brakes HONDA PILOT 2014 2.G Owners Manual

18
Quick Reference Guide
What to Do If
The ignition switch does
not turn from
(0
to (q
.
Why?
●The steering wheel may be locked.
●Try to turn the steering wheel left and right
while turning the ignition key.
The ignition switch does
not turn from
(q
to (0
and
I cannot remove the key.
Why?
The shift lever should be moved to (P
.
Why does the brake pedal
pulsate slightly when
applying the brakes?This can occur when the ABS activates, and does not indicate a
problem. Apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. Never
pump the brake pedal.
The rear door cannot be
opened from inside the
vehicle. Why?Check if the childproof lock is in the
lock position. If so, open the rear
door with the outside door handle.
To cancel this function, push the
le

ver to the unlock position.

Continued333
uu Towing a Trailer u Towing Preparation
Driving
Your vehicle has a class 3 trailer hitch as standard equipment.
The jumper harness and trailer brake fuse are stored in the glove box.
2Trailer brakes P. 334
2 Trailer light P. 335
Turn the knob one-quarter left to open the
cover.
u Th
e 7-Pin trailer connector and trailer
hitch are located.
■Towing Equipment and Accessories1Towing Equipment and Accessories
Make sure that all equipment is properly installed and
maintained, and that it meets federal, state, province/
territory, and lo cal regulations.
Consult your traile r sales or rental agency if any other
items are recommended or required for your towing
situation.
The lighting and wiring of tra ilers can vary by type
and brand. If a connector is required, it should only
be installed by a qua lified technician.
Trailer packages and products:
•Ball mount, hitch plug, hitch pin etc.
•Wiring harness kit•Trailer hitch kit (jum per harness included)
2 Trailer brakes P. 334
•Automatic transmission cooler kit
2Automatic transmission cooler P. 337
Are available at a dealer.
2WD models
Knob
7-Pin Trailer
Connector
Trailer Hitch

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

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.

352
uu When Driving u VSA ® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Driving
VSA ® (Vehicle Stability Assist ), aka ESC (Electronic
Stability Control), System
VSA® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine output and select ively applying the brakes.
When VSA ® activate
s, you may notice that the
engine does not respond to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.
■VSA ® Operation
1 VSA ® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability
Control), System
The VSA® may not function properl y if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehi cle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA® System
Indicator

360
Driving
Braking
Brake System
Use the parking brake to keep the vehicle stationary when parking.To apply:
Depress the parking brake pedal down with
yo
ur foot.
To release:
1. Depress
the brake pedal.
2.Pull t
he release handle fully.
■Parking Brake1Parking Brake
NOTICE
Release the parking brake fu lly before driving. The
rear brakes and axle can be damaged if you drive
with the parki ng brake applied.
If you start driving without fully releasing the parking
brake, a buzzer sounds as a warning, and RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE appears on the multi-information
display
*.
Always apply the parking brake when parking.
* Not available on all models

361
uu Braking u Brake System
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A vacuum power assist
helps reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases
the stopping force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an emergency
situation. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering control when
braking very hard.
2 Brake Assist System P. 363
2 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 362
■Foot Brake1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous me tallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brak e pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pe dal and downshifting to a
lower gear.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also conf use drivers behind you.

362
uu Braking u ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, a nd helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which
is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distri bution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal. Let
the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pe dal. This is sometimes referred to as
“stomp and steer.”
■ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS
is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
■ABS1 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
NOTICE
The ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is not affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the ti me or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, yo ur vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:
•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surf aces, such as gravel or
snow.
•When tire chains are installed.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.

422
uu Checking and Maintaining Tires u Winter Tires
Maintenance
Winter Tires
If driving on snowy or frozen roads, mount all season marked “M+S” tires, snow
tires, or tire chains; reduce speed; and ma intain sufficient distance between vehicles
when driving.
Be particularly careful when operating the
steering wheel or brakes to prevent
skidding.
Use tire chains, snow tires, or all season ti re
s when necessary or according to the law.
When mounting, refer to the follo
wing points.
For winter tires:
• Select
the size and load ranges that are the same as the original tires.
• Mount
the tires to all four wheels.
For tire chains:
•Install them on the
front tires only.
• Be
cause your vehicle has limited tire cl earance, we strongly recommend using the
chains listed below:
• Foll
ow the chain manufacturer's instruction when installing. Mount them as
tightly as you can.
• Che
ck that the chains do not to uch the brake lines or suspension.
• Drive s
lowly.
Cable-type: QCC Premium Cobra 1046P
1Winter Tires
NOTICE
Traction devices that are th e wrong size or improperly
installed can damage your vehicle's brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop driving if they are
hitting any part of the vehicle.
When tire chains are mounted, follow the chain
manufacturer's instructi ons regarding vehicle
operational limits.
If your vehicle is equipp ed with summer tires, be
aware that these tires are not designed for winter
driving conditions. For more information, contact a
dealer.
3 WARNING
Using the wrong chains, or not properly
installing chains, can damage the brake
lines and cause a crash in which you can be
seriously injured or killed.
Follow all instruction s in this owner's
manual regarding the selection and use of
tire chains.