danwat12345

http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-coupe/features.aspx?Feature=econ-button2

So the new civics come with an econ button. I like it but I wonder what it does. I can't see how it makes the engine itself more efficient, but I bet it will let the transmission shift to a higher gear quicker than otherwise and will cut back the HVAC/climate control and perhaps shut off the heat until the engine is warmed up (who knows). Oh and I heard that it will make the gas pedal heavier.
Other than that, what would the button do?

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

i think it is purely climate control based. changing how the trans shifts would be nice, but i doubt its that complicated. the 2003 hybrid was the first civic to have the econ button. its mostly for hybrids if you want actual econ functionality (like auto stop, less ac use, etc). the "new" econ button is just a way for them to "go green" since thats the current fad these days (remember clear tails in the 90s and "jdm" in the 00s?). its pretty much useless. turning off the ac and fan would be a much better econ button lol.

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f...n-button-3671/

danwat12345

I wonder if the car will deactivate the alternator while driving/accelerating and then will turn it back on when the car is decelerating so the lead acid battery is charged only from engine braking.. I've heard of 1 manufacture doing this, forgot which. Of course if there's a high load on the battery then it'd have to be on all the time.

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

yeah! another 2012 related topic! thanks, danwat!

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

our cars (regular civics 01+) already turn the alternator off when its not needed. the ELD does that (electronic load detector).

danwat12345

I knew this.. but I was thinking of something more intelligent. The ELD seems to just be an ON or OFF function.. so either the battery is charging at 14.xx volts if the alternator is on and if the ELD has switched the alternator 'off', the battery is tricklishly charging at 12.xx volts.

More intelligent... like monitoring(analyzing(computing!)) the load on the battery and if the load is not significant enough or if not that much discharge time has elapsed, go ahead and keep the alternator asleep until engine braking takes place when the user hits the brake..
A mild mild mild form of regenerative braking on a non-hybrid car.

danwat12345

My 1999 Civic has this too

20twelve

I just purchased a 2012 LX Sedan manual and from what I can tell, the changes are noticeable.

Engine power is cut, a noticeable amount. Enough so that it states in the manual that the car may take much longer to accelerate in cruise control with ECO on vs. having it off (normal mode).

It cuts down on engine power, changes transmission settings (Auto only I'm sure), and climate control.

I haven't noticed a real difference in the climate control part of it, it still makes the cabin ice cold on the lowest temp setting, and the fan still operates to full capacity. It also still functions in MAX A/C, so I'm not sure what it changes as far as climate control is concerned.

I'm keeping the car in ECO mode during my break-in period, just so I'm less tempted and also because cars tend to get less than optimal mpg's during break-in.

It still has enough power to move from a stop or pass normally (non butt hole style driving)

I'll be sure to report fuel consumtion/power differences in the future after I'm done with the break-in.

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

^^^ Did you get a real horn on your LX ??

No part #s avail yet.

Need to know, Thanks.

20twelve

When say "real horn" do you mean a functioning one?
If so, yes it honks when u lock the doors and when you push on the right area of the steering wheel.
Does it sound like they sampled the road runners 'beep beep'? Yes, it isn't the most masculine of tones but it works..and makes me laugh everytime I lock it

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

That answers my question, same crappy junk horn holding on through another generation it appears.

Thanks for answering, congrats on the new car btw. I like the looks of them.

danwat12345

Train horn ftw. PM me if you want to know more..

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

bump to keep this one on the top... had a count of 3 misplaced 6th/7th/8th gen threads just today in the 9th gen forums... siiigh! want to have at the least one thread pertaining to the 2012 on top...

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

Would love to have an ear drum busting, high db blast behind that bumper for all those wonderful drivers I meet every day...But sadly Honda has incorporated the horn relay inside the fusebox/micu unit on my 8th and I'm scared of adding much more of a current draw (though the Si has 2 horns standard)

The factory horn is a joke.

ezone

Update on the ECON button functions (remember this button is now on several other models so these may or may not apply to Civics), and keep in mind that there are some trade-offs as far as acceleration, comfort and convenience:

The happy little green light illuminates, and it may modify:

trans controls, (shift points are lowered)

the electronic throttle, (reduces throttle opening for a given pedal input, while at less than 80% of WOT. At 80% and greater, you still are receiving the normal full throttle response)

climate control, (compressor cycle time and temps, blower fan speed, recirc operation)

cruise control, (limits acceleration/throttle opening rates when engaged, which may allow more vehicle speed variations esp. on hills)

auto-idle-stop for hybrids. (widened ambient temp ranges allowed for autostop)

ezone

Agree with the factory horn comment, it just sounds sooooo wimpy.

Wire up a regular Bosch style 5 pin relay using the horns wiring as the 85 or 86 input.

Now connect your train horns air valve to it.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

i noticed most "better" hondas and acuras use double horns instead of a single. not sure on the power draw of splicing a second one in, but its an idea.

ezone

Looks like the same relay unit is used for single or double horns (looking at regular and Si Civic wire diagrams) so it shouldn't make any difference.

But if the horn relay goes south, you will be replacing the MICU/fusebox if you can't wire up something else yourself.

pnamajck

with regard to . . . 2012-honda-civic-econo . . .
was hoping to see more favorable reviews . . .
not reviews waxed-up by marketers . . .
rather, reviews from we honda veterans / aficionados / purists.

danwat12345 and a few others reflected upon valid topics / concerns.

with regard to . . . seizing / hijacking this thread unto off-topic "horns"
this thread is about the 2012 econo-button . . .
this thread is not about horns . . .
pls stuff your air-horns with expanding foam.

if you feel so compulsed . . .
pls devote a specific thread to "honda horns" . . .
capiche ?

in retrospect . . . i understand we all have passions / volitions . . . cheers.

ummm . . . thanks.

jordan1794

Um...nobody else was contributing anything about the original topic, what's the issue here?
It's not like there are 5 pages of posts and you can't find any of the ones about the econ button because of the horn posts, there is only 1 page and only the last couple of posts are about horns...and are a month old
Chillax dude...

Lor71

Thanks for the eco explanation, my 06 is in the shop again for the 3rd time in a week ( axle & leaking, accelerating decelerating ugh Ill try & find another thread about that)
Honda gave me the new 2012 as a loaner very nice, theres no book & was wondering how that eco worked.

Guardian7

Just bought a 2012 Civic LX and turning on ECON button really made a big difference on the freeway with cruise control set at 70mph, the mileage computer averaged 48.5 mpg on a 130 mile round trip to Los Angeles and back! We now have a 1000 miles on the car with only two tanks of gas and each fill it took 10gal, the tank is 13gal but the car seems to alert it needs gas way sooner. Around town the car is averaging 33-35 mpg with ECON turned on.

em2maxamillian

Despite my username, I swapped my EM2 for a 2012 EX with an AT. My honest opinion regarding the Econ button is this: every driver needs to experiment with the system and do the math. In my case, I actually get more MPGs with Econ OFF. It has a lot to do with how your drive, and also where.

I live in Hawaii (Honolulu, Oahu), and our roads here, including our freeways, follow the inclines and declines in the terrain of the island, which can be fairly sudden and steep. We have short on-ramps and drivers that don't understand the rule of "slower traffic keep right." Not to mention that traffic itself can get pretty bad. I can see how the Econ button could help in heavy traffic situations, but where I live, traffic flow is sporadic. It can go from grid-lock, to 60+ MPH speeds, and then back to grid-lock in less than 5 minutes or in little as a half-mile.

Because Econ mode reduces throttle response and quickens up-shifts, you can begin to see how quick spurts of acceleration and steady up-hill climbs can be problematic. When I keep Econ ON, the fuel economy lights (green and blue bars) remain dark-blue for most of my trip as the trans holds the highest gear and the engine strains to pull under low rpms. Giving it more gas does little until you reach the 3/4 throttle or more position, at which point the trans downshifts violently and the engine revs its nuts off (which, in my opinion, sounds pretty counter-productive to saving fuel).

So test the system first and do the math.

Results:

Econ ON: From F to Low Fuel Warning Indicator ON: 25.5 mpg or 289 miles per tank.

Econ OFF: From F to Low Fuel Warning Indicator ON: 28.2 mpg or 307 miles per tank.