Mods for your Clarity

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insightman said:
Rear fender skirts might improve aerodynamics, but Honda says the (ever controversial) angled tops of the rear-wheel arches and the intakes in the rear doors that force air across the rear-wheel wells accomplish the same purpose.
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I hear you.
Don't want to disrupt the wind tunnel designed air flows with any add-ons.
 
Atkinson said:
I would like a full skirt like the original Insight if it improves aerodynamics.
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The problem with any rear/front tire skirt is that they are very very bad in any area that gets snow.

For a few reasons:
1) Snow gets packed up inside the skirt. That eventually causes rust.

2) For a plug-in/electric vehicle, imho, a substantial wheel skirt would indicate to me that the vehicle is a no-snow car only, or the designers/engineers were 100% clueless.
The vast majority (~95%) of plug-in vehicles get parked in garages. Melting snow is already a hassle in the garage. The last thing people need is a lot more melted snow making a huge mess on the garage floor.

Also, for those of use that know about driving in snow, we use snow tires in the winter - not all-season joke tires. So, that means we, the owners, often do the switch over ourselves. Having wheel skirts makes the wheel change over a hassle. Yes, people consider that when buying cars. Or, they will have heard it from a friend that has a similar car.

Fwiw, Home Depot had an AWESOME sale on their Ryobi 18V One+ impact kit (Impact wrench, battery, charger) last winter for $99.
That impact wrench kicks *ss!!
What am I comparing it to - oh, just my ~$400+ worth of Milwaukee impact wrench, battery, and charger.
Note: Wheels always get put on with a torque wrench! Please at least buy a cheap POS Walmart torque wrench. Make sure you put the setting back to zero after each use. Fwiw, I use a digital readout torque wrench. :)
 
KentuckyKen said:
Done:
-Honda D80 80,000/8yr extended warranty purchased for $1,304
-deleted all dealer options, so mud flaps and striping were free (couldn’t remove)
-Honda trunk tray
-3M clear film for rear bumper top, door sills, door handle cups (buy it by the ft and cut your own for $25)
-Hour meter for ICE
-Wincos ceramic IR/heat blocking 25% VLT film on all side glass and 35% on rear glass, 70% VLT on windshield
-3M ScotchGuard applied to all suede surfaces on dash and doors (also to white stitching on leather seats)
-Leather balm applied to seats
-NuFinish polymer wax applied
-RainX applied to outside glass and added to wiper fluid (<35-40mph, don’t need wipers)
-Inside/outside plastic treated with 303 Protectant (aviation community swears by this stuff, doesn’t leave a shine, just protects, $12/bottle on sale Auto Zone)
-under hood detailed w 303 Protectant
-Honda puzzle locks for all wheels
-Seat Defender purchased for $35 and stored in trunk cubby. (Very nice black water proof, no slide slip on temp seat cover for when I get dirty/muddy, esp w those beige seats)
-Honda mud mats (not good for front coverage but couldn’t wait for Weather Tech.)
-Aligned headlights
-Replace the 4 vanity lights w LEDs
-Applied dielectric grease to charger port and handle connections
-Got Honda Link, phone paired, Car Play up and running
-Put USB port in rear lighter socket
-Got leather cover for fob (with August smart lock on front door, I don’t carry any keys, just phone and fob)
-Put bling on charge door


To do:
-Install Charge Point 32a Level 2 EVSE in garage (and clean out garage so car will fit!)
-Install Rexing dual “dash” cam on windshield
-Reinstall Dash Designs retractable sunshade for windshield (removed to put film on windshield)
-protect front bumper/grill from road rash with spray on/peel off clear film (much cheaper than the precut products)
-Buy WeatherTech (not available yet) or Tuxmat (just came available) mud mats to replace skimpy OEM ones
-Install corded retractable trouble light under hood if space can be found (left over from old Suburban)
-Install rpm gauge (have to find a way through firewall first)
-find some way/place to put a trash bag in car
-buy/install some no slip surface for phone perch
-Install window vent guards whenever WeatherTech has them available
-consider upgrading speakers
-consider receiver hitch if Clarity specific model is ever made at a decent price (for existing bicycle rack)
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Couple questions.....How did you install the Hour meter for ICE?
And how do you like the ceramic tint?
And what tint is "70% VLT on windshield"

Thanks again!
 
RoysHonda said:
Couple questions.....How did you install the Hour meter for ICE?
And how do you like the ceramic tint?
And what tint is "70% VLT on windshield"

Thanks again!
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You’re welcome.
Here is the thread where I posted how to do it and included pictures. It’s easy peasy and cost me only $5.88.

https://www.insideevsforum.com/comm...o-install-an-hour-meter-for-ice-for-5-88.855/

I like the ceramic tint very much. It was more than regular tint but by reflecting a lot more IR/heat, it keeps the car much cooler. I BYW, my tint shop has a demo box with a a heat lamk and sliding glass with and without the ceramic IR reflecting tint. It was night and day when I felt the heat before and then hardly any after. I did it for the heat reduction not the look. It was worth the extra cost for me. My state only allows 30% VLT on front side windows, so I used that on the 2 rear ones as well to make them match (I could have gone darker). I used a darker 20% VLT on the rear window.

The 70% Visible Light Transmission on the windshield was the highest visibility ceramic film my local shop had. I’m happy with it too since that front windshield is a real solar energy collector. I saw a post that someone found an 80% ceramic VLT but that wasn’t available for me. It doesn’t appreciably reduce vision even at night and it doesn’t affect my dash cam. Also, none of my passengers have noticed it.
Be sure to check your state’s laws though for what’s legal for you.
 
I didn't think I minded the wheel skirts, until I first washed my car and got to cleaning and dressing the wheels. I had to do the ole "bump the car up a few inches" routing to work them properly.
 
KentuckyKen said:
You’re welcome.
Here is the thread where I posted how to do it and included pictures. It’s easy peasy and cost me only $5.88.

https://www.insideevsforum.com/comm...o-install-an-hour-meter-for-ice-for-5-88.855/

I like the ceramic tint very much. It was more than regular tint but by reflecting a lot more IR/heat, it keeps the car much cooler. I BYW, my tint shop has a demo box with a a heat lamk and sliding glass with and without the ceramic IR reflecting tint. It was night and day when I felt the heat before and then hardly any after. I did it for the heat reduction not the look. It was worth the extra cost for me. My state only allows 30% VLT on front side windows, so I used that on the 2 rear ones as well to make them match (I could have gone darker). I used a darker 20% VLT on the rear window.

The 70% Visible Light Transmission on the windshield was the highest visibility ceramic film my local shop had. I’m happy with it too since that front windshield is a real solar energy collector. I saw a post that someone found an 80% ceramic VLT but that wasn’t available for me. It doesn’t appreciably reduce vision even at night and it doesn’t affect my dash cam. Also, none of my passengers have noticed it.
Be sure to check your state’s laws though for what’s legal for you.
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California doesn't allow any tinting, as far as I know. But yet, there are plenty of places to get it done. Has anyone in California (or Los Angeles area) gotten tinting?
 
ProspectiveBuyer said:
California doesn't allow any tinting, as far as I know. But yet, there are plenty of places to get it done. Has anyone in California (or Los Angeles area) gotten tinting?
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Yeah just got my clarity tinted at G5 tint in pasadena. $500 but I can feel the heat difference and I think it helps the ac not have to work as hard.
 
Yeah you have to be careful with tinting since it's illegal in a lot of states. For example, New Jersey regularly tickets drivers from Florida who have tinted windows when they pass through.
 
Yeah I did the 20 rear 30 front . Helps visibility at night. I did 20 all around on my SUV and it is definitely a little more difficult to see people walking at intersections.
 
I finally found a trash receptacle solution I like. I didn’t like hanging one from the seat or putting one on the floor. This one goes in the cup holder and has a spring loaded door. It does take up one of the cup holders but I’m usually by myself so I don’t mind.
Found this a College Hills Honda for $8.
I would prefer it be all black and I may paint the hinged door.
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KentuckyKen said:
I finally found a trash receptacle solution I like. I didn’t like hanging one from the seat or putting one on the floor. This one goes in the cup holder and has a spring loaded door. It does take up one of the cup holders but I’m usually by myself so I don’t mind.
Found this a College Hills Honda for $8.
I would prefer it be all black and I may paint the hinged door.
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Are you sure you want your trash right next to the lip of your coffee cup? :p
 
It’s safely sealed behind the spring loaded round white door. You have to take the whole top off to empty the trash. I’m not having any cross -contamination problems.
 
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KentuckyKen said:
I finally found a trash receptacle solution I like. I didn’t like hanging one from the seat or putting one on the floor. This one goes in the cup holder and has a spring loaded door. It does take up one of the cup holders but I’m usually by myself so I don’t mind.
Found this a College Hills Honda for $8.
I would prefer it be all black and I may paint the hinged door.
View attachment 2254
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Here’s what I did for trash
 
Beside the Dual channel full HD 1080 dashcam, this is the only mod on my Clarity so far: Cargo hangher and cargo net. The cargo hanger is unnoticeable when unfolding and fit exactly in 2 existing hole in the trunk, no drilling needed. Just order one to see if it works or not, will order another one to install on the right side.20180909_205405.webp 20180905_211419.webp 20180909_183803.webp 20180905_211458.webp
 
Does the hanger block much of the view through the trunk window? Does it fold up when not in use? If it folds, can you see it in the trunk window when folded?
 
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insightman said:
Does the hanger block much of the view through the trunk window? Does it fold up when not in use?
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Yes, it has a spring inside to fold up by itself when not in use. You can't see it when it is unfolled. When using, it doesn't block the view too much since the arm is little bit long so the bags are down of the view through the small window.
 
JJim said:
This is the link on ebay which I bought it from, if you are interested. I removed the pull nylon rope since it is not necessary. It is little bit tricky to put the nuts when installing but not too hard.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.ca/ulk/itm/253706789164
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I now see that you've installed a folding cargo hook made for a VW/Audi, not the non-folding Honda cargo hook, which one poster has said is always visible through the trunk window. Nice call! I'm sure Honda is now racing to update their cargo hook. Not.
https://www.collegehillshonda.com/product/08L96-TA0-101A.html
 
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