HONDA PILOT 2008 1.G Owners Manual

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µTo shift from: PtoR
RtoP
NtoR
Dto2 2to1
1to2
2toD
DtoD DtoN
DtoD NtoDRtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
pull the shift lever towards
you.
Pull the shift lever towards
you.
Move the shift lever.
3
3
3
3
Use neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from neutral to
another gear.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear for the vehicle speed
and acceleration. You may notice the
transmission shif ting up at higher
speeds when the engine is cold. This
helps the engine warm up f aster.
This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Pull the shif t lever
towards you, then move it out of
Park.
Press the brake
pedal and pull the shif t lever towards
you to shif t f rom Park to reverse. To
shif t f rom reverse to neutral, come
to a complete stop and then shift.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page .
To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. The shif t lever must be in
Park bef ore you can remove the key
from the ignition switch. 209
CONT INUED
Neutral (N)
Drive (D)
Park (P)
Reverse (R)
Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission
Driving
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This position is similar
to D, except only the first three
gears are selected. Use D to provide
engine braking when going down a
steep hill. D can also keep the
transmission f rom cycling between
third and f ourth gears in stop-and-go
driving.
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.This position locks the
transmission 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.
This position locks
thetransmissioninsecondgear.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.
When driving downhill with a
trailer.
To help reduce wheel spin.
3
3 3
Automatic Transmission
Drive (D )
Engine Speed L imiter
First (1)
Second (2)3
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Do this if pushing on the brake pedal
and pulling the shif t lever does not
shif t the transmission out of Park:Set the parking brake. Push down on the key while you
pull the shif t lever towards you,
and move it out of Park to neutral.
Remove the key from the shift
lock release slot, then install the
cover. Press the brake pedal, and
restart the engine.
Put a cloth on the edge of the shif t
lock release slot cover. Using a
small f lat-tipped screwdriver or a
metal f ingernail f ile, caref ully pry
on the edge of the cover to remove
it.
Insert the key in the shift lock
release slot.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have the
vehicle checked by your dealer.
3.
4. 5.
6.
1.
2.
Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission
Driving
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The vehicle must be stopped with
the engine running.do
any of the f ollowing: Press the VTM-4 LOCK button.
Move the shift lever to D or D .
Move the shift lever to first (1),
second (2), or reverse (R) gear.
Turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position.
Press the VTM-4 LOCK button.
The indicator in the button comes
on.
The VTM-4 Lock will temporarily
disengage when the vehicle speed
exceeds 18 mph (30 km/h). The
indicator in the button will remain on.
The variable torque management
4WD (VTM-4) system automatically
transf ers varying amounts of engine
torque to the rear wheels under
lower traction conditions.
If more traction is needed when your
vehicle is stuck, or is likely to
become stuck, you can use the
VTM-4 LOCK button to increase
torque to the rear wheels.
To get unstuck, apply light pressure
to the accelerator pedal. Do not spin
the f ront tires f or more than a f ew
seconds. Because of the amount of
torque applied to the rear tires, they
should not spin. This is normal. If
you are not able to move the vehicle,
stop and reverse direction.
1.
2.
3.
3
To Engage the VTM-4 Lock To Disengage the VTM-4 Lock,
VTM-4 System
210
Do not continuously spin the f ront tires
of your vehicle. Continuously spinning
the f ront tires can cause transmission
or rear dif f erential damage.
Do not use the VTM-4 LOCK button on
dry, paved roads. Driving on dry,
paved roads with VTM-4 Lock ON may
damage the rear dif f erential when
making a turn. Strange noise and
vibration can also result.
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Your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that turns on every time you start the
engine and monitors the pressure in
your tires while driving.When the low tire pressure indicator
is on, one or more of your tires is
signif icantly underinf lated. You
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inf late them to
the proper pressure as indicated on
the vehicle’s tire inf ormation placard.Driving on a signif icantly under-
inf lated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inf lation also reduces f uel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
af f ect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
If you think you can saf ely drive a
short distance to a service station,
proceed slowly, and inf late the tire to
the recommended pressure shown
on the driver’s doorjamb.
If the tire is f lat, or if the tire
pressure is too low to continue
driving, replace the tire with the
compact spare tire (see page ).
If you cannot make the low tire
pressure indicator go out af ter
inf lating the tires to the specif ied
values, have your dealer check the
system as soon as possible. Becausetirepressurevariesby
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure indicator may
come on unexpectedly.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor (not including the spare tire).
If the air pressure of a tire becomes
signif icantly low, the sensor in that
tire immediately sends a signal that
causes the low tire pressure
indicator and the appropriate tire on
thetirepressuremonitortocomeon.
272
CONT INUED
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator
Driving
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For example, if you check and f ill
your tires in a warm area, then drive
in extremely cold weather, the tire
pressure will be lower than
measured and could be underinf lated
and cause the low tire pressure
indicator to come on. Or, if you
check and adjust your tire pressure
in cooler conditions, and drive into
extremely hot conditions, the tire
maybecomeoverinflated.However,
the low tire pressure indicator will
not come on if the tires are
overinf lated.
Refer to page for tire inflation
guidelines.
Although your tire pressure is
monitored, you must manually check
thetirepressuresmonthly.
Each tire, including the spare, should
be checked monthly when cold and
set to the recommended inf lation
pressure as specif ied in the vehicleplacard and this owner’s manual (see
page ).
If this happens, the system will shut
of f and no longer monitor tire
pressures. Have the system checked
by your dealer as soon as possible.
This indicator comes on and stays on
if there is a problem with the tire
pressure monitoring system.
The appropriate tire indicator and
low tire pressure indicator comes on
if a tire becomes signif icantly
underinf lated. See
on page .When you restart the vehicle with
thecompactsparetire,theTPMS
indicator may also come on and stay
on after driving several miles
(kilometers).
263 295
211
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (T PMS) IndicatorLow Tire
Pressure Indicator T ire Pressure Monitor
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As required by the FCC:This device complies with Part 15 of theFCC rules. Operation is subject to thef ollowing two conditions: (1) This devicemay not cause harmf ul interf erence, and(2) this device must accept anyinterf erence received, includinginterf erence that may cause undesiredoperation.
Changes or modif ications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with IndustryCanada Standard RSS-210.Operation is subject to the f ollowing twoconditions: (1) this device may not causeinterf erence, and (2) this device mustaccept any interf erence that may causeundesired operation of the device.
If you have a f lat tire, the low tire
pressure and tire monitor indicators
will come on. Replace the indicated
flat tire with the compact spare tire
(see page ).
Each wheel is equipped with a tire
pressure sensor mounted inside the
tire behind the valve stem. You must
use TPMS specif ic wheels. It is
recommended that you always have
your tires serviced by your dealer or
a qualif ied technician. After the flat tire is replaced with the
spare tire, the low tire pressure
indicator stays on while driving.
Af ter several miles (kilometers)
driving, the TPMS indicator comes
on and the low tire pressure
indicator goes of f . This is normal;
the system cannot monitor the spare
tire pressure. Manually check the
spare tire pressure to be sure it is
correct.
The low tire pressure indicator or
the TPMS indicator will go off, after
several miles (kilometers) driving,
when the spare tire is replaced with
the specif ied regular tire equipped
with the tire pressure monitor sensor.
Never use a puncture-repairing agent
in a f lat tire. If used, you will have to
replace the tire pressure sensor.
Havetheflattirerepairedbyyour
dealer as soon as possible.
272
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Changing a T ire with T PMS
Driving
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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
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Your vehicle is equipped with disc
brakes at all f our wheels. A power
assist helps reduce the ef f ort needed
on the brake pedal. The anti-lock
brake system (ABS) helps you retain
steering control when braking very
hard.The hydraulic system that operates
the brakes has two separate circuits.
Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the lef t-f ront brake is
connected with the right-rear brake,
etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have braking
at two wheels.
Resting your f oot on the pedal keeps
the brakes applied lightly, builds up
heat, and reduces their ef f ectiveness
and reduces brake pad life. In
addition, f uel economy can be
reduced. It also keeps your brake
lights on all the time, conf using
drivers behind you. Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their ef f ective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by taking your f oot of f the
accelerator and downshif ting to a
lower gear.
Check the brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they f eel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
f requently until they do. Be extra
cautious in your driving.
All f our brakes have audible brake
wear indicators.
If the brake pads need replacing, you
will hear a distinctive, metallic
screeching sound when you apply
the brake pedal. If you do not have
the brake pads replaced, they will
screech all the time. It is normal f or
the brakes to occasionally squeal or
squeak when you apply them.
Braking System Design
Brake Pad Wear Indicators
Braking System
Driving
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You will f eel a pulsation in the brake
pedal when the ABS activates, and
you may hear some noise. This is
normal: it is the ABS rapidly
pumpingthebrakes.Ondry
pavement, you will need to press on
thebrakepedalveryhardbeforethe
ABS activates. However, you may
feel the ABS activate immediately if
you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
Let the ABS work f or you by always
keeping f irm, steady pressure on the
brake pedal. This is sometimes
ref erred to as ‘‘stomp and steer.’’
The anti-lock brake system (ABS)
helpspreventthewheelsfrom
locking up, and helps you retain
steering control by pumping the
brakes rapidly, much f aster than a
person can do it.
The electronic brake distribution
(EBD) system, which is part of the
ABS, also balances the f ront-to-rear
braking distribution according to
vehicle loading.You should never pump the brake pedal.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
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