2003 HONDA PILOT air conditioning

The condition of your vehicle and
your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Always maintain your vehicle accord-
ing to the maintenance schedule.
This will keep it in top operating
condition.A cold engine uses more f uel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to
‘‘warm-up’’ a cold engine by letting it
idle f or a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up f aster, and you get
better f uel economy. To cut down on
the number of ‘‘cold starts,’’ try to
combine several short trips into one.
You can improve f uel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more f uel.
Always drive in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traf f ic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your vehicle uses extra f uel. Use the
cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase f uel economy.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Turnoff theA/Cto
cut down on air conditioning use.
Use the f low-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is
moderate.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your vehicle’s underside adds weight
and rolling resistance. Frequent
cleaning helps your f uel mileage and
reduces the chance of corrosion. An important part of that mainte-
nance is the (see page ). For
example, an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses f uel. It also wears out
f aster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly. 281
Vehicle Condition
Driving Habits
Owner Maintenance
Checks
Bef ore Driving
Fuel Economy
222

µµAlways drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your vehicle longer
to react, even in conditions that may
seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious f or the f irst f ew miles
(kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in
snow. A person can f orget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain af ter a long dry spell. Af ter
months of dry weather, the f irst
rains bring oil to the surf ace of the
roadway, making it slippery.
Rain, f og, and snow conditions re-
quire a dif f erent driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your vehicle well-
maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control
should not be used in these condi-
tions. Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more dif f icult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers f requently. Keep the wind-
shield washer reservoir f ull of the
proper f luid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the def rosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
f rom f ogging up on the inside (see
page ). 125
CONT INUED
Driving T echnique Visibility
Driving in Bad Weather
Driving245

When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If the transmission shif ts f requently
while going up a hill, shif t down one
gear.
If you must stop when f acing uphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shif t down to D . Do
not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and remember
it will take longer to slow down and
stop when towing a trailer.Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause your trailer
to sway. When being passed by a
truck or other large vehicle, keep a
constant speed and steer straight
ahead. Do not try to make quick
steering or braking corrections.
Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the lef t
to get the trailer to move to the lef t,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right.
Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including putting the
transmission in PARK and f irmly
setting the parking brake when you
have f inished parking.
Donotparkonaninclineunlessitis
unavoidable. If you must park on an
incline, turn the vehicle wheels
toward the curb on a downhill and
awayfromthecurbonanuphill.
After parking, place wheel chocks at
each trailer tire, on the downhill side.
If the vehicle wheels slip when
retrieving a boat f rom the water,
shifttofirstgearandturnonVTM-4
Lock (see page ).
Disengage VTM-4 Lock as soon as
the boat is out of the water to
prevent damage to the VTM-4
system.
238
3
bottom
Driving on Hills
Handling Crosswinds and
T urbulence
Backing Up Parking
Ret rieving a Boat
Towing a Trailer
Driving258

This section explains the importance
of keeping your vehicle well
maintained and why you should
f ollow basic maintenance saf ety
precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .270
.
Important Safety Precautions . 271
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 272
...
Required Maintenance Record . 279
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 281
..............................
Fluid Locations .282
......................................
Engine Oil .283
..................................
Adding Oil .283
....................
Recommended Oil .283
..............................
Synthetic Oil .284
....................................
Additives .284
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 285
.............................
Cooling System .287
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 287
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 289
....................
Windshield Washers .292
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 293
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .294
....................................
Brake Fluid .295
............................
Brake System .295
..............................
Power Steering .296
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .297
....................................
Hood Latch .298
....................................
Spark Plugs .299
..............................
Replacement .299
............................
Specif ications .301 ...........................................
Battery .302
.................................
Wiper Blades .304
..............
Air Conditioning System . 306
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 307
.....................................
Drive Belts .307
....................................
Timing Belt .308
...............................................
Tires .308
......................................
Inf lation .308
..................................
Inspection .310
..............................
Maintenance .311
.............................
Tire Rotation .311
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 312
......................
Wheels and Tires .313
..........................
Winter Driving .313
.............................
Snow Tires .314
............................
Tire Chains .314
.............................................
Lights .315
.....................
Headlight Aiming .317
........................
Replacing Bulbs .317
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .324
377
Maintenance
Maint enance269

Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Your vehicle’s air conditioning is a
sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should be
done by a qualif ied mechanic. You
can do a couple of things to make
sure the air conditioning works
ef f iciently.
Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them. 362
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance306
AIR CONDITIONING
CONDENSER
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.

ÎÎ
Î
Î
µµ Î Î
Î
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Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation362
Capacities
Dimensions
Weights
Air Conditioning Fuel tank
Engine
coolant
Engine oil
Automatic
transmission
fluid
Rear
differential
fluid
Windshield
washer
reservoir
1.74 US gal (6.6
, 1.45 Imp gal)
2.25 US gal (8.5, 1.87 Imp gal)
5.1 US qt (4.8
, 4.2 Imp qt)
4.5 US qt (4.3
, 3.8 Imp qt)
5.8 US qt (5.5
, 4.8 Imp qt)
3.2 US qt (3.0, 2.6 Imp qt)
8.2 US qt (7.8, 6.9 Imp qt)
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity:
0.16 US gal (0.6
, 0.13 Imp gal)
Excluding the oil remaining in the engine. 19.3 US gal (73
, 16.1 Imp gal)
2.79 US qt (2.64
,2.32Impqt)
188.0 in (4,775 mm)
76.3 in (1,938 mm)
70.6 in (1,793 mm)
4.8 US qt (4.5
, 4.0 Imp qt)
66.3 in (1,685 mm)
66.5 in (1,690 mm)
Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track
Gross vehicle weight rating
Gross combined weight
rating (GCWR)
See the tire information label atta-
ched to the driver’s doorjamb.
9,700 lbs (4,400 kg)
Refrigerant type
Charge quantity
Lubricant type HFC-134a (R-134a)
24.7 26.5 oz (700 750 g) ND-OIL8
106.3 in (2,700 mm)
Approx.
Front
Rear
1:
2:
Equipped with transmission fluid cooler and power steering fluid
cooler. Change
Total
Change
Including
filter
Without
filter
Total
Change
Total
Change
The GCWR must be reduced 2 percent for every 1,000 feet (305
meters) of elevation.
1:
2:
2 1
2
1

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 223
................................
Accessories .223
...
Additional Safety Precaution . 224
............................
Modif ications .224
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .82
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 110
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 284
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9, 50
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .297
......
Air Conditioning System . 118,130
..............................
Maintenance .306
.....................
Rear A/C Control .135
.................................
Usage .118, 130
...............
Air Outlets (Vents) . 120,128
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .308
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .366
.......
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning . 327
......................................
Antif reeze .287
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ....................
Indicator Light .63, 243
...................................
Operation .242
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 153
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 81..........................
Appearance Care .325
................
Audio System . 137,153,168
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 48
...
Automatic Lighting Off Feature . 73
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 207
..............
Automatic Transmission . 233
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .362
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 293
.......................................
Shif ting .234
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 233
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 234
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 236
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .62, 348
............................
Jump Starting .343
..............................
Maintenance .302
............................
Specif ications .363
..............................
Bef ore Driving .215
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,46
.........................
Beverage Holders .105
.................................
Body Repairs .332 Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 242
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 216
...........................................
Fluid .295
....................
Bulb Replacement .320
.......................................
Parking .104
.................
System Indicator . 63,351
........................
Wear Indicators .241
.............................
Braking System .241
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 216
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 73
........................
Brights, Headlights .72
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .321
..............................
Brake Lights .320
......................
Cargo Area Light .323
................
Front Parking Lights . 318
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 319
.................................
Headlights .317
..............
Individual Map Lights . 322
...................
License Plate Light . 321
.................................
Rear Bulbs .320
............................
Specif ications .363
............
Turn Signal Lights . 318,320
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .317
Index
A
B
I

CONT INUED
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 364
.....................................
Drive Belts .307
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .229
....................................
Economy .222
.........................
In Bad Weather .245
................
In Foreign Countries . 367
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 307
...................................
DVD Player .190
..............................
Economy, Fuel .222
............
Emergencies on the Road . 333
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 343
...........
Brake System Indicator . 351
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 335
.....
Charging System Indicator . 348
..................
Checking the Fuses . 353
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 347
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 349
..................
Overheated Engine . 345
.........................
Emergency Brake .104
......................
Emergency Flashers .76
......................
Emergency Towing .358
.......................
Emissions Controls .368 Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 68
.................................
Drive Belts .307
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .62, 349
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 62,347
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 283
...............................
Overheating .345
............................
Specif ications .363
............................
Speed Limiter .236
.......................................
Starting .232
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .366
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 368
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .56
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ........................................
System .369
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 326
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .329
..........................
Fan, Interior .118, 131
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .117 ....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 217
Filters ...............................................
Air .297
.......................
Air Conditioning .306
...............................................
Oil .285
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 76
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 335
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 293
..........................................
Brake .295
..........................
Power Steering .296
..................
Windshield Washer . 292
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .176
...................
Folding the Third Seat . 95
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 367
..........................
Four-way Flashers .76
.................................................
Fuel .216
......................
Fill Door and Cap .217
...........................................
Gauge .68
................
Octane Requirement . 216
...............................
Oxygenated .366
........................
Reserve Indicator .65
........................
Tank, Filling the .217
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .353
Index
E
F
III