
> not bad. No, on our hybrid there's one button called mode. Now that I
> think about, I believe it's because the hybrid has the automatic climate
> control. I think some of the other civic trim levels have this as well.
> I've got a pdf of the manual with a pic but I don't think I can post a
> picture here. Thanks for the feedback!

But if you are using the Automatic Climate Control right, you probably
shouldn't need to touch it while driving. Isn't it basically "set a
temp" and forget about it?




--
Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

Re: 2006 Civic heater controls
 

On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:37:04 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:

> On Oct 3, 12:39 am, Joe <j...@hits-buffalo.no.spam.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:40:53 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:
>> > To Dan C:
>>
>> > Our car is an 06 Civic Hybrid. The heater controls were not a deal
>> > breaker.
>>
>> > To Joe:
>>
>> > We don't have the Navi system either. On ours, and I think this is
>> > the the current outlet setup for all the current model civics, the
>> > air flow mode is shown on a compact lcd in top center of the
>> > controls. You repeatedly push the "mode" button to cycle through the
>> > options (heat, high-low, etc). This requires your full visual
>> > attention, whereas the old slider or dial could be done by the
>> > braille method.
>>
>> No, I am pretty sure the Hybrid uses a different setup than the rest of
>> the civic line. My Si looks just like all of the other standard civics
>> I have seen.
>>
>> On the left is the fan dial. In the middle are the several buttons for
>> the different modes (floorboard, vents, defogger, and the mixed modes
>> on top, the AC controls below them), and the temp dial on the right.
>>
>>
>>
>> > Your suggestion to adjust the controls only when stopped is sound,
>> > the current controls *are* similar to a cell phone, and equally
>> > distracting. But when you're on the freeway and fogging up...
>>
>> Once you are used to the controls, you shouldn't have to take your eye
>> off of the road to use them. If you do, it is a design flaw, IMO.
>>
>> --
>> Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
>> joe at hits - buffalo dot com
>> "Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
>> time..." - Danny, American History X
>
> That sounds like our 91 accord. Push buttons for each air flow
> configuration are marginally more difficult than a slider or dial, but
> not bad. No, on our hybrid there's one button called mode. Now that I
> think about, I believe it's because the hybrid has the automatic climate
> control. I think some of the other civic trim levels have this as well.
> I've got a pdf of the manual with a pic but I don't think I can post a
> picture here. Thanks for the feedback!

But if you are using the Automatic Climate Control right, you probably
shouldn't need to touch it while driving. Isn't it basically "set a
temp" and forget about it?




--
Joe - Registered Linux User #449481
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X