brake HONDA PILOT 2013 2.G Owner's Guide

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uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
Shifting
Change the shift position 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 pedal 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

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uuWhen DrivinguShifting
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 before the vehicle has come to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the lever position before 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 off if you drive at engine speeds in or over the tachometer's red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, 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.

uuWhen DrivinguCruise Control
350
Driving
Increase or decrease the vehicle speed using the RES/ACCEL or DECEL/SET buttons
on the steering wheel.
•Each time you press the button, the vehicle speed is increased or decreased by
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
•If you keep the button pressed, the vehicle speed increases or decreases until you
release it. This speed is then set.
■To Adjust the Vehicle Speed1To Adjust the Vehicle Speed
You can set the vehicle speed using the DECEL/SET button on the steering wheel when adjusting the
speed with the accelerator and brake pedals.
To decrease speed
To increase speed

351
uuWhen DrivinguCruise Control
Driving
To cancel cruise control, do any of the
following:
•Press the CANCEL button.
•Press the CRUISE button.
•Depress the brake pedal.
The CRUISE CONTROL indicator goes off.
■To Cancel1To Cancel
Resuming the prior set speed:
After cruise control has been canceled, you can still
resume the prior set speed by pressing the RES/ACCEL button while driving at a speed of at least 25
mph (40 km/h) or more.
You cannot set or resume in the following situations:
•When vehicle speed is less than 25 mph (40 km/h)
•When the CRUISE button is turned off
At vehicle speeds of 22 mph (35 km/h) or less, cruise
control is canceled automatically.
CRUISE ButtonCANCEL Button

352
uuWhen DrivinguVSA® (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 selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA® activates, 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
1VSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability
Control), System
The VSA® may not function properly 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 vehicle 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
your foot.
To release:
1.Depress the brake pedal.
2.Pull the release handle fully.
■Parking Brake1Parking Brake
NOTICE
Release the parking brake fully before driving. The rear brakes and axle can be damaged if you drive
with the parking 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
uuBrakinguBrake 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.
2Brake Assist System P. 363
2ABS (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 metallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be replaced. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brake 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 pedal 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 confuse drivers behind you.

362
uuBrakinguABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and 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 distribution 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 pedal. 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.
■ABS1ABS (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 time or distance it takes to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:
•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surfaces, 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.

363
uuBrakinguBrake Assist System
Driving
Brake Assist System
Designed to assist the driver by generating greater braking force when you depress
the brake pedal hard during emergency braking.
■Brake assist system operation
Press the brake pedal firmly for more powerful braking.
When brake assist operates, the pedal may wiggle slightly and an operating noise
may be heard. This is normal. Keep holding the brake pedal firmly down.

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Driving
Parking Your Vehicle
When Stopped
1.Depress the brake pedal firmly with the shift lever in (D.
2.Firmly apply the parking brake.
3.Move the shift lever from (D to (P.
4.Turn off the engine.
Always set the parking brake firmly, in particular if you are parked on an incline.
1Parking Your Vehicle
Do not park your vehicle near flammable objects,
such as dry grass, oil, or timber.
Heat from the exhaust can cause a fire.
1When Stopped
NOTICE
The following can damage the transmission:
•Depressing the accelerator and brake pedals
simultaneously.
•Holding the vehicle in place when facing uphill by depressing the accelerator pedal.
•Moving the shift lever into (P before the vehicle
stops completely.
Raise the wiper arms when snow is expected.