2003 HONDA PILOT engine

Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer f luid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
duringnormaluse.Inbadweather,
when you use the washers of ten,
check the level every time you stop
for fuel.
The low washer level indicator will
light when the level is low (see page
).
65
On Canadian models
Windshield Washers
Maint enance292
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antif reeze can damage your vehicle’s
paint, while a vinegar/water solution
can damage the windshield washer
pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer f luid.

Check the f luid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.Park the vehicle on level ground.
Shut of f the engine.
Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
f rom the transmission and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission.
Remove the dipstick and check the f luid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
To thoroughly f lush the
transmission, the technician
should drain and ref ill it with
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid), then drive
the vehicle a short distance. Do
this three times. Then drain and
ref ill the transmission a f inal time.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule. Insert the dipstick all the way back
in the transmission.
If the level is below the lower
mark, add f luid into the tube to
bring it to the upper mark. Always
use Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid). If it is not
available, you may use a
DEXRON
III automatic
transmission f luid as a temporary
replacement. However, continued use can affect shift quality. Have
the transmission f lushed and
ref illed with Honda ATF-Z1 as
soon as it is convenient.
If you are not sure how to add f luid,
contact your Honda dealer.
1.
2.
3.
5.
6.
4.
Maint enance
Automatic Transmission Fluid
293
DIPSTICK
DIPSTICK LOWER MARK
UPPER MARK

Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering f luid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The f luid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
f luid to the UPPER LEVEL. A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Power Steering
Maint enance296
LOWER LEVELUPPER LEVEL
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.

To replace it: The air cleaner element is inside the
air cleaner housing on the driver’s
side of the engine compartment.Disconnect the cable from the air
cleaner housing cover by pushing
the plastic clip and pulling on it.
Remove the cable from the
connector.
The air cleaner element should be
replaced according to the time and
distance recommendations in the
maintenance schedule.
Loosen the f our bolts with a
Phillips-head screwdriver.
1. 2.
CONT INUED
Replacement
A ir Cleaner Element
Maint enance297
CONNECTOR BOLTS
CLIP

Loosen the two holding clips by
turning the heads one-quarter turn
counterclockwise with a f lat-tipped
screwdriver. Remove the cover on
the f ront cylinder bank by pulling
it straight up.
Clean off any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils.
The spark plugs in your vehicle are a
special platinum-tipped design f or
longer lif e. The spark plugs should
be replaced according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.
Remove the f our bolts using a
hexagon socket wrench, then
remove the engine cover.
1.
2.
3.
CONT INUED
Replacement
Maint enance
Spark Plugs
299
HOLDING CLIP

´
µ
Torque the spark plug. (If you do
not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
af ter it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque:Spark Plug Gap:
Install the ignition coil. Reinstall
the hexagon socket head cap bolt.
Push the wire connector onto the
ignition coil. Make sure it locks in
place.
Repeat this procedure f or the
other f ive spark plugs.
Reinstall the cover on the front
cylinder bank while putting its
mounting clip in the hole on the
passenger’s side. Secure the cover
by turning the heads of the two
holding clips one-quarter turn
clockwise with a f lat-tipped
screwdriver. NGK:
DENSO:
8. 9.
10.
11. 12. Specif ications:
Spark Plugs
Maint enance301
13 lbf·ft (18 N·m , 1.8 kgf·m)
0.04 in (1.1 mm)
PKJ16CR-L11 PZFR5F-11
0
0.1 mm
Tighten the spark plugs caref ully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.

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.

If you are changing the bulb on
the driver’s side, start the engine,
turn the steering wheel all the way
to the right, and turn off the
engine. If you are changing the
bulb on the passenger’s side, turn
the steering wheel to the left.
Use a f lat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the f ive holding clips f rom
the inner f ender.Pull the inner f ender cover away
f rom the f ender and bumper.
Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.Pull the burned out bulb straight
out of its socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
Turn on the lights to make sure
the new bulb is working.
Put the inner f ender in place.
Install the f ive holding clips. Lock
each clip in place by pushing on
the center.
1.
2. 3.
4.
8. 6.
7. 5.
Lights
Replacing a Front Side Marker
Light Bulb
Maint enance319
HOLDING CLIP