Honda Pilot 2003 through 2005

dako_tian

On the way home this evening I'm going to look for lights on my Yukon XL's steering wheel. Then I guess I'll stay inside until properly chaperoned. ;-)

qbrozen

had to look back a whole month to see habitat's post and find out what we're talking about.

Anyway, the tach on an automatic may very well be there for marketing purposes, but I find it quite useful nonetheless and appreciate it being there. You can still shift an automatic. And since cars have gotten much quieter and smoother over the years, just listening to or feeling the revs is not always helpful.

tcasboy

Yes, the discussion was a little old, I just got back to the Pilot board after a while, and read the reply. I figured I'd go ahead and vent my ideas in an effort to "illuminate" my point from the original post, which maybe I didn't make as clearly as possible.

Sorry to vent.

dako_tian

But some probably consider your comments especially tachy.... ;

markjenn

While certainly not a critical instrument, a tach is still useful on a vehicle like the Pilot. The transmission can still be controlled manually, and being able to monitor engine revs and shifting behaviour (including whether the tranny is going into and out of lockup) is useful when when towing.

But I'd trade the tach for being able to manually select 4th (rather than just 3rd) like in the MDX.

- Mark

qbrozen

that's ok. better late than never.

mtbdad

Thanks for the message. I have used dent repair guys in the past and yes indeed, they do a great job. We only buy black cars so it really shows up. Here in Hawaii, they charge about $80 per quarter panel. I am very tempted to fix the dent, but am waiting to see how often these dents show up. The last time I got a dent fixed on a rear quarter panel, the tech drilled a hole in the fenderwell to get to the metal. He later put a rubber plug with silicone in the hole. I am alittle hesitant to go that route so soon after getting the car.~ 1 month. If I get two dents in the same place, it is still $80 to fix. Hate to fix, then get another the next week on the same fender.;-)

rfreda

Looking to pick up a couple things that I did not take delivery of the car with:

- all-season floor mats: anyone have recommendations on what to get? Do the Honda ones have a good lip around the edge to prevent leakage of salty/muddy water onto the carpet?

- door edge guards: not a listed accessory from the dealer (can't imagine why not). Anyone use something that has worked well given that the outline of the door is not very straight?

Thanks.

lonegunman

I bought the WeatherTech mats and they work great. They hold a lot of water, salt, coffee etc. I live in the northeast, have kids and know what it is like to run the factory mats. These work great. I have them in my 4 year old Maxima and mats look brand new.

You will have to trim the WeatherTech mats a bit, but they are designed for trimming, and the fit is great. I think they were about $100.

As far as door edge guards, check out the hondapilot.org site. There is a gentleman who will sell you some 3M brand clear tape for $20 or something. Probably better off just buying some yourself from your auto parts place, or Lowe's/Home Depot. Any clear tape should do the trick, but getting it on is the hard part.

Just my .02. Good luck!

rsharp

I have a SeaDoo PWC w/ trailer. The whole rig weighs about 1,200 lbs. I have pulled the ski with a Honda Prelude, BMW 325is, Nissan Quest, and a Hyundai Sante Fe. None of those autos ever had any trouble pulling the SeaDoo. However, I see that to put a hitch on the Pilot you have to add several other coolers etc. Can this really be true? Would I really need all that to pull 1,200 pounds? Anyone had any experience with towing?

markjenn

Personally, I wouldn't worry about towing a very light trailer like this in a Pilot without any of the extra towing packages. But you don't want to keep pushing the envelope indefinitely - just because a vehicle tows something without "trouble" doesn't mean that you are maintaining an adequate safety margin or aren't shortening the life of things like transmissions and brakes. A lot would depend on the length of the trip, anticpated speeds, grades, temps, other loads, etc.
 
IOW, use judgment.

- Mark

qbrozen

you don't NEED the add-ons to tow it, but if you ever run into problems, I could see them denying warranty work because you towed without the Honda-suggested add-ons. We both know that towing a 1200 lb. trailer didn't cause those problems, but since they told you to install the cooler for towing .... well, is it really worth taking a chance?

rsharp

I went ahead and made the deal yesterday. Sandstone EX with step rails. Really liked the ride and even though it is a big auto it handles very well. Drives smaller than it is and is larger inside than it appears. Lots of configuration options is a big plus as well. I seriously considered the Pacifica (nearly purchased one) but ultimately Honda quality won over the sexier styling and premium pricing of the Pacifica. So after several years which inclded a BMW 325is and a Hyundai Sante Fe I am back into a Honda. I used to have a Prelude with 4 wheel steering, funnest car to drive that I ever owned!

By the way, contrary to some postings here in the Pilot areas, the 04 Pilots 2nd row seats do adjust forward and back on the rails. This was a change from the 03.

First impressions driving it around are very good, No rattles, no noises, etc. It is the nicest car I have ever driven off the lot. (I usually buy used when I can.)

qbrozen

enjoy

mrkn

I purchased a Pilot a few months ago. I only have 2000 miles on it. I thought about purchasing a Highlander because I have a Toyota Camry that, even with 160,000 miles does not have any rattles. Toyota seems to know how to build cars that don't seem to degrade with time. I once owned a Honda Prelude that developed all sorts of rattles.

In any case I decided on the Pilot because it was roomier than the Highlander. So far it feels very sold with no rattles to complain about.

I would be curious if anyone's Pilot, with over 20K on the odometer, still feels solid. I know my 2000 Acura TL exhibits a lot of twisting sounds when driving unto a curb. But, not the Pilot so far - I hope it stays that way.

shiffrin

I'm considering the purchase of a Pilot to replace our aging Chrysler Town & Country. We travel a lot and use a 12V refrigerator. From what I have seen, the power outlets are off when the ignition is off. This was also true with our Chrysler, but you could get a special fusebox adapter that kept the power on all the time. Our refrigerator has a special cord that shuts off the power to the fridge if the battery voltage drops too much - so leaving it plugged in when stopped has never been a problem.

It sounds like the Pilot comes with a number of power outlets but all of them are off when the ignition switch is off. Is there no way around this?

Barry

qbrozen

we just passed 20K actually. I would say it doesn't feel quite as tight as the day we first got it (no car does), but its still the most solid and quietest vehicle I've ever owned.

qbrozen

Yes, there is a way around it. Just gotta rewire one of them to a constant hot wire or fuse.

imidazol97

the dealer or service manager to see if the auxillary outlet can be switched to always on at the master fuse box. Our newer car has fuses under the hood that are switchable for the auxillary and main cigarette lighters. You just lift them and put into the 2nd and 3rd contact rather than 1st and 2nd contact for 'always on.'

shiffrin

Thanks to qbrozen and imidazol97 for the rewiring suggestion. Since this will be a brand new car, I will discuss this with the dealer before purchase to see if they will do it.

toca

no rattles here. Only disappointment is with the interior trim. Very prone to dings and scratches.

rossdm

It drives as well as the day I drove it off the lot. No problems, no disappointments whatsoever!

Also, I occasionally tow a Sea-doo (single trailer) - I don't have any of the additional coolers, etc - you shouldn't need it for that light weight.

sungchang

My younger brother has a 2002 Toyota Highlander. I believe he has around 30k miles. He loves it, but his one comment against it has been that it has too many rattles unlike Hondas. Taken to the dealer several times, but he eventually gave up on it. Just a food for thought....

tcdrake

What is the Pilot's security system like? I know it has a remote keyless entry but does it have an actual alarm? i.e. horn and light show?

Thanks.

qbrozen

I'm not sure if it is different between the LX and EX (I think it may be), but our EX does honk and flash.

tcdrake

What is the sound system like? Do those who have the DVD enjoy it? Does it have a good picture?

Thank you.

sampilot2004

I placed an order over phone for a Pilot today and gave my credit card to charge a deposit. Didn't sign any papers. Over the phone, the dealer said this deposit is refundable and I can cancel the order any time before signing the paper at the time of delivery. Dealer faxed a purchase order which says "deposit non-refundable". My question is how does this work? If I have to cancel the order for some reason, will I get this deposit back? If the dealer refuses to give this, which is the best place to go to get it resolved?

THANKS IN ADVANCE

cds12

http://www.hondapreview.com/pilot/

isellhondas

I've seen information like this in the past that has been totally false.

It's possible...I hope so, but I've heard nothing of this.

hairong

2003 Pilot EXL - RES by tcdrake

The system is great, so is the picture quality, the speakers are crap, though. They only match AM radio sound quality (FM sound improved a little after my speaker switch), far below MP3, CD, DVD sound quality.

Power outlets switch to always on

Be aware of your power consumption with the always on, the battery in the Pilot is not very good (not high capacity). One time, I left one internal light on (the light in the 2nd row grab handle) over night, and the battery was dead next morning. It was not damaged, however, after a full recharge, everything's cool.

thamptonroads

I just read this on the news....

You may recall the good old days when there was a lot of profit to be made in the car industry. Now there’s just a lot of recalls, period. The latest comes from Japanese automaker Honda, which is calling back 600,000 minivans and SUVs in the U.S. and Canada.

The reason? They may be equipped with faulty transmissions. Most of the cars affected – the 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey minivans, the 2003-2004 Pilot, and the 2001-2002 Acura MDX - were made at the Honda complex in Aliston, Ontario.

The company warns insufficient lubrication has been shown to cause a heat buildup and broken gears in the vehicles’ transmissions, which could lead to the entire mechanism locking up. If you hear noises coming from your transmission, the gears may already have broken.

So far, Honda has confirmed only 10 instances of the mechanisms actually failing, and there have been no reports of accidents or deaths due to the defect – and they want to keep it that way.

As usual, the repairs will be free and notices will go in the mail at the end of April. Nearly 49,000 cars in Canada are believed to be affected.

mrguinness

I know that the 3rd row seats fold down completely flat, but I cannot find anything about the second row of seats.

Does anyone know if they fold down completely flat in the 2004?

Thanks!

cameramatt

Yes, they do fold down.
You'll need to remove the headrests first, then
pull on the latch on the side of the seat and push down on the seat. You might need to adjust the forward position.

mrguinness

Thanks for the reply.

I do know they fold down, but I was asking if the fold down COMPLETELY flat, like the 3rd row seats do...

Thanks again! MB

ang35

Hi, just bought an EX-L RES and was playing around with the DVD player yesterday. I tried to play a VCD and found it didn't work. That got me to wondering, what types of DVDs will play in the dvd player? (e.g., DVD-R, +R, etc)?

Wondered if anyone out there has a list. Thanks in advance!

rsharp

no they are not completely flat like the 3 row. they do fold down without removing the headrests, which is good. but if you take a level to them they are not completely flat but they are pretty close, just a slight angle.

bbug1

We've been using DVD-R and have had no problems at all.

memojo

Drove our new Pilot home yesterday (Saturday) and a few hours later noticed small, nickel or quarter-sized fluid spots on the driveway -- clear, and slightly oily. Parked in the garage overnight; this morning, the spots on the driveway are still there -- obviously not water or condensation, since they didn't evaporate -- and the spots in the garage, where the Pilot was parked all night, are the size of bagels. Today is Sunday and the dealership is closed, so I can't call them.

Anyone have any ideas about what this could be? The Pilot has fewer than 100 miles on it, although we're planning a long drive today, with lots of highway miles; should I be very worried -- as in don't make the trip -- or only mildly concerned and just call the dealer on Monday?

bbug1

Try this:
Move the Pilot away from the spots. Touch and smell the bagel size spot. Open your hood and compare the smell & color to the other fluids. Oil will be dark/brownish, coolant--green, transmission fluid will be reddish. But try to go by both color and smell. If it is power steering fluid it's not too unusual and it should not prevent your driving today. Just check it today while you're out just to be safe.
But do take it when the service dept is open. Make a stink about it cause I would sure be mad if my brand new car were leaking...anything!
Good Luck

isellhondas

"Clear and slightly oily", it sounds like brake fluid. Very unusual to have a brake fluid leak however. If it IS brake fluid, and the spots are the size of bagels, I wouldn't drive the car.

Open the hood and check all of your fluid levels.

isellhondas

I would be upset as well but life is too short to get too mad or raise too much of a stink.

Stuff happens, even with the best of cars.

memojo

FWIW, we decided to make the 200+ mile round trip, with seven passengers. The Pilot EX didn't disappoint (although I'm still trying to decipher the ventilation system settings). Based on bbug1's description, the leak is probably not transmission fluid or coolant. And the brake fluid level appears fine, although the leak is on that side of the engine -- just to the driver's side of center. It could be oil, too, although I really don't think it's dark enough. I'll see what the driveway looks like in the morning and call the dealer.

Thanks to all for the feedback.

dako_tian

"I would be upset as well but life is too short to get too mad or raise too much of a stink.

Stuff happens, even with the best of cars."

But stuff leaking out of car can mean that the occupants of said vehicle can quite literally get bent all out of shape over it. Even our beloved Honda and its exemplary (at least the ones I've personally dealt with) dealers will eventually make a very serious mistake.

So, while jumping to hysterical conclusions may not be called for, exercising due caution is wise until the facts come out.

memojo: I'm glad that your I-can't-wait trip occurred without incident. Still, I hope you are sitting at the dealer's service department right now waiting for them to find the definitive explanation and fix for the fluid loss. Take good care, fellow driver.

memojo

memojo: I'm glad that your I-can't-wait trip occurred without incident. Still, I hope you are sitting at the dealer's service department right now waiting for them to find the definitive explanation and fix for the fluid loss. Take good care, fellow driver.

Thanks for your concern. That's exactly where I spent the morning, and where the Pilot, unfortunately, still sits. Soon after I left for work today the Pilot, still showing signs of the leak, started making telltale sounds of a power steering problem. So instead of heading to work, I went straight to the dealership, where they had to use dye in the PS system to find the leak source -- a connecting rod or bushing of some sort in the steering column. Unfortunately, they didn't have the part in stock. It's supposed to be sent overnight and I hope to get the vehicle back tomorrow afternoon.

And, so far, I haven't had to show anything beyond a to-be-expected level of displeasure. I understand that things don't always work the way they're supposed to [sometime I'll tell you about the 2002 Subaru Forester lemon we owned], but I also have respect for the folks who try their best to make things right, like the staff at the Honda dealership [and Subaru and the Subaru dealership, which replaced the Forester in about six weeks]. Today's experience hasn't shaken my confidence in either Honda or the dealership. Hopefully, tomorrow won't be any different.

dako_tian

I'm glad they found it. At least, now you know. And I'm betting that they will fix it and also back up the fix.

I'm with you. Perfection would be great, but expecting it is unrealistic (see, isellhondas, I'm with you on that too!). So, given the reality that we might be the "lucky" one to buy an exception, the really important thing is what they do about it after it happens.

Honda and their dealers have tended to be really good at that follow up. Despite the why-did-they-fail-me?!? despair of some, I can't remember a reported failure that was not handled, and corrected, by Honda. I hope your is too... very soon and very well.

markjenn

I've never quite understood the rationale for people to get unduly bent out of shape because a car has an immediate problem the day you buy it, rather than a week or two later. (I've seen posts in forums like this where people feel that because their new car has an immediate problem, that they should be able to return the car and get a new one, like a toaster! If a week or two passes, the problem is no big deal, but have it happen on the day they bought it, they want a refund or a new one, right now.)

A car has hundreds of systems being stressed for the first time when you take it home. The first day you own a car is THE MOST LIKELY TIME for a problem to come up and anything built by humans will have some percentage of examples with problems. We could have the factory drive the cars for a hundred miles before delivery and catch the few problems, but then our cars would cost a lot more.

If the Honda dealer handles the issue promptly and efficiently (as it sounds like they are doing), then it is time to clap for Honda, not boo them.

- Mark

norne

Why shouldn't people get mad when their brand new vehicle has problems? You would not be upset when you went to pick up your new vehicle and you notice a ding or scratch or some other imperfection on your brand new vehicle? You bought a new business suit and you notice the stitches is coming off and you would not be upset?

Buying a car is no different from buying anything new. Consumers don't expect anything to go wrong with the newly purchase item.

dako_tian

I think the point is to realize that, though we would wish it otherwise, these things do happen and sometimes we are the lucky "winner" of the built-by-only-humans (even the robot welders are programmed and maintained by humans), mistakes-will-happen lottery.

Getting a steam up before giving the dealer a chance to fix the problem(s) not only causes emotional and also physical harm to yourself, but rarely gives the dealer the intended impetus to bend over backward for you (when you are fiercely radiating your desire for him to bend over the other way!).

I'm not saying it isn't irritating. But, once you are there in that situation, allowing your anger to burn doesn't help at all.

Years ago a boss of mine advised saying nothing much and listening intently whenever some one came in angry. Then, when they finally sputter down to a pause, simply ask, "What can I do to make it right?"

It is amazing how few people know the answer to that question at that point. They tend to spend all their energy getting angry and assuming they were going to be "taken" that they never thought what they wanted to be done. Well, they knew that they wanted the problem to never have occurred at all. But they also knew (when talking to the willing-to-help human) that turning back time is not something realistically achieved.

markjenn

A ding or scratch is something that can be caught during a pre-delivery inspection, totally unlike a power steering leak that may take 10 or 50 miles to develop. And a car is nothing like a business suit which can be inspected by eye to find essentially all defects before sale.

A car is a complex mechanical system with thousands of systems that will be tested ONLY after the car is in a customer's hands. As I said before, these are not toasters or business suits, so expecting them to all come off the assembly line absolutely perfect is not realistic.

Go ahead and "get mad" if you want, but I think your anger is misplaced. There are lots of aspects of car ownership to get hot and bothered by - having a minor defect in a new car that could probably not be caught by an inspection is NOT one of them.

- Mark

bbug1

Years ago a boss of mine advised saying nothing much and listening intently whenever some one came in angry. Then, when they finally sputter down to a pause, simply ask, "What can I do to make it right?"

*****************************************************************- - ****
This advice is very good. As my husband is in the service area of Acura, he gets the occasional p*ssed of person who seems to enjoy blowing up. Let 'em steam and blow and then take care of them, it's almost like therapy.

If one is lucky enough to have a dealership that takes care of their needs then that is wonderful. However, if I had just bought a brand new car and had this problem occur, I would at least expect to be priority. Sometimes just the purchasing process is so stressful, but to have to come back so soon because of car problems could be really frustrating. If your service department handles things right then all should end happy.