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[ramirami]

Originally posted by b_rock
I bought my 2004 Black EX-L Saturday and called the dealer on pricing for the cargo cover. They wanted $28 more then what I found on line at handa-accessories.com. So I bought the cover and all-season floor mats from this website. Has anyone used them before and are you happy with their service? Also has anyone bought the interior bike attachment and how it that working for you?

the website you list has not had any complaints on this board...be sure to check out hondacuraworld who sponsors this board

[OB3]

I know I saw this somewhere... but here it goes again. I have a little over 1000 miles on the truck, and the best mileage i have seen is around 15 or so, even with a 200 mile highway stint. Is this normal ?? TIA tl

[PSUPilot]

Originally posted by OB3
I know I saw this somewhere... but here it goes again. I have a little over 1000 miles on the truck, and the best mileage i have seen is around 15 or so, even with a 200 mile highway stint. Is this normal ?? TIA tl

There have been numerous discussions on this, do a search.

Things to look for are to make sure your idle learn procedure was done correctly and make sure your tires are properly inflated.

You may still be in the break-in period where gas mileage typically suffered or if you are doing a lot of city driving that is about normal for some people.

[Pairallel]

You will see discussions and threads all over this board re: mileage. Here's my take in NJ, not too far from you.

I was getting 13.8 - 16.0 around town and mixed hiway/city for the first 2,000 miles. Just returned from a 1,500 mile trip to SC and mileage was between 20.0 and 23.2 for 95% hiway driving.

My conclusion is that city driving (stop and go, idling, warming up on cold days, or up and down hills) is a killer for gas mileage. Even if you mix city / hiway at 50/50, expect to see 16 - 18 until you get to the break-in level of 7,000 - 10,000 miles.

One other suggestion I am currently trying: I discovered that the Auto mode (full or semi-) always engages the A/C compressor, even in the dead of winter. So I am consciously makling sure it's off every time I drive the Pilot. If you need it for defrosting, just push the defroster button and it immediately jumps into defrost mode.

I am going to see if the a/c off procedure helps my city mileage numbers after the next few tanks.

[ramirami]

Originally posted by Pairallel
You will see discussions and threads all over this board re: mileage. Here's my take in NJ, not too far from you.

I was getting 13.8 - 16.0 around town and mixed hiway/city for the first 2,000 miles. Just returned from a 1,500 mile trip to SC and mileage was between 20.0 and 23.2 for 95% hiway driving.

should also improve with use

[allanbiats]

I have an 04 Ex that is a little less than two months old with about 3500 miles on it now.

My wife is uncomfortable in the passenger seat belt in the last week or so. It doesn't have any slack lately and she can't move around much at all, it's too restrictive. Before then, it did allow her to move around a little bit. The driver's side seems to be fine.

Is this a common problem with the Pilot? I don't see it discussed and it isn't on the 'hot list' in hte VIN thread. I tried various searches and didn't come up with anything specific about tight seat belts.

thanks.

[Pilotgal]

My boyfriends truck does that once in a while. It just tightens up, and you can't move. . I have to take it off. Roll in back in the holder, pull it out again and then it is fine. Don't know what causes it. Never happened on my pilot.

[Titans Fan]

I think all seat belts nowdays have this feature. The belts allow for some slack, but should pull tight for any sudden movement (to secure you in case of a crash). My Pilot's been fine, but the belts in the 4-Runner that it replaced used to tighten up whenever I stopped fast, took corners a little tight, or moved in the seat suddenly. If I let the belt retract a little, it would unlock.

If your Pilot does this occasionally, I'd say it's normal. If it does it constantly, you might want to have the seat belt retractor looked at.

[kadiir]

It does sound like the pretensioner is pulling it tight. How's you're driving? Do you have a lot of heavy breaking and/or heavy accelerating? That could trip it.

You may want to ask the dealer about it, though. I haven't noticed it but I wear my seatbelt w/o slack (as it should be).

kad

[allanbiats]

Originally posted by kadiir
It does sound like the pretensioner is pulling it tight. How's you're driving? Do you have a lot of heavy breaking and/or heavy accelerating? That could trip it.

You may want to ask the dealer about it, though. I haven't noticed it but I wear my seatbelt w/o slack (as it should be).

kad

Good questions, but no sudden starts or stops in this car. No near crashes and the air bags have not been stuffed back into their containers and taped shut, LOL.

Also, the driver's belt does not tighten in a similar fashion, which leads me to one of my best trouble shooting methods of 'stare and compare'. If I have two of them and they act very much differently, then at least one of them isn't correct.

The belt is worn with a small amount of slack, like enough to fit your hand in between your chest and the belt, and I believe it is worn 'as it should be'. As the front seat passenger, you should be able to lean forward enough to adjust the temperature control or remove and insert a music CD, or to reach for a beverage in the cup holder without being choked or unduly restrained.

The belt does not return to a comfortable position after it has tightened, unless you remove it and attach it again.

I'll have to take it in for service and have it looked into.

thanks for your replies.

[bham]

I would like to add chrome exhaust tips "finisher" to the muffler of my 2004 Pilot. I would like to emulate the finisher on a 2003 Acura MDX. My first thought was the MDX finisher might work on the Honda Pilot muffler but Hondaacuraworld sez no go. Any suggestions?

[jay]

Originally posted by bham
I would like to add chrome exhaust tips "finisher" to the muffler of my 2004 Pilot. I would like to emulate the finisher on a 2003 Acura MDX. My first thought was the MDX finisher might work on the Honda Pilot muffler but Hondaacuraworld sez no go. Any suggestions?

Welcome! Take a look at this thread. There are several options to emulate the look, from cheap to expensive.

[emanders]

allanbiats-

Is it possible that your wife is pulling the seatbelt out really far when she puts it on? There are only two scenarios that I can think of that should cause a belt to lock up:

1.) Hard braking or cornering.
2.) Pulling the belt all the way, then letting it retract.

I believe #1 has already been ruled out, so I went out to my Pilot and sat in the passenger seat to test out scenario #2. I pulled the belt out all the way and then let it retract to a comfortable position. My first observation is that the belt is REALLY long! I doubt that anyone would manage to pull it all the way out without actually trying. Then, as the belt was retracting, I could hear a ratcheting sound, and as I expected, the belt locked up when I tried to lean forward. After unbuckling the belt and allowing it to retract all the way, it then behaved normally when I buckled it again.

I don't know if this helps at all - it sounds like you may have a defective belt mechanism. I'll be curious to hear what the service folks have to say when you bring it in. Good luck!

[allanbiats]

Originally posted by emanders
allanbiats-

Is it possible that your wife is pulling the seatbelt out really far when she puts it on? There are only two scenarios that I can think of that should cause a belt to lock up:

1.) Hard braking or cornering.
2.) Pulling the belt all the way, then letting it retract.

I believe #1 has already been ruled out, so I went out to my Pilot and sat in the passenger seat to test out scenario #2. I pulled the belt out all the way and then let it retract to a comfortable position. My first observation is that the belt is REALLY long! I doubt that anyone would manage to pull it all the way out without actually trying. Then, as the belt was retracting, I could hear a ratcheting sound, and as I expected, the belt locked up when I tried to lean forward. After unbuckling the belt and allowing it to retract all the way, it then behaved normally when I buckled it again.

I don't know if this helps at all - it sounds like you may have a defective belt mechanism. I'll be curious to hear what the service folks have to say when you bring it in. Good luck!

Thanks for the tip about pulling it out all the way, we'll try it next time we're both in the car.

She does have the seat pushed back as far as possible to allow for greater foot room, so it does seem like a possibility.

I think I'll try it myself first, as a passenger. She says I never 'look relaxed' when she drives and I'm the passenger, and she's absolutely correct!

I'll let you know how it ends up.

[tim.s]

Originally posted by kadiir
It does sound like the pretensioner is pulling it tight. How's you're driving?...

I hope it isn't the pretensioner. The pretensioner uses a pyrotechnic device to pull the slack out of the the belt during a crash and has to be replaced after it fires (single use only).

If you hear the ratching sound, it is probably the locking mechanism as emanders described. I used to have this problem in the back seat of our Accord when I'd simply lean forward to far with the belt on.