Honda Pilot Maintenance and Repair

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Comments

  • markjennmarkjenn Member Posts: 1,142
    Although I haven't done it, I believe you have to cut away some plastic trim the first time you change the cabin air filter to be able to get to the fasteners for the metal bracket.

    There is a nice, picture-rich DIY thread on hondapilot dot org that has all the details.

    - Mark
  • ajwx3ajwx3 Member Posts: 15
    I am experiencing the same problem. At moderate speeds of 50 and above there is pronounced road noise. Then at speeds of 60 and above there is tremendous wind noise. I am so disappointed. I have never had a car so noisy. The interior cabin noise plus the level I need to play the radio actually hurts my ears.

    Who "installs" dynamat. Is there any kind of polymer undercoating? What about noise from the windshied? Anybody have suggestions? I'm about to take a loss on my new 2006 and buy a 4Runner
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    I had one of those sound deadening undercoatings installed and road noise in my Pilot is not bad at all, and in fact better than my Nissan minivan I traded in.

    As for wind noise, maybe you have a problem with your windshield? I have a Yakima roof rack on my Pilot and wind noise up to 80 mph is not significant.

    Sorry you're having so many problems. I would guess you'd take a pretty big loss on your '06 if you traded it in.

    tom
  • master1master1 Member Posts: 340
    Dynamat can be installed by you, or their dealer.
    Type dynamat insulation in your search on the internet and their website will come up.
  • hj708hj708 Member Posts: 28
    Wow, really?? I find my 06 EX to be very quiet, even at 80mph. Now if you're coming from a Lexus LS430 or something like that, a Pilot might be pretty noisy in comparison. However, I used to own an 03 4Runner and I find my new Pilot to be quieter on the highway.
  • hj708hj708 Member Posts: 28
    I have read other places on this steering wheel vibration. I own an 06 EX 2WD and I have not noticed any steering wheel vibration whatsoever, regardless of speed. For what it's worth, I remember reading from another Pilot owner on another website that he had an 05 Pilot and was having a lot of problems with this vibration. He went to his dealer to drive an 06 model. He drove an 06 4WD and noticed the vibration. He then drove a 2WD model and did not notice the vibration. So his thinking was that this vibration might only be a problem with 4WD models. As you know, 2WD was not available in a Pilot in 2005.
  • master1master1 Member Posts: 340
    Exactly! You don't have the steering wheel vibrations yet. Most people started getting it later when the body of the car started to losen up. That's why I think that the body needs more re-enforcments.
    The whole thing with dealers saying it's the tires is not true and balony, most people bought new tires and it still didn't solve the problem - it's not the tires in this case.
  • jat41jat41 Member Posts: 1
    I have fought this with the dealer/service depts. (2 different dealers). I have talked with the head service managers at both dealers and had them both test drive my new (at the time) 2005 Pilot EXL. Both agreed they could feel something at higher speeds when I drove it at 70-75, but in the end said they could not do anything for me as when they drove it they could not go above 65 miles per hour for insurance reasons. When I drove it for them the vibration made my watch on my wrist shake! Both realized it and said that it was performing within specs at 65mph. Which for the most part was sorta true, but still a slight vibration even at 65 mph. I opened the track with American Honda and they got the regional service rep to do a test drive with me also and the service manager. She did not work with me at all and toed the company line of can't drive faster then 65 mph because of insurance reasons. I have had all rims replaced and tires. I have had radial force balancing done twice and still there was very little change and still a vibration. The Amercian Honda rep was sympathetic to my cause, but did nothing to really help me. I had the tires rotated front to back cris-cross and at that point the vibration subsided a some in the steering wheel, but the back shook a little more. Even my kids could feel it and they are pretty young and they ride in the back more than I do. So, I left them for a while that way. I recently had to rotate again and reversed the cris-cross front to back and the vibration is back as it first was, making my watch vibrate as I'm going between 65-75mph. It sure sounds like its something in the tires/wheels or the vibration would not be as pronounced when I rotated the tires to the front. I'd be willing to get new tires instead of the Goodyyear Integrity's if I was sure it would help, but have my doubts and will wait until they wear out. Very frustrating situation that Honda refuses to do anything about. I am satisfied with the car other than that and have had no other problems. If the Japanese Honda company does anything to resolve this vibration issue please post back ">to the site.
  • tomekktomekk Member Posts: 310
    I have 2005 Pilot EXL-RES, and it had front-end vibration above 70mph. After rebalancing etc. during first two visits, they took the car in for three dayes, found the problem and replaced one of the front wheels (they gave me a service loaner, so the wait was no problem). The vibration is gone now, although at speed the steering wheel definitely communicates more vibration than in German cars (well, it's a truck after all).
    They said the right-front rim had manufacturing defect, described as "unbalanceable" slant.
    Tomek
  • master1master1 Member Posts: 340
    Thanks for replying. Yes I will post if Honda sends me another letter. Please post if they solve your vibration issue too. But honestly, it's not the tires. It's some other part. But the main point is that something on the Pilot's is wrong that is causing the vibrations. Let's just leave it at that.

    Again, all Pilot owners please post if Honda contacts you about this problem.
    Again, thanks for posting.
  • tomekktomekk Member Posts: 310
    master1,
    it was the rim in my case, not a tire. I think they only changed the rim and kept the tire. From what I can see here I was lucky - it worked.
    Tomek
  • bob11bob11 Member Posts: 18
    windshield got cracked after a rock hit probably at highway from a truck.

    should i go for the honda windshield, for this 2003 honda pilot, lx. or go with safelite glass. any information, concerns, problems with safelite windshield people.
    thanks.
  • wallacekwallacek Member Posts: 4
    I also have an 06 EXL, and I also want to disable the seat belt alarm. I use my seatbelt 95% of the time, but there are times I just want to drive around the block or to the store when I don't use my seatbelt. And that alarm is annoying. So I was just wondering if you found how to disable that alarm?

    Thanks.
  • golicgolic Member Posts: 714
    How about these options:

    1) Turn up radio real loud.
    2) Just cut-out a spare seatbelt from the back seat and stick it in there.
    3) Buckle the seatbelt and sit on top of it.
    4) Drink a can of beer, since you can divert your attention from the noise to cops.
    5) Walk to the store or walk around the block.
    6) Just trade the damn car in for a new one.

    I hope this helps, OR you could just put the dang buckle on *rattle*
  • wallacekwallacek Member Posts: 4
    Thanks Golic for the informative suggestions.
    I'm sure you are just full of useful information such as this.
  • golicgolic Member Posts: 714
    Sorry Wallacek,

    Yes it is tongue in cheek. In 1991 I had the misfortune of being a passenger in a head-on collision involving a drunk driver that was "just around the block" from home.

    Only the drunk driver who hit us and myself of the 7 people involved did not go in the ambulance.

    My friends who were in the front seat, without seat belts spent years in rehabilitation. The drivers friends were not so lucky. Every now and then I can still hear the "screams" from that night.

    Sorry if my philosophy is far different from yours, sorry if my sarcasm sees as far fetched to you as trying to spend time disabling a system rather than taking the extra two seconds of putting the buckle on.

    I lived that night and my stance has always been firm and I will continue to preach so others who are "lucky" to be involved in an accident can live as well. YMMV
  • wallacekwallacek Member Posts: 4
    Golic

    I was hunting for useful information....not a sermon.

    Now every time I hear that seat belt chime, I'll hear the screams of your oppionated sarcasm.

    Thanks again, but enough already.
  • hj708hj708 Member Posts: 28
    I find the alarm annoying too, but I'm glad it's there. I think golic did give you useful information, just not the kind you were asking for. But you can't blame the guy. I'm sure if one day you got slammed and put in the hospital because you didn't have a belt on, your advice to others might also be to not look for a way to disable the alarm, but to just put the belt on instead.
  • maximmanmaximman Member Posts: 2
    Help! I misplaced my owner's manual and can't figure-out how to reset that WRENCH light. I took it to the dealer (for a different matter) and they said, "I can't remember off the top of my head. It's in the manual" and brushed me off.

    Can anyone help?
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    I like the seatbelt chime. It tells me my passenger is unbelted, and I can gently tell them to put their seatbelt on. The seatbelt chime just emphasizes Honda's interest in passenger safety.

    If you're not interested in your own safety or the safety of your passenger, then it may at least save you from getting a ticket (if you are in a state with mandatory seat belt laws)

    tom
  • golicgolic Member Posts: 714
    Maxi,

    I looked in my 06 pilot manual last night and all my nimble mind could find was how to reset the change oil reminder. Which says

    1. Turn the ignition on
    2. Press the select/reset knob until the engine oil life indicator is displayed.
    3. press the select/reset knob for more than 10 seconds. The engine oil life and the maintenance item codes will blink
    4. Press the select/reset know for more than 5 seconds. The maintenance item codes will disappear.

    The knob is the same one you use for the trip-o-meter.

    I don't know if this does the wrench. in the manual it keeps implieng the dealer will reset it after he performs the service.
  • c_hackc_hack Member Posts: 20
    I'm sure there are people that would like useful information on driving drunk, or smoking pot while driving as well.

    What I hear is someone too lazy to fasten a seat belt, but willing to sit around on a forum to get around a safety feature (not to mention break the law in many states).

    I fully agree with the "opinionated sarcasm"
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    How about we get back to other Pilot issues now. Thanks,

    Steve, Host
  • okemojookemojo Member Posts: 2
    Hi,

    Just bought a new Pilot a few weeks back and I'm wondering if anyone else has had an issue with an overflow when filling the gas tank. Not sure if I'm crazy or what but each time I fill the tank (only 3 so far), the pump shuts off and then some gas shoots out. Sort of annoying and not all that great for the person standing next to the pump or the environment. :-) If it were the same gas station, I would suspect the pump but this has been three separate stations and at least two brands.

    Has anyone else experienced this? Just curious.

    Thanks.
  • maximmanmaximman Member Posts: 2
    worked perfectly. thanks a million!
  • markjennmarkjenn Member Posts: 1,142
    Nope, normal pump shutoff without splashing on my 2006. Have you tried different stations/pumps? If it is happening consistently on more than a single pump, then sounds like something wrong with the filler assembly on the car.

    - Mark
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Maybe your gas stations pump really fast! Try fill un more slowly at the end? Maybe your tank isn't venting properly?

    I don't have any problems with mine either, but if it keeps up I'd go see the dealer!

    Good luck!

    tom
  • okemojookemojo Member Posts: 2
    Hi,

    Thanks for the replies.

    I'll give it a few more try's at differrent gas stations and if it continues, let the dealer take a look. I don't have this issue on other cars at the same gas stations around town, so it could be that something is not right with the venting.

    With the exception of two other extremely minor concerns, we have been very happy with the Pilot. Of course it only has 600 miles on it.

    The minor issues are:
    Reirview mirror could stand to be tightened as it "shimies" when driving causing a distraction. If I put my finger on it it stops, so it must be just loose.

    Drivers door seals make noise on rough roads. Not wind noise but a rubbing sort of noise right next to your ear. It happened on the Pilot I test drove also. Only occurs of bumpy roads (New England potholes and frostheaves) and may be cured by adjusting the door to close tighter, giving the seals some time to "break in" or turning up the awesome radio.

    Thanks again,
    Ken - CT
  • hj708hj708 Member Posts: 28
    Same issue here with the door seals, a little squeaky. It seems like it is just on the backseat doors, but I'm not positive. Anyone find a cure for this? I was thinking of opening the doors and spraying something on the rubber seals to maybe give them a little slickness. Maybe the 303 aerospace rubber protectant stuff I use on the tires. I'll let you know if it works
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I use 303 or Vinylx on my door gaskets and it seems to help. I've never used the stuff on my tires; just the interior surfaces.

    Steve, Host
  • markjennmarkjenn Member Posts: 1,142
    BMW sells some door seal lubricant called GummiPledge (or something like this) that people rave about. My experience is that silicon lubricants look good, but worsen squeaks, at least initially.

    One piece of advice from an older driver: chasing squeaks in a car is an acvitivy that mostly generates stomach acid. Unless they're an indicator of something really loose (e.g. a spare tire now secured properly), I have learned it's easier to turn up the stereo. It is like tinnitus (another old age thing that most of us get, sooner or later) - you can let it bug the hell out of you or you can get on with your life.

    - Mark
  • ogie271ogie271 Member Posts: 7
    Just bought an 06 AWD EX-L NAV a couple weeks ago. Have had it up to 80mph+ on lousy NJ roads, no vibes. Not as quiet a ride as the 03 Highlander AWD LTD I traded in, but road noise seems acceptable. Just more of a "truck-like" ride. Very happy so far ... fingers crossed!
  • master1master1 Member Posts: 340
    Hopefully it stays that way!
  • frieberg44frieberg44 Member Posts: 33
    These alarms are IDIOTIC and totally unnecessary. They are easily disabled, however, by simply pulling apart the plastic wiring harness connectors accessible under the seat.
  • frieberg44frieberg44 Member Posts: 33
    JUNK those mediocre tires and get a set of Michelin's balanced using the Hunter Road Force balancer. That will END your shaking problems.
  • rpowersrpowers Member Posts: 24
    I had a sque-creak noise in the rear suspension on my 05 Pilot with 6000 miles, it was worse when you had weight in the rear seat. I took it to the dealer, they lubricated the rear suspension "A" arms and it stopped, there's rubber bushings that get dry and squeak. I also have a metallic grinding noise coming from my rear brakes only when backing up, don't know if you have that.
    Hope this helps!
  • rpowersrpowers Member Posts: 24
    Did the Michelin's help the road noise or ride?
  • markjennmarkjenn Member Posts: 1,142
    I replaced the OEM Bridgstone Dueler HT 684's with Michelin LTX's on my 06 Pilot two days after buying it. I simply didn't like the road feel of the Bridgestones.

    The road noise and ride worsened slightly, but handling was much crisper (the sidewalls are stiffer) and traction seemed to improve, especially on slick surfaces.

    On cars like the Pilot, OEM tires are generally biased towards low price and a soft ride, not towards good handling. The Bridgestones are VERY poorly regarded in the owner comments at the Tire Rack site, ranking something like 59th out of 64 tires surveyed. But if you're mostly interested in a quieter ride, I'd stick with OEM.

    Did my tire change cure a vibration issue? Don't know as it didn't vibrate before or after. But with only 100 miles or so on the Bridgestones, I may have missed it.

    If you do have a persistent vibration problem, a tire change would be very high on my list of things to try early on. The problem is that switching to a different brand of tires is not something you can typically get Honda to pick up the tab for, but I was able to swap tires for close to the difference in price and they should last much longer (LTX's are famous for getting 80K+). So rather than beat one's head against the wall arguing with the dealer and doing repeated alignments and balancing, it might be worth it to just bite the bullet, pay the extra, and get better tires from the get-go.

    I've owned ten or so brands of tires in my driving career, on both two wheels and four, and the only tire brand that I've never had any problems with is Michelin. As a brand, I think they just do a better overall job of designing and manufacturing tires.

    - Mark
  • ajwx3ajwx3 Member Posts: 15
    just brought my new 06 4WD EXL back to the dealer. They had my car for 6 hours. I told them about a vibrating styrofoam sound from the windows on rough surface; excessive road noise so balance the tires and make sure the tires are at 32 psi; check the seals in the windows and windshield because of wind noise; and tell me if there are any accessories that may help reduce these problems like window ventshades, etc. There response was that they could not hear any of these problems including the annoying crackling vibration from the windows. I am so pissed. I have already filed a complaint with American Honda. My solution is fourfold; 1. Dynamat my doors and back gate and under the hood 2. Undercoat my car 3. Take it to a body shop to stop the window vibrations (I put a couple of folded index cards between the window and the seal on the inside and voila! the noise is gone and 4. most important of all I will create two magnetic signs that I will wear on each side of my car saying "This car makes road noise, wind noise and rattle and Honda won't fix it!
  • ajwx3ajwx3 Member Posts: 15
    Yes, I came from a lexus rx 300. That car had the smoothest suspension and transmission. It also had about a 1/2 of insulation under the carpet and in the doors. You heard nothing from the outside - not even when large trucks were right up alongside you. What a dope I was to buy a Honda Pilot for the extra room.
  • master1master1 Member Posts: 340
    Lexus's are different from Honda. Luxury Lexus, to basic Honda. It's kind of like the more you pay, the more you get. Lexus = more money so lexus's have more stuff
  • markjennmarkjenn Member Posts: 1,142
    The key here is how the car compares with other new Pilots.

    The bar is not that the car should be as quiet and smooth as a Lexus RX300; the bar is that it should be as quiet and smooth as other new Pilots. If your car doesn't preform to spec, then Honda should fix it, but if the car performs like other Pilots, then the problems you mention should have been very apparent on any test drive. All cars have their good and bad points and somewhat higher than average wind and road noise is a problem that is mentioned in almost every Pilot review.

    - Mark
  • ajwx3ajwx3 Member Posts: 15
    That's what makes me crazy - we test drove the pilot twice! I am particularly sensitive to road noise and didn't hear it either time like i hear it in my pilot. We took the pilot out on the highway and pushed it to 75 to see about vibration. I really didn't notice too much road or wind noise. Mine has it and when cars pass you it sounds like there is a window slightly open. I am going to change the tires and buy michelin cross terrain. hope it helps. I know a honda is not a lexus but I would sure like to hear my radio without cranking up to above 26 when i'm on the highway!
  • markjennmarkjenn Member Posts: 1,142
    If it is as obvious that something is wrong as you say, you shouldn't have much issue with Honda fixing it. Have you taken the service manager out on back-to-back test rides in another Pilot and yours?

    One thing I've noticed on mine is that the road noise problem is very dependent on road texture. On most roads, my Pilot (with Michelins) seems about on par with most SUVs, perhaps slightly noisier. But get it on certain coarse pavement textures and it is pretty bad. And the stock stereo is marginal, so you really notice that you have to crank the volume way up to overcome things when the road is very coarse.

    My guess is that you are probably just experiencing noisier roads that when you test drove the car (especially if you let the salesman choose the test drive roads - they're pretty smart in choosing routes that hide the weaknesses of any vehicle), and if you came from an RX300, you're bar may be pretty high. And once you get sensitized to the problem, it becomes amplified.

    If you're "incredibly sensitive" to this sort of thing, I also think you might have chosen the wrong SUV - road noise is probably the weakest area of the Pilot.

    If there is something wrong with your car, good luck getting it fixed. And/or I hope the tire change helps - it may not as I think the Michelins on mine made it slightly worse, although the handling benefits were dramatic.

    - Mark
  • omaibraz5omaibraz5 Member Posts: 24
    My brother parked his Pilot in his garage one Saturday,the next Saturday(one week later)he tried to start it and the battery was dead.All lights were turned off,only the little security light was flashing.Has this happened to anyone?I told him that is not supposed to happen.We live in NYC.2005 Honda Pilot EX 4025 miles.
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Well, you could've bought a Lexus SUV about the same size as the Pilot, makes your RX 300 seem noisy, doesn't handle as well, has fewer air bags, and gets worse gas mileage. It's called the LX 470 and costs twice as much as the Pilot. :D

    Sorry you regret you purchase, but you must have known they are different. Maybe if you would have compared an Acura MDX to the RX 300 (although the Lexus is still quieter) it would be more fair.

    You can install lots of soundproofing- in the doors, wheelwells, floor, and ceiling- which would probably help. I almost did this, but other than on rough roads, don't have a problem with the noise of the Pilot, and we don't have to turn our stereo on full blast.

    tom
  • c_hackc_hack Member Posts: 20
    I have an 03 Accord EX V6 that I parked outside just before a snowstorm. The car got covered in almost a foot of snow. At some point I accidentally hit the trunk release on the key fob. Because of the snow, I never noticed the trunk move. It must have just barely opened. The trunk light was enough to discharge the battery in 3 cold days.

    Live and learn.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Be sure to get that battery charged by a trickle charger, or perhaps replace it. Don't let your alternator do the charging on a dead battery.
  • omaibraz5omaibraz5 Member Posts: 24
    Remember that the 05 fob does not have an individual trunk release,so when you open the other doors the trunk also opens and you have to manually go and release the latch. It does not pop-up like on cars.I am going to leave it for another week and see what happens,will let the forun know what happened.
  • ajwx3ajwx3 Member Posts: 15
    Has anyone experienced window vibration that sounds like crackling styrofoam? I have it on 3 of the 4 windows. Took it back to the dealer - he didn't hear it! Took it to another dealer - he told me that I bought a truck and should expect this. Took the technician out for a test drive, he heard it and painted some white grease in the window channels. It made it worse. If I press my hand against the window, the vibration stops! Sounds loose to me! duh! I called American Honda to complain. Told them I owned a Honda Accord that never rattled or vibrated. I expect that when I pay $30,000 + I should get windows that don't rattle and vibrate. (by the way when I open the windows slightly, it no longer vibrates it RATTLES!) Told American Honda that my body shop said they could fix it - no problem so I will let them and then submit the bill to American Honda for reimbursement. Unfortunately Honda has become just another American car.
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