2013 HONDA PILOT towing

Contents
This owner’s manual should be considered a permanent part of the
vehicle and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.
This owner’s manual covers all models of your vehicle. You may find
descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your
particular model.
Images throughout this owner’s manual (including the front cover)
represent features and equipment that are available on some, but
not all, models. Your particular model may not have some of these
features.
This owner’s manual is for vehicles sold in the United States and
Canada.
The information and specifications included in this publication were
in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications
or design at any time without notice and without incurring any
obligation.
2Safe Driving P. 23
For Safe Driving P. 24 Seat Belts P. 29Airbags P. 37
2Instrument Panel P. 67
Indicators P. 68Gauges and Displays P. 80
2Controls P. 97
Setting the Clock P. 98 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 99
Opening and Closing the Moonroof* P. 123
Adjusting the Seats P. 137
2Features P. 171
Audio System P. 172Audio System Basic Operation P. 216
General Information on the Audio System P. 272
Compass* P. 320
2Driving P. 323
Before Driving P. 324 Towing a Trailer P. 329
Parking Your Vehicle P. 364 Rearview Camera* P. 369
Accessories and Modifications P. 375
2Maintenance P. 377
Before Performing Maintenance P.378 Maintenance Minder™ P. 381
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 410
Remote Control and Wireless Headphone Care* P. 425
2Handling the Unexpected P. 433
Tools P. 434If a Tire Goes Flat P. 435
Overheating P. 448Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 450
2Information P. 463
Specifications P. 464Identification Numbers P. 466Emissions Testing P. 470Warranty Coverages P. 472
Gracenote® End User License Agreement P. 476

Contents
Child Safety P. 52Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 65Safety Labels P. 66
Opening and Closing the Tailgate P. 110 Security System P. 118 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 120
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 124 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 135
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P. 150 Climate Control System P. 165
Rear Entertainment System* P. 251 Audio Error Messages P. 266
HomeLink® Universal Transceiver* P. 276Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® P. 278
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 340 When Driving P. 342Braking P. 360Multi-View Rear Camera* P. 370 Refueling P. 371Fuel Economy P. 374
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 389 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 402 Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 414 Battery P. 423 Remote Transmitter Care P. 424
Climate Control System Maintenance P. 427 Cleaning P. 428
Engine Does Not Start P. 444Jump Starting P. 445Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 447Fuses P. 454Emergency Towing P. 459When You Cannot Open the Tailgate P. 461
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 467 Reporting Safety Defects P. 469
Authorized Manuals P. 474 Customer Service Information P. 475
Quick Reference GuideP. 2
Safe DrivingP. 23
Instrument PanelP. 67
ControlsP. 97
FeaturesP. 171
DrivingP. 323
MaintenanceP. 377
Handling the UnexpectedP. 433
InformationP. 463
IndexP. 478

14
Quick Reference Guide
Driving (P323)
Release ButtonShift Lever
Depress the brake pedal and press the release button to move out of (P.
Move the shift lever without pressing the release button.
Press the release button to move the shift lever.
Automatic Transmission (P346)
●Shift to (P and depress the brake pedal when starting the engine.
●Shifting
ParkTurn off or start the engine.
Transmission is locked.
Reverse
NeutralTransmission is not locked.
DriveNormal driving.
Drive (D3)Press the (d button while the shift lever is in
(D.
Used when:
•Going up or down hills•Towing a trailer in hilly terrain
SecondUsed to increase engine braking (the
transmission is locked in 2nd gear)
FirstUsed to further increase engine braking
(the transmission is locked in 1st gear)
(d Button

Quick Reference Guide
17
Handling the Unexpected (P433)
Flat Tire (P435)
●Park in a safe location and replace the flat tire with the compact spare tire in the
cargo area.
Indicators Come On
(P450)
●Identify the indicator and consult the
owner's manual.
Engine Won't Start (P444)
●If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse (P454)
●Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.
Overheating (P448)
●Park in a safe location. If you do not see
steam under the hood, open the hood,
and let the engine cool down.
Emergency Towing (P459)
●Call a professional towing service if you need to tow your vehicle.

323
Driving
This chapter discusses driving, refueling, and information on items such as accessories.
Before DrivingDriving Preparation .......................... 324 Maximum Load Limit........................ 327Towing a TrailerTowing Preparation .......................... 329Driving Safely with a Trailer .............. 338Towing Your Vehicle ........................ 339Off-Highway Driving GuidelinesGeneral Information ......................... 340Important Safety Precautions............ 340Avoiding Trouble ............................. 341When DrivingStarting the Engine .......................... 342Precautions While Driving................. 344
Automatic Transmission ................... 345Shifting ............................................ 346Cruise Control ................................. 348VSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System ...... 352VTM (Variable Torque Management)-4r System*............................................. 354TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) ... 355Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required Federal Explanation ......... 357BrakingBrake System ................................... 360ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ........... 362
Brake Assist System ......................... 363Parking Your VehicleWhen Stopped ................................ 364Parking Sensor System*................... 365Rearview Camera*............................ 369Multi-View Rear Camera*................ 370Refueling
Fuel Information .............................. 371
How to Refuel ................................. 372
Fuel Economy.................................... 374
Accessories and Modifications
Accessories ...................................... 375
Modifications................................... 375
* Not available on all models

327
uuBefore DrivinguMaximum Load Limit
Continued
Driving
Maximum Load Limit
The maximum load for your vehicle is 1,340 lbs (608 kg).
See Tire and Loading Information label attached to the driver's doorjamb.
This figure includes the total weight of all occupants, cargo, and
accessories, and the tongue load if you are towing a trailer.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit -
(1)Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your
vehicle's placard.
(2)Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers
that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3)Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4)The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs.
(1,400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)
1Maximum Load Limit
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all accessories, all cargo, and the tongue
load.2Specifications P. 464
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR):
The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle axle.2Specifications P. 464
3WARNING
Overloading or improper loading
can affect handling and stability
and cause a crash in which you
can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this manual.
Label Example

328
uuBefore DrivinguMaximum Load Limit
Driving
(5)Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being
loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in step 4.
(6)If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
In addition, the total weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
accessories, cargo, and trailer tongue load must not exceed the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). Both are on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
Load Limits Example
Example1
Max Load 1,340 lbs (608 kg)
Passenger Weight 150 lbs x 2 = 300 lbs (68 kg x 2 = 136 kg)
Cargo Weight 1,040 lbs (472 kg)
Example2
Max Load 1,340 lbs (608 kg)
Passenger Weight 150 lbs x 5 = 750 lbs (68 kg x 5 = 340 kg)
Cargo Weight 590 lbs (268 kg)

329Continued
Driving
Towing a Trailer
Towing Preparation
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if you carefully observe the load limits, use the proper
equipment, and follow the towing guidelines. Check the load limits before driving.
■Total trailer weight
Do not exceed the maximum allowable
weight of the trailer, cargo, and everything in
or on it shown in the table.
Towing loads in excess of this can seriously
affect vehicle handling and performance and
can damage the engine and drivetrain.
Each weight limit is calculated based on the following conditions:
•Occupants fill seats from the front of the vehicle to the back
•Each occupant weights 150 lbs (68 kg)
•Each occupant has 15 lbs (7 kg) of cargo in the cargo area
Any additional weight, cargo or accessories reduce the maximum trailer weight and
maximum tongue load.
■Towing Load Limits1Towing Load Limits
Check if all loads are within limits at a public scale.
If a public scale is not available, add the estimated
weight of your cargo load to the weight of your trailer (as quoted by the manufacturer), and then
measure the tongue load with an appropriate scale or
tongue gauge or estimate it based on cargo distribution.
Refer to the trailer owner's manual for additional information.
Break-in Period Avoid towing a trailer during your vehicle's first 600
miles (1,000 km).
Never exceed the gross weight ratings.
Gross weight information
2Vehicle Specifications P. 464
3WARNING
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 before starting to drive.
Total Load
Number of
occupants4WD models2WD models with
ATF cooler
2WD models
without ATF cooler
24,500 lbs (2,041 kg)3,500 lbs (1,588 kg)2,000 lbs (905 kg)
34,300 lbs (1,950 kg)3,300 lbs (1,497 kg)
Towing not
recommended
44,100 lbs (1,860 kg)3,100 lbs (1,406 kg)
54,000 lbs (1,814 kg)3,000 lbs (1,361 kg)
63,800 lbs (1,724 kg)2,800 lbs (1,270 kg)
72,000 lbs (905 kg)2,000 lbs (905 kg)
8Towing not
recommended
Towing not
recommended