Removing Seats and SRS Precautions

[knapp9]

I did some searches and read a number of posts where folks removed the Pilot's front seats and ended up with the air bag light coming on.

My 05 Service manual says to check SRS cautions before removing the front seats, and then states the following under SRS Precautions: "Except when performing electrical inspections, always turn the ignition switch OFF, ground the SCS line with the HDS to take the PCM out of active status , disconnect the negative cable from the battery, and wait at least 3 minutes before beginning work." It goes on to say the SRS memory of codes is not erased with the battery disconnected. (page 23-18).

Well I do not have the Honda Diagnostic System tool to connect to the SCS line to ground it, or the knowledge to even operate it. Every other non-Honda vehicle I've ever worked on simply required you to disconnect the battery before unplugging air bag connectors in seats.

I'm not going to work on the air bags. Surely just disconnecting the battery is sufficient to remove the seats in a Pilot, right?

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by knapp9
I did some searches and read a number of posts where folks removed the Pilot's front seats and ended up with the air bag light coming on.

My 05 Service manual says to check SRS cautions before removing the front seats, and then states the following under SRS Precautions: "Except when performing electrical inspections, always turn the ignition switch OFF, ground the SCS line with the HDS to take the PCM out of active status , disconnect the negative cable from the battery, and wait at least 3 minutes before beginning work." It goes on to say the SRS memory of codes is not erased with the battery disconnected. (page 23-18).

Well I do not have the Honda Diagnostic System tool to connect to the SCS line to ground it, or the knowledge to even operate it. Every other non-Honda vehicle I've ever worked on simply required you to disconnect the battery before unplugging air bag connectors in seats.

I'm not going to work on the air bags. Surely just disconnecting the battery is sufficient to remove the seats in a Pilot, right?

From my understanding:
Disconnecting the battery make the system safe, but static could still set off an airbag if the connections are not grounded.

It is a matter of degrees of safety.

[Rapid Rob]

I know for sure that some techs don't even disco. the battery. I've watched a guy do it. Remove the key from the ignition, wait 5 minutes & have at it.

When they first started putting airbags in Hondas they had a short connector that was used to close the circuit of the airbag before removal, stopping static electricity from reaching it. But after a few years that isn't used any more.

But as N_jay said, "It's a matter of degrees of safety".

Did ya'all know the seat belts have an explosive tensioner in them, too?

[whizmo]

Don't the seats have airbags in them? My 2006 has a "Side Airbag" tag in the side of each front seat.

- Mark

[knapp9]

seat belts have an explosive tensioner in them

Uhmm, no.

I want to take everything out so I can put sound deadener in the Pilot, but I don't want to wait until the 4th of July to do it. Any special precautions?

[Rapid Rob]

Yes, there are side air bags. And seat belt "tensioners". On some models it is in the buckle (CR-Vs I think), some have it in the reel part of the front belt. I watched a tech "deploy" one before tossing it. Guess the owners dog chewed it up. Smells just like gun powder. No, strike that. More like a fire cracker.

Anything with a yellow connector is part of the SRS. Don't damage those wires, it gets expensive.

I've had my seat out doing it Joes way. No problems. The yellow connector is spring loaded & seperates easily. Just pull on the section of the connector that slides.

I am in no way telling anyone how to deal with SRS. Just saying how I've done it. ( It's a matter of degrees of safety.)

[ED27]

Originally posted by knapp9

Uhmm, no.

I want to take everything out so I can put sound deadener in the Pilot, but I don't want to wait until the 4th of July to do it. Any special precautions?

I sound deadened 90% of the vehicle (floor, rear sides and roof). I even used a multi-layered approach......needless to say I was extremely disappointed with the results. Overall, the noise reduction was less than 3db. A lot of work for whole bunch of nothin'!

[Gullwing]

I'd like to get a little more height from my driver's seat. Does anyone know if it's possible to raise the driver's seat a couple of inches by blocking up the the seat's rails?

Would there be a problem with reconnecting the wires?

How about the airbag? Would it still work correctly if the seat was higher?

Thanks,

[Rapid Rob]

Two inches is more than "a little bit", IMO. Don't forget what will happen to the head room. The easiest way is to fabricate four brackets to lift the mounting points, where the seat rails bolt to the floor.
As far as the SRS wires, that would be a judgement call. Raise the seat & then observe whether the wires are long enough during full travel. Even if YOU don't need full travel, some poor, unsuspecting tech may get in there & rip the wires off running the seat back. So be sure there is still enough wire.

[knapp9]

Disconnecting the battery works. I reassembled my Pilot tonight and plugged the seat wiring harnesses back in after disconnecting the battery. No warning lights, and all the electronics worked just fine. I'm a happy camper!

[switch]

Originally posted by ED27

I sound deadened 90% of the vehicle (floor, rear sides and roof). I even used a multi-layered approach......needless to say I was extremely disappointed with the results. Overall, the noise reduction was less than 3db. A lot of work for whole bunch of nothin'!

I've been looking into lowering the noise level in my Pilot, and was thinking of putting sound deadener in the doors, floors, and rear sides. I've read threads about doing this (on other sites) that claim to have very good success. What exactly did you do? Is the decrease in noise level a decrease in road noise from the tires?

Any noise deadening information I have found deals with NA big trucks, Honda Accords, Volkswagens, etc. Some details are exceptional and it appears to be a lot of work. If I could quiet the ride by about 3dB at 60mph, it would make make me a happier Pilot owner.

[ED27]

Originally posted by switch
I've been looking into lowering the noise level in my Pilot, and was thinking of putting sound deadener in the doors, floors, and rear sides. I've read threads about doing this (on other sites) that claim to have very good success. What exactly did you do? Is the decrease in noise level a decrease in road noise from the tires?

Any noise deadening information I have found deals with NA big trucks, Honda Accords, Volkswagens, etc. Some details are exceptional and it appears to be a lot of work. If I could quiet the ride by about 3dB at 60mph, it would make make me a happier Pilot owner.

I applied one layer of B-Quiet Ultimate on the floor (front to back), roof and the rear sides of the cargo area. I also added a layer of their V-comp (vinyl and foam barrier) on the floor. IIRC, it was a 2.7db difference based on before and after RTA measurements but I can't honestly say that I noticed the difference with my ears. Noise from grooved pavement and expansion joints was reduced but overall I was disappointed.

On a side note....I got new tires (Goodyear Fortera SA) and that has made a noticeable difference in road noise especially when cruising at 60mph+. I would recommend to go this route first before trying sound deadeners unless you are planning to install a high-end audio system.

[switch]

ED27,

Thank you for the detailed reply. I might do it what you did and include the doors as a 3dB decrease in noise level would be acceptable. Seems like the Pilot body is a large reverberating container that needs thicker metal to provide better sound damping.

On rubberized asphalt pavement the noise level is acceptable, and most of the pavement here in the Vancouver area is fine. It's the grooved/worn cement that you have on highways such as I-5 in Seattle/Oregon/California that is very loud.

I currently have Michelin X-Terrain tires. They aren't super quiet, but they aren't that loud either. I know that when the tires start to wear that they will get louder, so I'll replace them with the tires you suggested. I'd like to run a compliant, quiet tire such as a touring tire for a sedan, and have a second set of tires for winter.

[ED27]

Originally posted by switch
I'd like to run a compliant, quiet tire such as a touring tire for a sedan, and have a second set of tires for winter.

IMO, so far the SAs fit the bill as a combination of a touring tire and a winter tire. In terms of reducing road noise, I would also look at treating the wheels wells with some of the liquid/spray-on deadeners available. This might be something to try first since removing the plastic liners in the wheel wells is a lot easier than taking the interior part.

[TheEaglePilot]

Originally posted by ED27
On a side note....I got new tires (Goodyear Fortera SA) and that has made a noticeable difference in road noise especially when cruising at 60mph+.

Hey, I didn't know you had those -- I like mine a lot, too!

Chris