2008 HONDA PILOT tailgate

Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission.If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly, or
your vehicle may roll if it is parked
on an incline.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
Check the indicator on the driver’s
door to verify that the security
system is set.
Lock the doors and the tailgate.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area or take them
with you.
Turn of f the lights.
Make sure the moonroof (if
equipped) and the windows are
closed.Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
On vehicles with security system
Parking T ips
Parking
214
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To get to your vehicle’s trailer
lighting connector, open the tailgate,
remove the cargo cover, then
remove the rear panel trim. The
connector is on the lef t side.
Trailer lights and equipment must
comply with f ederal, state, province,
and local regulations. Check trailer
light requirements f or the areas
where you plan to tow, and use only
equipment designed f or your vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with a
connector to install a trailer lighting
connector that mates with your
vehicle.
Ref er to the above illustration f or
wiring information. We recommend that you have your
dealer install a Honda wiring harness
and converter. This harness has
been designed f or your vehicle.
Since lighting and wiring vary with
trailer type and brand, you should
also have a qualif ied mechanic install
a suitable connector between the
vehicleandthetrailer.
Improper equipment or installation
can cause damage to your vehicle’s
electrical system and af f ect your
vehicle warranty. All items in or on the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive.
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure.
All weights and loads are within
limits.
The trailer has been properly
serviced and is in good condition.
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, cooling system, and
lights are in good operating
condition.
When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:
CONT INUED
Towing a Trailer
Pre-T ow Checklist
Driving
227
GROUND
(BLACK)
LEFT TURN SIGNAL
(GREEN/WHITE)
RIGHT TURN SIGNAL
(GREEN/YELLOW) BRAKE LIGHT
(WHITE/BLACK)
TAILLIGHT
(RED/BLACK)
BATTERY POWER
(YELLOW)
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Open the tailgate.
Remove the two screws, then pull
the rear light assembly straight
back to remove it from the body.Open the tailgate. Place a cloth on
the edge of the cover. Remove the
covers by caref ully prying on the
edge with a small f lat-tip
screwdriver.
Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Remove the socket of the burned
out bulb by turning it one-quarter
turn counterclockwise, and pull it
straight out of its socket.
Install a new bulb into the socket,
and reinstall the socket into the
light assembly. 1.
1.
2. 3.
2.
4.
Lights
Replacing Rear Bulbs Replacing a Back-up L ight Bulb
258
SCREW
SCREW
BULB
SOCKET BULB
SOCKET
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Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to
remove the screw under the lens.
Place a cloth on the middle edge
of a part of the lens on the
passenger’s side. Remove a part of
the lens by caref ully prying on its
edge with a small f lip tipped
screwdriver.
Reinstall the back-up light cover.
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
light assembly. Turn it clockwise
to lock it in place.
Pull the light assembly out of the
tailgate.
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. Push a new bulb into the
socket until it bottoms. Reinstall
the assembly.
Remove the socket f rom the light
assembly by turning it one-quarter
turn counterclockwise.
Turn on the lights to make sure
the new bulb is working.
1. 4.
5.
3.
2.
4.
5.
6.
3.
Lights
Replacing the High-mount Brake
Light
Maint enance
259
SCREWS
SOCKETBULB
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Fill the f uel tank.Block the rear wheels.
If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors. Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
Disconnect the battery.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals. If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches f ull
operating temperature (the
cooling f ans cycle on and of f
twice). Pref erably, do this once a
month.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park.
Vehicle Storage
270
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If you cannot drive the vehicle
without f ixing the problem, and you
do not have a spare fuse, take a fuse
of the same rating or a lower rating
f rom one of the other circuits. Make
sureyoucandowithoutthatcircuit
temporarily (such as the accessory
power socket or radio).
If you replace the blown f use with a
spare f use that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
f use with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.If the replacement fuse of the
same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical problem with your
vehicle. Leave the blown fuse in
that circuit, and have your vehicle
checked by a qualif ied technician.
If a trailer light is burned out, check
if these f uses are blown when you
replace the light bulbs:
If thosefusesareOK,butthetrailer
lights still do not work, there are two
blown 7.5 amp f uses in the trailer
hitch wiring. To access the 7.5 amp
f uses:
Open the tailgate and remove the
cargo f loor lid.
Pull out the bottom of the tailgate
rubber seal.
Remove rear trim panel by pulling
up on the inside edge of the rear
trim panel, and unhooking the f our
clips and tabs.
Af ter replacing f uses, and reinstall
the rear trim panel in the reverse
order of removal.
Primary under-hood f use box
fuses5,7,and24
Interior driver’s side f use box: 10
Interior passenger’s side f use box:
10
If the radio f use is removed, the
audio system will disable itself . The
nexttimeyouturnontheradioyou
will see ‘‘ENTER CODE’’ in the
f requency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the digit code (see
page ).
If the driver’s power window f use is
removed, the AUTO function of the
driver’s window may be disabled.
You should reset the AUTO f eature,
(see page ).
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
95
141
Except f or LX models
Trailer Fuses
Fuses
288
Replacing a f use with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a
replacement f use with the proper rating
f or the circuit, install one with a lower
rating.
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