trailer HONDA PILOT 2005 1.G Owners Manual

2005 Pilot Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents

Introduction
........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
........................................ .ii
Important Handling Information........................................................................\
.............................iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .4
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .7
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ .55
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
....................... .99
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................145
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .157
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................187
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................223
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .243
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................257
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................261
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not tow a trailer.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. We recommend using gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your dealer f or service.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 percent ethanol
by volume and up to 15 percent
MTBE by volume. Do not use
gasoline containing methanol.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
.
Your vehicle is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise that can lead to engine damage.
Premium f uel is recommended when
towing in certain conditions (see
page ).
180
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period Fuel Recommendation
Quick Start Guide
146

µ·
Steps f or determining correct load
limit:
Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 850
lbs’’ on your vehicle’s placard.
[The placard is on the driver’s
doorjamb.]
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not saf ely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity in
Step 4.
If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load f rom your trailer will
be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
yourvehicle(seepage ).
The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 1,158 lbs (525 kg). This f igure
includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, and accessories,
and the tongue load if you are towing
a trailer.
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
1,158 pounds or 525 kg kilograms.
For example, if the maximum load
is 1,158 lbs and there will be f ive
150 lb. passengers in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 408 lbs.(1,158 750 (5 150) = 408 lbs.)
1.
2. 5.
6.
3.
4. 173
Load Limits
Carrying Cargo
154
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.

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the VTM-4System, the VSA
system (EX-L model only), the tire
pressure monitoring system, and
f acts you need if you are planning to
tow a trailer. ........................
Driving Guidelines .158
.......................
Starting the Engine .159
..............
Automatic Transmission . 160
..............................
VTM-4 System .164
Tire Pressure Monitoring ........................
System (TPMS) .165
..................................
Parking Tips .167
.............................
Braking System .168
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 169
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ........................................
System .171
.............................
VSA Of f Switch .172
...........................
Towing a Trailer .173
......................
Trailer Driving Tips .180
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a ................................
Motorhome .182
Of f -Highway Driving ..................................
Guidelines .183
Driving
Driving
157

µµ µ
This position is
similar to D, except only the f irst
three gears are selected. Use D
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain,
or 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.
This position locks
the transmission in second gear. 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.
To help reduce wheel spin. When driving downhill with a
trailer.
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. 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.
3
3 3
Drive (D )
Second (2) First (1)
Engine Speed L imiter3
Automatic Transmission
162

Your vehicle has been designed to
tow a trailer, as well as f or carrying
passengers and their cargo.
To saf ely tow a trailer, you should
observe the load limits, use the
proper equipment, and f ollow the
guidelines in this section.
Be sure to read the Of f -Highway
Driving Guidelines section on pageif you plan to tow of f paved
surf aces.
The maximum
weight of the trailer and everything
in or on it depends on the number of
occupants in your vehicle and the
type of trailer being towed (see page ).
Towing a load that is too heavy can
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. Theweightthatthe
tongue of a f ully loaded trailer puts
on the hitch should be 5 to 10
percent of the total trailer weight for
boat trailers, and 8 to 15 percent of
total trailer weight for all other
trailers. (See page f or limits f or
your towing situation). Too much
tongue load reduces f ront-tire
traction and steering control. Too
little tongue load can make the
trailer unstable and cause it to sway.
183
175 175
Load Limits
Towing a Trailer
T ot al T railer Weight:Tongue Load:
Driving
173
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
beforestartingtodrive.

µµ
µ Thebestwaytoconfirmthatall
loads are within limits is to check
them at a public scale.
The maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all cargo and the tongue
load is 5,950 lbs (2,700 kg).
The maximum
allowable weight on the vehicle axles
is 2,865 lbs (1,300 kg) on the f ront
axle, and 3,155 lbs (1,430 kg) on the
rear axle.
The maximum
allowable weight of the f ully loaded
vehicle and trailer is 9,700 lbs (4,410
kg) with the proper hitch and f luid
coolers (see page ).
The GCWR must be reduced 2
percent f or every 1,000 f eet (305
meters) of elevation. To help ensure a saf e drive to a scale,
or if you cannot get to a public scale,
we recommend that you estimate
your total trailer weight and tongue
load as described.
Add the weight of your trailer (as
quoted by the manuf acturer) with
everything in or on the trailer. Then
check the tables on page that
you do not exceed the limit f or your
conditions.
Park the vehicle on level ground.
Measure f rom the ground to the
bottom of the trailer hitch. Connect the f ully loaded trailer to
the hitch.
Measure again f rom the ground to
the same spot on the bottom of the
hitch.
Subtract the second measurement
from the first measurement, then
refer to the following table.
If thedifferenceismorethan3¾’’
inch, you have too much load on the
tongue. Redistribute the load or
remove cargo as needed. 1½’’
2¼’’ 3’’
3¾’’ 150 lbs (68 kg)
250 lbs (114 kg)
350 lbs (160 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
150
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
175 Estimating Loads
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
Gross Axle Weight Ratings
(GA WR)
Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR) If the
difference is: Estimated
tongue load is:
Towing a Trailer
To Estimate the Total Trailer Weight
To Estimate the Tongue Load
174

Number ofOccupants 2
3
4
5
6
7
8 Max. T railer Weight
Max. T ongue Load
Number of Occupants 2
3
4
5
6
7
8 Max. T railer Weight
Max. T ongue Load
Equipped with transmission cooler and power steering f luid cooler.
T owing is Not Recommended
Equipped with transmission cooler and power steering f luid cooler.
T owing is Not Recommended
Towing a Trailer
Driving
175
Total Trailer Weight and Tongue Load Limits: BOAT TRAILERS
OTHER TYPES OF TRAILERS
The corresponding weight limits assume occupants fill seats from the front of the vehicle to the back, each occupant weighs 150 lbs (70 kg) and each has 1 5 lbs (7 kg)
of luggage in the cargo area.
4,500 lbs (2,045 kg)
4,500 lbs (2,045 kg)
4,500 lbs (2,045 kg)
4,300 lbs (1,945 kg)
4,100 lbs (1,855 kg) 2,000 lbs (905 kg) 450 lbs (205 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
350 lbs (160 kg)
220 lbs (100 kg)
100 lbs (45 kg)
3,500 lbs (1,590 kg)
3,500 lbs (1,590 kg)
3,300 lbs (1,490 kg)
3,100 lbs (1,400 kg)
2,700 lbs (1,220 kg) 1,200 lbs (540 kg) 450 lbs (205 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
350 lbs (160 kg)
220 lbs (100 kg)
100 lbs (45 kg)

To accurately check your loads at
the public scale, the vehicle and
trailer should be f ully loded, and all
occupants should stay in the vehicle
while the attendent watches the
scale.Check the f ront gross axle weight.
Limit: 2890 lbs (1310 kg) Check the gross vehicle weight.
Limit: 5730 lbs (2600 kg)
If you cannot weigh the rear axle
directly, calculate the rear gross
axle weight. Subtract the weight in
Step 1 f rom the weight in Step 2.
Limit: 2945 lbs (1335 kg)
Check the gross combined weight.
Limit: 9700 lbs (4410 kg)
Check the weight of the hitched
trailer. Write this number down.
1. 2.
3.
4.
5.
Towing a Trailer
Checking L oads
176

Check the weight of the unhitched
trailer. Limit: See page .
Calculate the tongue load.
Subtract the weight in Step5f rom
the weight in step 6.
Limit: See page .
Range: 5-10% f or boat trailers 8-15% f or other trailers Towing generally requires a variety
of supplemental equipment. To
ensure the best quality, we
recommend that you purchase
Honda equipment whenever possible.
Your dealer of f ers a trailer pachage
that includes a hitch, a ball mount, a
wiring harness, a heavy-duty
transmission f luid cooler, and a
heavy-duty power steering f luid
cooler.
Discuss any additional needs with
your trailer sales or rental agency,
and make sure all equipment is
properly installed, maintained, and
also meets state, f ederal, province,
and local regulations. We strongly recommend that you
have your dealer install a Honda
hitch and use the required f luid
coolers. Using non-Honda equipment
may result in serious damage to your
vehicle.
To help prevent overheating, a
heavy-duty transmission f luid cooler
and a heavy-duty power steering
f luid cooler are required f or trailer
towing. These coolers are available
only f rom your dealer.
A weight distributing hitch is not
recommended f or use with your
vehicle, as an improperly adjusted
weight distributing hitch may reduce
handling, stability, and braking
perf ormance.
6.
7.
175
175 T owing Equipment and
A ccessoriesT ransmission Fluid Cooler and
Power St eering Fluid Cooler
Weight Distributing Hitch
Hitch
Towing a Trailer
Driving
177