As is the case with most vehicles, most early Honda Pilot emission system issues had been on account of easy catalytic converter- or oxygen sensor failures, however, as this mannequin’s engines had been uprated by way of the years, attention-grabbing new failure modes had been launched to their emission management techniques. Lots of the second-generation Honda Pilot’s emission system issues stem from their intelligent (however troublesome) cylinder-deactivation {hardware} (additionally fitted to FWD first-generation Pilots from 2006), which may enable the engine to close down one financial institution of three cylinders in low power-demand driving, and the third technology’s distinctive downside originates from its direct fuel-injection system.
Emission System Issues On A Honda Pilot: What Does It Imply?
Any severe fault in an engine’s emission management system will set off the onboard pc to log a fault. This can be accompanied by an emissions system downside alert on any Honda Pilot, which is able to inform the motive force that one thing is unsuitable by illuminating a warning mild within the instrument cluster. However these warning lights solely present cryptic symbols, so what does that random mild for an emissions-system downside even imply on a Honda Pilot when it instantly illuminates? A warning mild might be triggered for a lot of causes, so an onboard diagnostic (OBD-II) scan can be wanted to collect extra details about the particular downside at hand.
Whereas enhancements similar to VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) and direct gas injection added to the effectivity of the Honda Pilot’s engine, additionally they added additional layers of complication and launched extra failure factors to the Pilot’s emission management system. With these particular improvements in thoughts, let’s examine what a Honda Pilot Verify Emission System warning mild might imply.
What Causes Issues With The Emissions System On A Honda Pilot?
Emission management system issues on a Honda Pilot can have quite a few attainable causes, with the primary culprits often being:
- Faulty oxygen sensors or failing catalytic converters will set off an emission system warning mild on all Honda Pilot fashions.
- A fault within the cylinder deactivation system could have knock-on results, which may also register as emission management faults.
- Third-generation Honda Pilots might expertise gas injector or high-pressure gas pump issues, instantly triggering a Verify Emission System warning mild.
Of those three points, solely the latter two are distinctive to the Honda Pilot (and lots of different Hondas with the J35-series engine). Failure within the VCM system could cause extreme oil consumption, resulting in fouled spark plugs and contaminated catalytic converters. This downside might seem on both the 2008-2011 pre-facelift or facelifted 2012-2015 second-generation fashions.
For the third-generation Pilot, the addition of direct gas injection launched the potential of gas injector- or high-pressure gas pump (HPFP) failure to this mixture of points, with 2016-2018 mannequin 12 months Pilots being probably the most susceptible to creating this downside. That is most certainly attributable to contamination of the gas channels throughout manufacturing, which might be detrimental to the tight tolerances within the HPFP and injectors.
What Ought to I Do After I Get an Alert For A Downside With The Emissions System?
2003-2015 First and Second Era Honda Pilot
In case your first- or second-generation Honda Pilot alerts you to an emission system downside, the probabilities are that it will not carry the automobile to a grinding halt instantly. The one exception on these fashions can be if the warning mild seems alongside a rattling noise from beneath the automobile, as a result of that would point out a disintegrating pre-catalyst, which can trigger unfastened items of catalyst to enter the combustion chambers through their exhaust ports, inflicting severe inside injury to the engine.
2016-2019 Third Era Honda Pilot
The third-generation Honda Pilot, particularly 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 mannequin years, is a special matter, nonetheless, as a result of direct gas injector malfunctions on these fashions might trigger numerous issues within the cylinders. It might trigger a rich-running situation (seen in error code P0430) and misfires, which is able to injury the cylinder bores and foul the spark plugs, which is able to in flip injury catalytic converters, or it could trigger a lean-running situation on one (or extra) of the cylinders, probably damaging the pistons or cylinder heads.
VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) issues will not be fairly as severe within the quick time period, so there needs to be sufficient leeway earlier than its results turn into severe sufficient to trigger secondary injury. Keep in mind that it will nonetheless want consideration as quickly as attainable, as a result of the potential of poisoning the catalysts and accelerating engine put on grows with each passing mile. Crucially, the VCM unit’s main failure mode is oil leakage to the skin of the engine, the place it could spill sizzling oil onto the alternator, damaging this very expensive part and inflicting a lack of oil strain contained in the engine, which can end in broken engine bearings and camshafts.
Can I Drive With This Situation?
The important thing think about making this resolution revolves round misfires. If the car experiences an emission system downside however nonetheless runs easily, the probabilities are that it is switched to its “limp-home” mode, which might trigger decreased efficiency and impair drivability, however the system ought to be capable to defend the engine from different injury.
If there’s any signal of a misfire, it is best to tug over and name the towing service. Driving with a misfire will trigger extra injury to catalysts and oxygen sensors, turning a doubtlessly simple repair into a significant expense. There’s an added complication when a third-generation Honda Pilot experiences injector failure as a result of it instantly locks the transmission in third gear and lights up the instrument cluster with engine- and transmission warning lights, permitting you to drive residence however actively discouraging you from doing so.
How To Repair And Reset Emission System Errors On A Honda Pilot
There isn’t a single, easy emission system downside repair for the Honda Pilot. Some emission system errors are pretty simple to restore for a moderately-capable residence mechanic, however VCM issues and defective gas injectors are probably exterior the scope of non-professional mechanics. You possibly can observe this guidelines:
- Verify the sensors and actuators. If the issue is said to a sensor or actuator, it will possibly merely be purchased and changed by the proprietor. Issues just like the oxygen- and engine temperature sensors are comparatively reasonably priced and fairly simple to entry, so if an OBD-II scan reveals an error code (similar to P0420) for certainly one of these easy objects because the offender, nearly anybody can exchange it. Simply bear in mind to reset the Honda Pilot emission test system alert through the scanning gadget once you’re performed.
- Verify for wiring harness faults. It will likely be difficult to hint issues if the errors are on account of a difficulty with the wiring harness. The Honda Pilot makes use of enviro-friendly soy-based insulation in its wiring harnesses, and if rodents have eaten away at that scrumptious insulation, the magnitude of the restore signifies that this job would greatest be left to knowledgeable.
- Verify VCM issues. VCM points will not be actually throughout the scope of residence mechanics just because it’s totally tough to entry the VCM unit on the rear cylinder head. To get to the VCM unit, many of the consumption manifold needs to be dismantled, and even then, entry is not all that simple. Finest go away this to knowledgeable.
- Verify for gas injector or HPFP failure. To handle the potential gas injector or HPFP downside on third-generation Honda Pilots, Honda issued a sequence of service bulletins for 2016-2018 Pilots, which is able to see them exchange the injectors and/or high-pressure gas pumps for these fashions. This isn’t a recall, although, so the expense will solely be coated by Honda if the car nonetheless has an lively guarantee, in any other case, the restore invoice of at the least $500 will go to the car’s proprietor.
How A lot Does It Value To Repair?
Changing the VCM gasket ought to value round $550 for elements and labor, however a brand new OEM VCM solenoid unit has a retail value of about $500, excluding fitment. A brand new set of 4 direct gas injectors for a 2016-on Honda Pilot prices about $260 from the dealership, however labor to interchange them will value as a lot because the elements alone, each on the dealership and on the aftermarket. Higher hope the high-pressure gas pump does not must be changed, although, as that merchandise alone retails for nearly $600 excluding fitment. Smaller elements, similar to oxygen sensors, would value round $125 from the brokers, and lots of of this stuff are simple sufficient to interchange your self.