2012 Pilot ATF Cooler

[AJCHonda]

Has anyone put one on? I am considering it solely to help keep the fluid cooler because of issues Honda has been plagued with in their V6 transmissions. Anyone else think about putting it on?

[cofetym]

If your Pilot comes with a tow package you should have the ATF cooler allready.

[mmmmark]

I put one on my 2012 2WD Touring.


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[alliekbean]

I had one put on my 2012 Pilot because I needed to do some towing. I can't really say that I've noticed any kind of difference or anything, but, I've not had any problem towing anything so far.

[pilot88]

I see you live in LA, a hot part of the country. I can only think it would benefit your car. Give you more towing options for the future. Let us know how it went if you decide to go for it.

[garygpete]

Hello Everyone - recently bought a 2012 EX-L and one of the options I had added was a towing package (trans cooler & trailer wiring harness). I have also heard of a power steering cooler - what does this consist of and is it separate from the coole for the transmission?

Gary Peterson (WB6MAA)

[mmmmark]

See http://automobiles.honda.com/pilot/specifications.aspx for full info.

You'll notice your vehicle has a PS cooler, but only the 4WD comes with the ATF cooler.


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[AJCHonda]

Originally Posted by cofetym

If your Pilot comes with a tow package you should have the ATF cooler allready.

Only 4wd models come with it... I think im leaning towards getting it. Honda has had so many problems with the v6 trannys... i know they say they fixed them, but i still dont know if i beleive it... and one of the major recalls was because of the gears overheating and discoloring causing them to crack... I feel like this $350 adder could possibly help fix that problem.

[mmmmark]

If you haven't purchased the vehicle yet, this is something they should throw in for free after you negotiate a price. I got them to do this. Just an option.


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[rsconsulting]

The "build-a-honda" portion of the site, says $180+install (on the cooler). The Honda estore shows $365 installed.

I'm negotiating with the dealer I bought the car from, to throw a few things in - that I don't feel comfortable installing myself (like the cooler and the hitch wiring).

"Standard discount sites" for parts have the cooler (COOLER ONLY - 06255-RN0-325, not the cooler/hitch kit) at average $127, and the Tow Harness Kit (08L91-SZA-100A) at $145. They are butt-raping me on the labor though (straight book time), though they did quote me the parts at the 30%-off internet pricing.

Harness, Trailer Hitch - Installed: $264
Cooler Kit ATF - Installed: $355

I COULD do these myself, but on a week-old car, I'd rather THEY take the risk of damaging something, than ME saving a couple of hundred and taking all day to do it. The front cap/bumper cover is a BEAR to get off & on, and the harness requires one of the 3rd row seats to come out, to get the rear inner liner out. I'll at least get a free detail out of them to get all the paw prints off the car.

Probably should have gotten this stuff installed at purchase time, but they had to bring my car in from another dealer, and I didn't get out of there until 9PM as it was, next day was a holiday (July 4th) and I had to be out of my (collision-insurance-paid-for) rental the next day.

This add-on increases towing capacity to 3,500lbs for 2WD Pilots. My bike & enclosed trailer grosses out at $1,800. I put an aftermarket cooler in my Element, and did tranny flushes at 50 & 100K (wrecked at 120K).

Cheap insurance as far as I'm concerned.

Rick

[richiebowen]

Originally Posted by rsconsulting

Harness, Trailer Hitch - Installed: $264

I COULD do these myself, but on a week-old car, I'd rather THEY take the risk of damaging something, than ME saving a couple of hundred and taking all day to do it. The front cap/bumper cover is a BEAR to get off & on, and the harness requires one of the 3rd row seats to come out, to get the rear inner liner out. I'll at least get a free detail out of them to get all the paw prints off the car.


Rick

Seriously don't pay the money to have it installed, it took me less than 30 minutes and I didnt have to remove the 3rd row seats, just follow these directions http://www.piloteers.org/forums/82-2...g-harness.html buy it from here Trailer Hitch Harness (2012+) - 08L91-SZA-100A - Exterior .

[AJCHonda]

Originally Posted by mmmmark

If you haven't purchased the vehicle yet, this is something they should throw in for free after you negotiate a price. I got them to do this. Just an option.


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We bought it already... i didnt think about making them do it there. I should have. I can get it installed for 364 at my local dealer. I think its worth it just incase they mess up the paint when doing it since you have to take off the whole front of the pilot.

[rsconsulting]

Originally Posted by richiebowen

Seriously don't pay the money to have it installed, it took me less than 30 minutes and I didnt have to remove the 3rd row seats, just follow these directions http://www.piloteers.org/forums/82-2...g-harness.html buy it from here Trailer Hitch Harness (2012+) - 08L91-SZA-100A - Exterior .

Wish I'd have seen this BEFORE I went over to the stealership and had them put it on first thing this morning (LOL). The tech laughed when I asked him about removing the seat, etc. Honda REALLY NEEDS TO UPDATE the instructions for this (or maybe they DO THAT to SCARE US AWAY from installing it OURSELVES).

On the brighter side (if there is one), I got the harness kit, installed, for $200 - and got the tech to put the riv-nut for the running boards in for me (and I was definitely NOT giving them 1.5 hours to do that one).

Live & learn - though I AM having them do the ATF Cooler. Not "intimate enough" with the car to pull the bumper cover/fascia (yet) - even though I have a shop with a lift I can use.

Rick

[Mikeyworks]

Originally Posted by alliekbean

I had one put on my 2012 Pilot because I needed to do some towing. I can't really say that I've noticed any kind of difference or anything, but, I've not had any problem towing anything so far.

Since the 2WD towing capacity is 2000 lb, but the 4WD capacity is greater (3500 or 4500 lb IIRC), is the simple difference the transmission cooler?

In other words, if I add the transmission cooler to my 2WD 2012 Pilot EX-L, can I safely tow greater than 2000 lb (within reason)?

[rsconsulting]

Originally Posted by Mikeyworks

Since the 2WD towing capacity is 2000 lb, but the 4WD capacity is greater (3500 or 4500 lb IIRC), is the simple difference the transmission cooler?

In other words, if I add the transmission cooler to my 2WD 2012 Pilot EX-L, can I safely tow greater than 2000 lb (within reason)?

Yep...

Honda states 3,500lbs/350lb tongue weight for 2WD with cooler upgrade.

Cheap insurance if you tow a lot, or even just running solo - especially in HOT CLIMATES. Tranny DOES have a cooler in the stock rad, but adding an additional "solo" cooler can only help.

Comes stock on a 4WD, likely because of the additional "stress" on the transmission running the extra equipment (not necessarily because Honda "assumes" you'll be towing more often with a 4WD).

I added an aftermarket cooler to my 08 Element, gross was supposedly 1,250 and I towed an enclosed motorcycle trailer with bike that was around 1,750 gross with zero tranny issues over the course of 120K miles.

My cooler kit should be in today or tomorrow, having it installed at the dealer because I don't feel like pulling the front bumper/cover myself.

Rick