2014 HONDA PILOT light

uu Towing a Trailer u Towing Preparation
334
Driving
■Trailer brakes
Recommended for any trailer with a total weight of 1,000 lbs (450 kg) or more:
There are two common types of trailer brake s:
surge and electric. Surge brakes are
common for boat trailers, since the brakes will get wet.
If you choose electric brakes, be sure they
are electronically actuated. Do not
attempt to attach trailer brakes to your ve hicle's hydraulic system, as it will lower
braking effectiveness and create a potential hazard.
The 4-pin gray connector installed in your vehicle has all of the circuits required to
install m
ost electric trailer brake controllers.
Have a qualified mechanic install your trailer
brake controller following

the trailer brake
controller manufacturer’s instructions. Failure
to properly install the trailer brake controller
may increase the distance it takes for you to
stop your vehicle when towing a trailer.
The trailer jumper harness i
s used to install the
controller for the electric trailer brakes.
Insert the trailer brake fuse into the engine
co
mpartment sub fuse box.
2 Engine Compartment Sub Fuse Box P. 455
1Trailer brakes
The 4-pin gray connector is located under the
instrument panel near the top of the parking brake
pedal.
Electric Brake
(Brown/White)
Ground (Black) Brake (20A)
(Purple)
Stop (Sky Blue)
Trailer brake controller
connector’s terminals:
Electric Brake
(Brown/White)
Ground
(Black)
Brake (20A)
(Blue)Brake Lights
(Sky Blue)Touring models

Continued335
uu Towing a Trailer u Towing Preparation
Driving
■Trailer light
Trailer lights and equipment must comply with federal, sta
te, province/territory, and
local regulations. Check with your local trailer sales or rental agency for the
requirements in the area where you plan to tow.
We recommend that you have a dealer inst all
a Honda wiring harness and converter.
They are designed for your vehicle.
1 Trailer light
The trailer lighting connect or is located behind the
left side panel in the cargo area.
Even if you are planning to use the non-Honda trailer
lighting harness and converte r, ask a dealer for the
correct connector and pins.
Left Turn Signal and
Brake Lights (Red)
Back-up Lights (Yellow) Electric Brake
(Brown/White)
Right Turn Signal and
Brake Lights (White)
Ground (Black)
Ground (Black)
Taillights (Green)
+B Charge (Blue)
Pins’ wiring color codes and their purposes:

336
uu Towing a Trailer u Towing Preparation
Driving
The 7-pin trailer connector is needed for your trailer lights.
When inserting the connector to the socket, check if the connector and the socket
are free of dirt, moisture, or other foreign material.
■Hitches
Read the trailer manufacturer's instructions , and select the appr
opriate draw bar for
the height of the trailer you will be towing.
■Weight distribution hitches
A weight distributing hitch is not recommended for use with your vehicle.
An improperly adjusted weight distributin g hitc
h may reduce handling, stability, and
braking performance.
Touring models
Pins’ wiring color codes and
their purposes: 1. Pull the socket lid to open.
3. Hook the lid
retaining tab onto
the socket retaining
tab.
2. Insert the 7-pin trailer
connector into the socket.
Socket
Back Light
(Yellow)
Left Turn/
Stop (Red)
Electric Brake
(Brown/White)Right Turn/
Stop (White)
Ground (Black) Small Light
(Green)
+B Charge
(Blue)

338
uu Towing a Trailer u Driving Safely with a Trailer
Driving
Driving Safely with a Trailer
• Have the trailer properly serviced and keep it in good condition.
• Make sure that
all the weights and load in the vehicle and trailer are within limits.
2Towing Load Limits P. 329
• When towing more than 3,500lbs (1,590 kg), use of gasoline with a pump octane
number of 91 or higher is recommended.
u Towi
ng performance can be affected by high altitude, high temperature, or
steep uphill.
• Securely attach the hitch,
safety chains, and other necessary parts to the trailer.
• Securely stor
e all the items in and on the tr ailer so that they do not shift while
driving.
• Che
ck if the lights and brakes on the trailer are working properly.
• Che
ck the pressures of the traile r tires, including the spare.
• Drive slower than norm
al.
• Obey poste
d speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
• Use the
(D
position when towing a trailer on level roads.
• Turn
more slowly and with a wider turning arc than normal.
•Allow more
time and distance for braking.
• Do
not brake or turn suddenly.
■Things You Need To Know Before Towing a Trailer
■Towing Speeds and Gears
■Turning and Braking
1Driving Safely with a Trailer
Parking
In addition to the normal precautions, place wheel
chocks at each of the trailer's tires.

342
Driving
When Driving
Starting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Check
that the shift lever is in (P
, then
depress the brake pedal.
u Althou
gh it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N
, it is safer to start it in (P
.
3. Turn
the ignition switch to START (e

without depressing the accelerator pedal.
1 Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to st art in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, climate
control system, and rear de fogger in order to reduce
battery drain.
If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. If temperatures consistently
below -22°F (-30°C) are expected, the coolant
mixture should be changed to a higher concentration
to prevent freezing. Cons ult a dealer for details.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Do not hold the key in START
(
e
for more than 15
seconds.
•If the engine does not start right away, wait for at
least 10 seconds before trying again.
•If the engine starts, but then immediately stops,
wait at least 10 seconds before repeating step 3
while gently depressing the accelerator pedal.
Release the accelerator pedal once the engine
starts.
Brake Pedal

346
uu When Driving u Shifting
Driving
Shifting
Change the shift positi on in accordance with your driving needs.
■Shift lever positions
1Shifting
You cannot turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(
0
and
remove the key unless the shift lever is in
(
P
.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in
(
N
while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pe dal firmly and, when necessary,
apply the parking brake.Park
Used when parking or starting the
engine
Reverse
Used when reversing
Neutral
Used when idling
Drive
Used for normal driving (gears change
between 1st and 5th automatically)
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
Second
Used to increase engine braking

(the transmission is locked in 2nd gear)
First
Used to further increase engine braking
(the transmission is locked in 1st gear)
Release Button

(
d
Button

347
uu When Driving u Shifting
Driving
■Shift Lever Operation1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICE
When you change the shift lever from (
D
to (
R
and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever be fore the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position befo re pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking D indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut of f if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tac hometer's red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happe ns, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer's red zone
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and press
the shift lever release button to shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift.

354
uu When Driving u VTM (Variable Torque Management)-4 r System *
Driving
VTM (Variable Torque Management)-4 r System *
Senses a traction loss caused by a road condition change, and automatically
transfers some power to the rear wheels.
Use the VTM-4 r
LOCK to increase more to rque to the rear wheels.
1. Stop
your vehicle with the engine running.
2.Move the shift lever to
(1
, (2
, or (R
.
3. Press the VTM-4r LOCK button.
u The
indicator in the button comes on.
Any of the following disengages the VTM-4 r LOCK
:
• Pressing the VTM-4r LOCK button again
.
• Moving the
shift lever to (D
or (d
.
• Turning the ignition switch
to the LOCK (0
position.
■To Engage the VTM-4 r LOCK
■To Disengage the VTM-4 r LOCK
1 VTM (Variable Torque Management)-4 r System *
NOTICE
Do not continuously spin the front tires of your
vehicle. Continuously spinning the front tires can
cause transmission or re ar differential damage.
1To Engage the VTM-4 r LOCK
Do not use the VTM-4r LOCK button on dry, paved
roads. Driving on dry, paved roads with VTM-4 r
LOCK on may damage the r ear differential when
making a turn. Strange noise and vibration can also
result.
The VTM-4 r LOCK can be used to help free your
vehicle from being stuck in mud, sand, or gravel.
When the lock is engaged, apply light pressure to the
accelerator pedal.
When more torque is applied, the rear tires are not
likely to spin. This is normal.
If you are not able to fr ee the vehicle, stop and
reverse direction.
As soon as this featur e is no longer needed,
disengage the VTM-4 r LOCK.
1 To Disengage the VTM-4 r LOCK
The VTM-4 r LOCK temporarily disengages when the
vehicle speed exceeds 18 mph (30 km/h). The
indicator in the button remains on.
* Not available on all models