[HOW TO] Modify the EX HFT for better microphone performance

[Ancient Nerd]

Originally Posted by britsbest

I get mine as u can see early next month and I intend to ensure that all the faults as shown on this site are attended to, I do not intend to pay 17k+ for a car with known faults

May the Force be with you.

[WoolyCiv]

Originally Posted by pjelsworth

I had the fix done on mine by the dealer and it takes no time. However, I still need to check what they have done because it hade the phone better but the voice recognition MUCH MUCH worse ... it gets everything wrong

They should have placed a foam rubber 'gasket' between the microphone and the cover. This should improve the phone and the voice recognition

[WonkySights]

I have made some further mods, this is a minor update;

[323GT-R]

I've done a similar thing, just using blu tack around the mic to seal the gap. It's better, but still the worst hands free I have ever had...

[Mark Q]

Originally Posted by 323GT-R

I've done a similar thing, just using blu tack around the mic to seal the gap. It's better, but still the worst hands free I have ever had...

323gt-r did you complain to 'Fookers' Honda in Warrington ??
They said to me they have never heard of any problem !!!!!
I took a copy of TSB that someone posted here and they looked blank.
He checked my chassis on system but as its only a few weeks old the TSB
doesnt apply. I also told him it has been mentioned twice in top gear magazine by someone who has to drive the car for a few months to test. In desparation I phoned teh guy behind the service desk who I'd spoken too whilst doing 70 on motorway and he had trouble hearing me to prove the point. Its booked in for 2 days next week for them to sort. THe hft along with satnav were two of the reasons i went for the EX as I use it for business so need to keep in touch.
I'll give him copy of all correspondance on this forum and the top gear reports when i take my car.

[TheBull]

Originally Posted by WonkySights

I have made some further mods, this is a minor update;

Anyone know if this works better than the official fix? I had the official fix done and it is still crap. I suppose I could try it myself as wrapping a bit of tape around the modded mic wont do any harm.

[323GT-R]

Mark, I got the same response as you, I use my car for work and need the HFT, so I had to sort it myself, I couldn't wait for them to do it

Cheers

Kes

[WavyD]

Instead of electrical tape, try using some foam "Draft Excluder" type strip from B&Q. Its only a few quid and available in several different widths and compounds. I have some that is made of a slightly more dense brown rubber that would do the trick.

[Kremmen]

I did the foam trick as well and apparently I'm crystal clear now.

[TheBull]

Applied the "draught excluder" fix as recommended by WavyD and it is gone from unusable (after trying the insulating tape fix and having the official Honda fix done) to very usable!

My advice is don't bother putting it into Honda, buy some £3.95 adhesive draught excluder from B&Q/Focus/Etc and apply it in the fashion described in the insualting tape fix, leaving a 5mm overlap for compression.

The results are like a breath of fresh air. I can actually use my phone now without being moaned at and use the voice commands without having to repeat myself 3 times and ending up with "Display shopping" anyway! I wish I had done this months ago.

Nice one.

[Mark Q]

Honda stealer fitting new mic in mine on Friday, not sure if its a replacement or a new design. Will let yo know what happens

[WavyD]

Originally Posted by TheBull

Applied the "draught excluder" fix as recommended by WavyD and it is gone from unusable (after trying the insulating tape fix and having the official Honda fix done) to very usable!

My advice is don't bother putting it into Honda, buy some £3.95 adhesive draught excluder from B&Q/Focus/Etc and apply it in the fashion described in the insualting tape fix, leaving a 5mm overlap for compression.

The results are like a breath of fresh air. I can actually use my phone now without being moaned at and use the voice commands without having to repeat myself 3 times and ending up with "Display shopping" anyway! I wish I had done this months ago.

Nice one.

Thanks I'm just glad to be of some help. This fix also works with factory fitted Ultrasonic Sensors that don't pick up too well on some other Manufacurers Cars !

Its just a shame that Honda can't sort them selves out. But it would effect B&Q and Maplin's profits if they did finally get their act together! LOL

[WavyD]

Originally Posted by Mark Q

Honda stealer fitting new mic in mine on Friday, not sure if its a replacement or a new design. Will let yo know what happens

How's the new Mic going, any improvement at all ?

[Mark Q]

Originally Posted by WavyD

How's the new Mic going, any improvement at all ?

New mic fitted drove out of dealer, used phone, phone stopped working tried and tried and tried went back to dealer at 5:30 on Friday got out of car dropped phone which annoyed me so much I slammed the car door hard, but had key in hand so scratched the black plastic paint on outside rear of glass. Not happy at all, two of my prized possesions had been permanently damaged by me in 10 secs after having nurtered them so long without damage. Never mind blue-tooth it was blue in the car park that night, and i got some funny looks from other customers.
Dealer said all fitters gone home, doh.
Anyway later that night I re-paired the phone to the car and its wroked since, I just hav it paired twice for some reason.

the mic casing looks same, there is a felt gauze over the exposed hole of the old mic so I dont know if its the same inside, but suspect it is.
Performance is exactly the same as before, pretty poor, back to the rubber and foam I'm afriad

[WavyD]

Sorry to hear that its a failure. I thought that things like this only happened to me.

[DUNCAN]

Originally Posted by richierich

To be fair I think it is more the transport dept who are holding things up in getting a trailer for the car. When I found out it was ready on Monday they could not return it for 4 days (tomorrow), I found out yesterday they were continuing testing and involving some guy from factory (?), and that it will be returned on Monday next week, again I assume due to lack of transport. I even offered to go to Slough and collect it, although that probably wouldn't help as the loaner came from Watlington (or Wallingford) both in Oxfordshire, not far away at all really.

I am a bit peeved at the delay, but won't make a big deal, they are fixing it after all, and besides I am sick of the smell of burning RichieRich.

did you get a fix for this fault???

[FWH]

In my new for the day manual there is a list of things you should do to make the mic work better, like turning the fan speed down.

Has this always been in the manual?

If not I would be happy to post the list here.

[Pottsy]

Yes, from memory the fan thing is in there - apparently the biggest problem is blowing the centre vents at the mic...

[323GT-R]

If you take the gauze cover off the mic housing, you'll see that the mic itself is mounted side on, facing away from the driver. I have moved mine inside the small housing so now it points at roughly where my head is, and is directly behind the holes in the courtesy ligh cover. I've also sealed the gap around the mic to get rid of background noise. I can now have a decent conversation with people at motorway speeds, without having to repeat myself 3 times over... The basic probelm with the HFT is the mic quality and placement, Honda should have replaced them with a better one by now, as the HFT is hopeless without the mods.

[Pottsy]

Originally Posted by WavyD

Instead of electrical tape, try using some foam "Draft Excluder" type strip from B&Q. Its only a few quid and available in several different widths and compounds. I have some that is made of a slightly more dense brown rubber that would do the trick.

I did this and it now works perfectly:

micmod.jpg

micmod1.jpg