throttle hestitation

[tomyo10]

I noticed the slight throttle hesitation when I bought the '07 Pilot. People have said it's normal, and I'd get used to it.

Well, when I found the on-off cruise control button, I turn off the button and it seems to me, anyway that the hesitation is now gone.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the vaccuum system on the cruise?

Any other explanations?

[whizmo]

Originally Posted by tomyo10

I noticed the slight throttle hesitation when I bought the '07 Pilot. People have said it's normal, and I'd get used to it.

Well, when I found the on-off cruise control button, I turn off the button and it seems to me, anyway that the hesitation is now gone.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the vaccuum system on the cruise?

Any other explanations?

Can you really reproduce the change if you turn the button on/off as you're driving? I suppose it is possible that the button open/closes a valve somewhere that might affect a vacuum leak or something like this, but I doubt it. AFAIK, all the button does is turn power on/off the control unit which shouldn't cause anything active to happen if the cruise control is not already engaged.

- Mark

[rocky]

You don't put any information in your post as to speed you are traveling, accelerating/braking/gear and all those bits are useful to have to help you.

Thanks

[krazykarguy]

The cruise control in the Pilot is 100% electronic. There is no vacuum portion of the system - turning the cruise on or off should not affect the throttle.

The throttle body is also drive-by-wire (no throttle cable), and I hate it in my '07... the programming of it is not very "refined" shall we say...

[whizmo]

I suppose it is possible Honda alters the fly-by-wire throttle sensitivity or fuel mapping slightly depending on whether the cruise is turned on or not in anticipation of the user setting the speed, but I doubt it.

- Mark

[2010exl]

Originally Posted by tomyo10

I noticed the slight throttle hesitation when I bought the '07 Pilot. People have said it's normal, and I'd get used to it.

Well, when I found the on-off cruise control button, I turn off the button and it seems to me, anyway that the hesitation is now gone.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the vaccuum system on the cruise?

Any other explanations?

Did you buy it new or just recently?
Have you tried the throttle body cleaning?
Search for "sticky acceLerator pedal/cable"
There is a write up on how to clean the throttle body, it may help.
That thread was only started October 15th, so it should be easy to find.

[whizmo]

Originally Posted by 2010exl

Have you tried the throttle body cleaning?
Search for "sticky acceLerator pedal/cable"
There is a write up on how to clean the throttle body, it may help.

Sounds a lot easier simply to turn the cruise control off. He says that fixes it. Whatever works.

- Mark

[rocky]

Originally Posted by whizmo

Sounds a lot easier simply to turn the cruise control off. He says that fixes it. Whatever works.

- Mark

FWIW, if the cruise control is active ie maintaining a speed and you manually (footually?) override it then forget you still have the cruise control on, the car will receive inputs from the computer and the driver causing oddball hesitation/confusion.

I've managed to create that experience a couple of times in the 35-45 range. have also wondered if its influenced by the third/forth gear switches which some people have taken to replacing.

[2010exl]

Originally Posted by whizmo

Sounds a lot easier simply to turn the cruise control off. He says that fixes it. Whatever works.

- Mark

So "If" this is caused by a dirty throttle body, then you would rather never use the cruise control to avoid spending 20 minutes to fix the problem.............

By the way throttle body cleaning, although not listed in the owners manual, is a routine service that should be done on all cars.

[whizmo]

Originally Posted by rocky

FWIW, if the cruise control is active ie maintaining a speed and you manually (footually?) override it then forget you still have the cruise control on, the car will receive inputs from the computer and the driver causing oddball hesitation/confusion.

True, but if I read the OP correctly, he is saying that simply turning the main on/off button affects his hesitation problem without actually using the cruise control. If instead the problem is that the car tends to hesitate while the cruise control is engaged to control speed, that's a different kettle of fish and is probably just the normal cruise control "hunting" that we all complain about.

- Mark

[whizmo]

Originally Posted by 2010exl

So "If" this is caused by a dirty throttle body, then you would rather never use the cruise control to avoid spending 20 minutes to fix the problem.............

Guys, reset. The OP said that simply turning on/off the main cruise control BUTTON - the button by your left knee - caused the car to stop hesitating when NOT using the cruise control. This has nothing to do with how the car behaves while the cruise control is engaged to control speed.

- Mark

[whizmo]

Originally Posted by 2010exl

By the way throttle body cleaning, although not listed in the owners manual, is a routine service that should be done on all cars.

That's your opinion. As you say, its not listed in the OM (or the service manual for that matter), so Honda doesn't say you need to routinely do it.

- Mark

[tomyo10]

OK- to clarify: The hesitation usually occurs between 2nd and 3rd gear- around 40 MPH. I do not feel the hesitation when the cruise control button (near left knee) is off. I do feel the hesitation when the cruise button is on, but not the cruise is NOT engaged.

Didn't mean to start a fight here; just wanted to see if anyone else has tried this.

[whizmo]

Originally Posted by tomyo10

... just wanted to see if anyone else has tried this.

You've picqued my interest, so I'll try turning the cruise button on/off and see if I can note any difference in throttle response.

- Mark

[Nickp]

I did a quick throttle body clean with just a toothbrush (I didn't have any carb cleaner) and the hesitation is much impoved on my 2007 with 45K. I used to think that the AWD was bogging down the rig off the line, but after the quick clean the hesitation is almost completely gone, and yes I turn off the VSA.