2003 HONDA PILOT snow chains

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
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Maintenance Schedule . 272
...
Required Maintenance Record . 279
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 281
..............................
Fluid Locations .282
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Engine Oil .283
..................................
Adding Oil .283
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Recommended Oil .283
..............................
Synthetic Oil .284
....................................
Additives .284
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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
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Brake Fluid .295
............................
Brake System .295
..............................
Power Steering .296
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Air Cleaner Element .297
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Hood Latch .298
....................................
Spark Plugs .299
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Replacement .299
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Specif ications .301 ...........................................
Battery .302
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Wiper Blades .304
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Air Conditioning System . 306
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Dust and Pollen Filter . 307
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Drive Belts .307
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Timing Belt .308
...............................................
Tires .308
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Inf lation .308
..................................
Inspection .310
..............................
Maintenance .311
.............................
Tire Rotation .311
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 312
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Wheels and Tires .313
..........................
Winter Driving .313
.............................
Snow Tires .314
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Tire Chains .314
.............................................
Lights .315
.....................
Headlight Aiming .317
........................
Replacing Bulbs .317
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Storing Your Vehicle .324
377
Maintenance
Maint enance269

´
Tires that are marked ‘‘M S’’ or
‘‘All Season’’ on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable f or most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed f or
optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate
perf ormance in winter driving.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.
TheABSworksbycomparingthe
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally
supplied with the vehicle. Tire size
and construction can affect wheel
speed and may cause the system to
work inconsistently.
Wheel:
Tire:
See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your vehicle. Re-
placement wheels are available at
your Honda dealer. 364
CONT INUED
Winter Driving
Wheels and T ires
Tires
Maint enance313
16x61/2JJ
P235/70R16 104S

When installing cables, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with them installed. If
youhearthemcomingincontact
with the body or chassis, stop and
investigate. Make sure the cables are
installed tightly, and that they are
not contacting the brake lines or
suspension. Remove them as soon asyou begin driving on cleared roads.
Metal link-type ‘‘chains’’ should not
be used. No matter how tight they
seem to be installed, they can come
into contact with the body and
suspension, causing serious damage.
If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tiresonallfourwheelstobalance
your vehicle’s handling in all weather
conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your vehicle’s
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
areclear.Checkwiththetiredealer
f or maximum speed recommenda-
tions. Because your Honda has limited tire
clearance, mount only SAE Class ‘‘S’’
cable-type traction devices, with
rubber chain tensioners, on the f ront
tires. Use traction devices only when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size f or your tires.
Snow T ires
T ire Chains
Tires
Maint enance314
Traction devices that are the wrong
size or improperly installed can
damage your vehicle’s brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop
driving if they are hitting any part of
the vehicle.

Your vehicle has a compact spare
tire that takes up less space. Use this
sparetireasatemporaryreplace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put it back
on your vehicle as soon as you can.Thecompactsparetirehasashorter
tread lif e than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
Thecompactsparetireisnot
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Check the inf lation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to:
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire. Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire: Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
Do not use the compact spare tire
if you are towing a trailer.
The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to f it
your vehicle. Do not use your
sparetireonanothervehicle
unlessitisthesamemakeand
model.
Compact Spare Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed334
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)

Î
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Tire Chains .314
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 335
...............................................
Tires .308
..............................
Air Pressure .308
...................................
Balancing .311
.........................
Checking Wear .310
..........................
Compact Spare .334
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 364
......................................
Inf lation .308
..................................
Inspection .310
...................................
Replacing .312
......................................
Rotating .311
...........................................
Snow .314
............................
Specif ications .363
................................
Tire Chains .314
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .247
................
Emergency Wrecker . 358
Your Vehicle Behind a ............................
Motorhome .259
Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 293
...........................
Fluid Selection .293
..............
Identif ication Number . 360
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Shif ting the Automatic . 233
.....................................
Treadwear .364 .......................................
Trip Meter .68
....................................
Turn Signals .74
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 335
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .331
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .333
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 364
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .216
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .328
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 286
................................
Vanity Mirror .109
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 226
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Vehicle Dimensions .362
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 360
.............................
Vehicle Storage .324
.....................................
Ventilation .123
.................................................
VIN .360
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .329
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .284
..................................
VTM-4 Lock .238 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 57
..................
Warranty Coverages .375
Washer, Windshield ........
Checking the Fluid Level . 292
............................
Level Indicator .65
.....................................
Operation .76
.........................................
Washing .326
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 327
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 78
............
Alignment and Balance . 311
..........................
Compact Spare .334
......................................
Wrench .337
Windows .....................................
Cleaning .330
..................
Operating the Power . 99
...........................
Rear, Def ogger .77
Windshield .....................................
Cleaning .330
...........................
Def roster .125, 133
.......................................
Washers .76
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .304
Index
V W
U
VIII