2004 HONDA PILOT towing

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.

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not tow a trailer.
You should also f ollow these re-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are replaced. We recommend using gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits. Your Honda is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
occasional metallic knocking noises
in the engine and will result in
decreased engine perf ormance.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on your instrument panel tocome on. If this happens, contact
your authorized Honda dealer f or
service.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 percent ethanol
by volume and up to 15 percent
MTBE by volume. Do not use
gasoline containing methanol.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT. If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Premium f uel is recommended when
towing in certain conditions (see
page ).
152
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period Fuel Recommendation
Quick Start Guide
Bef ore Driving124

·µ
The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 1,323 lbs (600 kg). This f igure
includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, accessories, and
the tongue weight if you are towing a
trailer.
To determine the correct cargo and
luggage load limit:
Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 1,323
lbs (600 kg)’’ on your vehicle’s
placard (on the driver’s doorjamb).
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in the vehicle. (Eight
is seating capacity of your vehicle.)
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
1,323 lbs (600 kg). If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, the load f rom your trailer
will be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
For example, if there will be f ive 150
lbs (70 kg) occupants in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 573 lbs (250
kg).
5 150 lbs (70 kg) = 750 lbs (350
kg)
1,323 lbs (600 kg) 750 lbs (350 kg)
= 573 lbs (250 kg) The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
Determine the combined weight
of accessories, luggage, and cargo
beingloadedinthevehicle.The
weight may not saf ely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4 [573
lbs(250kg)inthisexample]. The total weight must not exceed
theGrossVehicleWeightRating
(GVWR). The load f or the f ront and
rear axles also must not exceed the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
(see page ).
Theseparationnetcanbeusedto
hold back sof t lightweight items
stored in the cargo area. Heavy
items should be properly secured on
the f loor of the cargo area.
1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
6.
148
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
Optional Separation Net
132

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the VTM-4 System, and
f acts you need if you are planning to
tow a trailer.........................
Driving Guidelines .136
.......................
Starting the Engine .137
..............
Automatic Transmission . 138
..............................
VTM-4 System .142
..................................
Parking Tips .143
.............................
Braking System .144
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 145
...........................
Towing a Trailer .147
......................
Trailer Driving Tips .152
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a ................................
Motorhome .154
Of f -Highway Driving ..................................
Guidelines .155
Driving
Driving135

µµ µ
This position is
similar to D, except only the f irst
three gears are selected. Use D
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain,
or to provide engine braking when
going down a steep hill. D can also
keep the transmission f rom cycling
between third and f ourth gear in
stop-and-go driving.
This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop.
Use Second gear:
For more power when climbing.
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills.
For starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow.
To help reduce wheel spin. When driving downhill with a
trailer.
This position locks, the
transmission locks in f irst gear. By
upshif ting and downshif ting through
1, 2, D , and D, you can operate the
transmission much like a manual
transmission without a clutch pedal. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
3
3 3
Drive (D )
Second (2) First (1)
Engine Speed L imiter3
Automatic Transmission
Driving140

To saf ely tow a trailer, you should
observe the load limits, use the
proper equipment, and f ollow the
guidelines in this section.
Be sure to read theon page
if you plan to tow of f paved
surf aces. The total trailer weight and tongue
load vary depending on the number
of occupants in your vehicle and the
type of trailer being towed.
See page f or limits f or your
towing situation. Towing a load that
is too heavy can seriously af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance.The weight that the tongue of a f ully
loaded trailer puts on the hitch
should be 5 to 10 percent of the total
trailer weight f or boat trailers, and 8
to 15 percent of total trailer weight
f or all other trailers. See page f or
limits f or your towing situation.
Too much tongue load reduces f ront-
tire traction and steering control.
Too little tongue load can make the
trailer unstable and cause it to sway.
150
150
155
Driving Of f -
Highway Guidelines section
CONT INUED
Load Limits
T ot al T railer Weight Tongue Load
Driving
Towing a Trailer
147
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.

µµ
µ Thebestwaytoconfirmthatall
loads are within limits is to check
them at a public scale.
To help ensure a saf e drive to a scale,
or if you cannot get to a public scale,
we recommend that you estimate
your total trailer weight and tongue
load as described next.
Add the weight of your trailer (as
quoted by the manuf acturer) with
everything in or on the trailer. Check
the tables on page that you do
not exceed the limit f or your
conditions.
The maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all cargo and the tongue
load is 5,950 lbs (2,700 kg).
The maximum
allowable weight on the vehicle axles
are 2,865 lbs (1,300 kg) on the f ront
axle, and 3,155 lbs (1,430 kg) on the
rear axle.
The maximum
allowable weight of the f ully loaded
vehicle and trailer is 9,700 lbs (4,410
kg) with the proper hitch and f luid
coolers (see page ).
The GCWR must be reduced 2
percent f or every 1,000 f eet (305
meters) of elevation. 150
151 Estimating Loads
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
Gross Axle Weight Ratings
(GA WR)
Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR)
To Estimate the Total Trailer Weight
Driving
Towing a Trailer
148

Park the vehicle on level ground.
Measure and record the distance
from the ground to the bottom of
the trailer hitch.
Connect the f ully loaded trailer to
the hitch.
Measure again f rom the ground to
the same spot on the bottom of the
hitch.Subtract the second measurement
f rom the f irst measurement. Ref er
to Fig. 1.
If thedifferenceis:
1’’ = 150 lbs (68 kg)
1 ¾’’ = 250 lbs (114 kg)
2 ½’’ = 350 lbs (160 kg) 3’’ = 450 lbs (205 kg)
3 ¼’’ = over 450 lbs (205 kg)
If thedifferenceismorethan
3 ¼’’ you have too much tongue
load at the rear. Move or
remove cargo f rom the trailer
and the vehicle and measure
again. If the estimated trailer weight and
tongue load do not exceed the limits,
drive your trailer to a public scale
f ully loaded with all occupants and
cargo you plan to take on the road.
If your trailer lights burn out, check
toseeif thereareanyblownfuses
(see page ).
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
211
CONT INUED
To Estimate the Tongue LoadFig. 1
Driving
Towing a Trailer
Trailer Lights
149