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2004 Pilot Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance ........................................................................\
....................................................... 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
............................................... 5
P roper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
...................................................45
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
................................. 81
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
....................................................... ..............123
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................................................135
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
....................................................... ..................159
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................195
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
....................................................... 215
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)...................................................................... 229
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Page 6 of 248
Your Vehicle at a Glance
2
GAUGES
POWER DOOR LOCK
SWITCHES
MIRROR
CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE AUDIO SYSTEM
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE PARKING BRAKE
PEDALREAR A/C CONTROL
(P.
54)
INSTRUMENT PANEL (P.
47)
(P. 65)
(P. 74)
(P. 73)
(P. 126)
(P.125) (P.
75) (P.
87) (P.
86)
(P.
88)
Page 7 of 248
Your Vehicle at a Glance
3
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS
LIGHT CONTROL
SWITCH
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT CRUISE CONTROL
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/
WASHERS REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER VTM-4
LOCK
HORN
(P. 58)
(P. 79)
(P.101) (P.61) (P.
116)
(P.57)
(P.
60)
(P.
142 )
CRUISE
CONTROL
MASTER
SWITCH
(P. 116) HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P.
59)
Page 50 of 248
Control L ocations
Inst rument s and Cont rols46
POWER DOOR LOCK
SWITCHES
MIRROR
CONTROLSPOWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE AUDIO SYSTEM
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE PARKING BRAKE
PEDAL REAR A/C CONTROL
AND GAUGES (P.
47)
INDICATORS
(P.65)
(P.74)
(P.73)
(P.126) (P.125) (P.75)(P.87) (P.86) (P.88)
Page 60 of 248
Î
ÎTo use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘H’’ logo.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols56
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALSVTM-4LOCK
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS HORN
LIGHT CONTROL
SWITCH
CRUISE CONTROL REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/WASHERS
(P.58)
(P.79)
(P.116)
(P.101) (P.61) (P.116)
(P.57)(P.60)
(P.59)
(P.142)
CRUISE
CONTROL
MASTER
SWITCH HAZARD
WARNING
BUTTON
Page 68 of 248

µµ
µ
µ
The ignition switch has f our
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III). You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To turn the key, the shift lever must
be in Park, and you must push the
key in slightly. You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
the driver’s door. Remove the key to
turn of f the beeper.
TheshiftlevermustbeinPark
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch.
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key. This is the normal key
position when driving. Several of the
lights on the instrument panel come
on as a test when you turn the
ignition switch f rom ACCESSORY
(I) to ON (II). You can
operate the audio system and the
accessory power sockets in this
position. If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may make it dif f icult
to turn the key. Firmly turn the
steering wheel to the lef t or right as
you turn the key.
Ignition Switch
Inst rument s and Cont rols
LOCK (0) ST A RT (III) ON (II) A CCESSORY (I)
64
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µµ
µ
If you are
traveling far from home and can no
longer receive your preset stations,
you can use the Auto Select f eature
to find stations in the local area. Use the TRE/BAS
modes to adjust the tone to your
liking.
You can use the instrument panel
brightness control knob to adjust the
illumination of the audio system (see
page ). The audio system
illuminates when the parking lights
are on, even if the radio is of f .
These two
modes adjusts the strength of the
sound coming f rom each speaker.
BAL adjusts the side-to-side strength,
while FAD adjusts the f ront-to-back
strength. Eachmodeisshowninthedisplayas
it changes. Turn the MODE knob to
adjust the setting to your liking.
When the level reaches the center,
you will see ‘‘C’’ in the display. The
system will automatically return the
display to the selected audio mode
about f ive seconds af ter you stop
adjusting a mode. Press the MODE knob repeatedly to
display the Bass (BAS), Treble
(TRE), Balance (BAL), and Fader
(FAD) settings. press the
A. SEL button. This restores the
presets you originally set.
Press the A. SEL Button. ‘‘A.SEL’’
f lashes in the display, and the system
goes into scan mode f or several
seconds. It stores the f requencies of
six AM, and twelve FM stations in
the preset buttons.
You will see a ‘‘0’’ displayed af ter
pressing a preset button if Auto
Select cannot f ind a strong station
f or every preset button.
If you do not like the stations Auto
Select has stored, you can store
other f requencies on the preset
buttons. Use the TUNE, SEEK, or
SCAN f unction to f ind stations, then
store them in the preset buttons as
described previously. 59To turn of f Auto Select,
Playing the Radio
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
AUTO SELECT
A udio System L ighting Treble/Bass
Balance/Fader Adjusting the Sound
90
Page 99 of 248

When using CD-R discs, use only
high quality CDs labeled f or audio
use.
When recording a CD-R, the
recording must be closed f or it to
be used by the CD players.
CD-RW discs will not work in this
unit.
Play only standard round CDs.
Odd-shaped CDs may jam in the
driveorcauseotherproblems.
Handle your CDs properly to
prevent damage and skipping. See
this page.When a CD is not being played, store
it in its case to protect it f rom dust
and other contamination. To prevent
warpage, keep CDs out of direct
sunlight and extreme heat.
To clean a CD, use a clean sof t cloth.
Wipe across the CD f rom the center
to the outside edge.
AnewCDmayberoughonthe
inner and outer edges. The small
plastic pieces causing this roughness
can f lake of f and f all on the re-
cording surf ace of the CD, causing
skipping or other problems. Remove
these pieces by rubbing the inner
and outer edges with the side of a
pencil or pen.
Never try to insert f oreign objects in
the CD player or the magazine.
Handle a CD by its edges; never
touch either surf ace. Do not place
stabilizer rings or labels on the CD.
These, along with contamination
f rom f ingerprints, liquids, and f elt-tip
pens, can cause the CD to not play
properly, or possibly jam in the drive.
Protecting Your CDs
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
General Inf ormation
Protecting CDs
95