Huge mystery hole on inside of front right wheel-well

[FASTER345]

Yesterday I noticed a round 3-inch hole in the right front wheel well. The only thing I can think of is that the tire is rubbing the wheel-well and wore it out creating the hole, but I've had these wheels/tires for almost two years and the tire doesn't even make contact with the wheel well, it's about an inch away at its closest. What's also weird is that the hole is right next to the painted edge of the wheel well, but the painted part is untouched, it's just on the black inner part. Any ideas???

A few more pix here:

GALLERY

[krygny]

Without going out and looking at mine (just too lazy at the moment), I think there's a plastic liner to the wheel well. Your's appears to be missing.

[jl_ss]

The hole appears to be in the plastic liner - I just looked at our 2005 and there is no hole. The tire OD on your 17" replacements is the same diameter as the OEM 16" tires. Have you had any work done where they might have cut an access hole to get behind the bumper cause they weren't sure how to remove it?

[rocky]

Looks like there is a plug that fell out.

The Inside of the hole is clean, the edge of the hole looks machined not ragged.

Either its a plug or a docking port for this:

http://www.hondapilot.org/gallery/50...085a-thumb.JPG

[youbetcha]

Do the tires make contact if you turn the steering wheel all the way to the right?

Do you have a spot at the end of your driveway that causes enough flex in the suspension, that combined with the steering wheel turned all the way, contact is made?

[jestmaty]

Originally posted by rocky
Looks like there is a plug that fell out.

The Inside of the hole is clean, the edge of the hole looks machined not ragged.

Either its a plug or a docking port for this:

http://www.hondapilot.org/gallery/50...085a-thumb.JPG

That's pretty funny rocky

Looked at my '04 with stock tire GY's and no hole and no rubbing. It could only be an occasional rub like already suggested or someone cut the hole, put a plug in which eventually fell out.

[bigdadi]

Seems to me good hiding place for drug dealer or money laundering, if the plug cover still intact

[charly]

Maybe thats where the rats keeps going in to nest inside the blower...just a thought

[stupss]

I have that hole on my wheel liner as well. When I went to the dealer for an oil change I showed them the hole and they said that happens sometimes when it's too windy while driving it will push the liner toward the tires and the rubbing made that hole. If you are still on your warranty they will replace it for free.

[VettePilot]

When I took my '06 Pilot in for some warranty work at 1500 miles, they removed the inner liner.
After re-installing the inner liner, they left out about 6 plastic rivets.
I always inspect my vehicles after anyone else works on them -- I immediately went back and insisted that the missing plastic rivets be put in the liner.

Maybe some of your plastic rivets are missing allowing the inner panel to flex back and rub the tire.

[freddy991]

Vettepilot,
Your statements were correct apart from the plastic rivets that are missing, there is another 10mm bolt located under the bumper very close to the front tyre holding the front bumper with the black plastic liner which is not available again and need to be replaced. The same happen to my own HP car too, i noticed it after i made a trip of about 1600miles.

This is the way the hole happens, whenever you are on a high speed the breeze that find it's way under the plastic liner and made the plastic to pulled out and be on top of the bumper tip which is very close to the front tyre. This is simply because the 10mm bolt is not available but, since the driver is not aware of this while driving it would be robbing the tyre continually till your final destination at last you will have that hole in your palstic liner.

What i later did to my own car was to check all the missing bolts and i replaced them back.

Guys i'm stand to be corrected but this how my own happened.


Rgds,
Fred