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Comments
Hope this works out for you. In my experience, one of the good things about Honda is that they do strive to make things right.
Kindly let us know how this turns out.
Currently the car is still at the dealer. They called yesterday asking permission for one of the Honda People to drive it home for the evening and see if they could duplicate the problem. Didn't see that I had much of a choice if I want this problem solved. They said they would call me in the morning. It's now 2:45 in the afternoon and I haven't heard from them so i'm thinking 1) they wrecked the car and are afraid to tell me or 2) it actually acted up and the door kept locking so they're trying to figure out what to do next. This dealer has been amazing at keeping me updated and i've never had to call them at all to ask for information so i'm a bit perplexed as to why I haven't heard from them.
I will try to work with Honda first and have already filed paperwork for a claim for replacement. Only if I don't get anywhere with them will I contact a lemon law lawyer. I just want a replacement car - don't even want the money. I love the car, it works for our family, so I just want another Pilot. Hey, what chance do you think I have of asking for and getting the tow package put on as compensation for my "pain and suffering?"
I don't know that i've read all posts related to your problem. If this has already been mentioned, my apologies.
As to why they haven't called, remember that your urgency is not theirs and you are just another number in the service department. I usually have to call on my Chevy. I doubt they have wrecked it. A lot of times, service departments wait until the end of the day. It sounds like you have had a good relationship with your dealer.
As to getting a $900 tow package for compensation, I doubt you will get it. They should be providing a vehicle while yours is in the shop.
What pleases the masses won't please everyone. The vast majority of Pilot owners think their seats are just fine but there will always be a few that do not.
Just like someone else may not find your Lexus seats to be comfortable.
As isellhondas says, seat comfort is a very individual thing. Spend some serious time in whatever vehicle you are considering just to make sure it works well for you.
BTW: Yes, they are providing me with a Ford Explorer and yes, every single component in that one door has been replaced as well as the driver's side door AND the multi-plex unit - the main brain of the entire electrical system. There is nothing left that they can replace and the techs are saying that it's impossible for one door to lock and unlock without affecting any of the other doors but apparently my car does the impossible.
Re: them contacting me. I somehow think that if the car did not lock while the person drove it home for the evening they wouldn't keep paying for my rental vehicle for an entire weekend especially if they couldn't duplicate the problem AND since money is always the bottom line in any business they wouldn't. Plus, the dealer's service dept. is open 7 days a week. AND...since they said they would call me on Friday morning and they have done everything they said they would do when they said they would do it so this is out of character for them. So, actually no news is good news. Chances are it did what it's been doing and they are scratching their heads trying to figure out why.
I've filed papers with Honda Consumer Affairs and they are doing what they do I guess. Overall, minus missing my car, Honda has been great in dealing with me and my problem. I will keep you posted as to what happens.....hopefully soon.
Your also going to tow fairly often.
Too much weight for a Pilot.
--jay
When towing you should only tow 75% of the weight limit which for the pilot would be 3750 lbs. That should be the max weight you should pull. If your doing that much towing you might want to look into a vehicle with a higher tow capacity i.e. - toyota 4runner (9100 lbs with a weight distributing hitch and tow package), Sequoia (6500 lbs) etc....
Why is the Pilot rated at 4500 pounds for a boat and 3500 everything else. Although there may be an aerodynamic difference, that would show up as the speed you could tow at. Weight is weight. 4500 pound boats are the same as 4500 anything unless you go fast and the aerodynamics of the boat may have some influence.
i dunno - seems to me the locking mechanism is probably driven by a solenoid or solenoids that get their power from a circuit where the switch normally interrupts power from the battery, and when moved, ie pushed up, or down completes a circuit to provide power to the solenoid(s) to move the locking mechanism.
you said every part in the door was replaced, but i have a problem believing that.
my guess is the switch is faulty or the wiring to the switch is faulty (your key or keyless can lock and unlock doors), and power is getting to the solenoid(s) to activate and move the lock mechanism, even though noone is pushing the switch.
i suggest you take it to another dealer for service.
i can imagine where wiring to this door's actuator solenoids is messed up, maybe shorting somewhere because of crimping or something, and it's just affecting this door, not the other 3.
good luck.
Or that some foreign matter or other debris is interfereing with the mechanism such that it cycles on or off for one reason or another.
however, if everything in the door was replaced, something is amiss.
this is why i recommended another dealership - probably a different diagnosis technique will be employed, and the root cause identified.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Let it break in. once your around 5000 miles you will have a better idea.
Stop-go driving kills SUV mileage. Many SUV drivers don't get the EPA estimates.
ALSO, something else I just thought of while reading that ... check your tire pressure. My wife's mileage recently dipped a couple mpgs (down to around 19) ... we initially thought "eh, its winter," but then I checked the tire pressures on a whim. Turned out they were all very low (28'ish). Pumped them back up to 34 all around and she said her last 2 tanks were back over the 20 mpg mark.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Good point on the tire pressure. You have to stay on top of those. I tend to run just a pound or two above the sticker on the door. 34 vs 32psi.
That's for my subie. I'm not sure what the Pilot recomends.
--jay
My husband and I are willing to bet that they did find something small and stupid that they fixed that was causing it and didn't want to admit it OR they inadvertantly moved a wire that was crimped or shorting out because it wasn't where it was supposed to be when going over the car a final time and that solved the problem. So, happily, at this time, it seems to have been fixed.
Thanks for all your input and help. I did contact a lemon law lawyer (which I told them I did...hmmm...wonder if that had something to do with it) and will call them back on Monday to tell them that, at this time, the problem appears to be fixed.
Hey TRAN, I would LOVE to get 17 mpg! As it stands now, i'm only getting 11 mpg city. 13 highway. I'm going to try that idle learn procedure thing and see if that's the case....
"Towing: The Honda Pilot has a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds for boats and 3,500 pounds for trailers . A heavier load is acceptable with boats because their pointed bow shapes impose less aerodynamic drag on the towing vehicle than a slab-faced, square-cornered trailer."
But then again, how many of us tow at 45 on the Interstate? I have seen UHauls towed well beyond the posted speed limit of 70.
Can anyone provide me with a suggestion on how to make this small increase?
Thanks!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I have filled up about 4 or 5 tanks.
First one was around 14, last one was 17.5 - and every one has increased over the previous.
I never had such changes from tank to tank. I think, at least w/honda, there is something to the engine break in.
Now, when is best to get the first oil change? I had previously done #1 at about 1K to 1.5K - but have read on these boards to leave the oil in for up to 7500 miles? Is it some special oil to help w/breakin?
Another puzzle....the door hasn't locked at all since the last time - however, my auto window up/down doesn't work. This will be the second time this has stopped working. I'm starting to think that this car has overall electrical problems. hm.....think i'll keep in contact with the lemon law lawyer.
I also have the question regarding the first oil change. My manual says 7000 or 1 year but the dealer said 3750 miles or 3 months for the first oil change. Who to believe.....when anyone finds out when we need to change the oil let us know!
My husbands Lexus didn't get a first oil change till 1 year or 10,000 miles so I guess the synthetics oils and technologically advanced engines combined don't need it as often anymore???
"NOTE: Whenever the battery is disconnected, the driver’s window AUTO function is disabled.
37. Start the engine. Push down on the driver’s
window switch until the window is fully open.
38. Pull up on the driver’s window switch to close the
window completely, then hold the switch for 2
seconds.
39. Test the window AUTO function."
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I'm a happy Pilot owner!!!!
plus there is a special additive in the first factory oil that should not be changed before 7500. I have read somewhere in this forum where honest dealers won't change the oil at less than 7500 even if the customer wanted it done.
The 7500 and 10,000 mile oil change intervals are the LONGEST Honda reccommends.
Some people like to take better care of their cars than that, myself included.
The manual also says that in extreme conditions such as a lot of short trips and stop and go driving that oil changes should be done more often.
I try to get my cars in between 3500 and 4000 miles but if I did more highway driving I would probably stretch that a bit.
Ask any mechanic or technician if they would go 7500 or 10,000 miles without an oil change.
I guess it's easy to accuse dealers of just wanting more money.
BTW: Was waiting for restaurant to open for brunch today and pulled out manual to waste some time. The New Car Delivery checklist was in there and I was looking at what they checked off. Hmmm....the "idle learn procedure" WAS NOT checked off as done. Very interesting. Usually I could go 240 miles on a full tank in stop and go city driving. I've now gone almost 100 miles and i've used only about 1/4 of a tank of gas - This gives me hope that after doing the idle learn procedure myself that my mileage has greatly improved! We'll see. I'll keep you all posted.
If you follow the book and go with the minimum maintenance, you'll probably be OK too.
I just think 7500 or 10,000 miles is a LONG time between oil changes, but, that's me.
Agreed, I change every 5000 miles. I think the problem is the "don't change the first time until 7500 miles because it has special break in oil" issue. It sounds like most folks are concerned about not changing too early and messing up whatever the "special break-in oil" is supposed to do verses not going so long on oil changes which few of us would go that long. People want to not change too early and not mess up the break-in period of the engine. It appears Honda could be a little more clear in the owners manual concerning this and make sure dealers have the straight and skinny on this.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
hoppy2@cox.net
It's a very simple procedure. I left the battery disconnected for about 5 minutes (I'm sure it was overkill but I wanted to make sure it was done right the first time).
what is your situation?