Trailer harness, pay Honda or not?

[FiremanMike]

The part itself is $220, and I was told by my local dealer it would cost $400 total installed if I don't want to do it myself. I've not looked at the directions, but I understand there's a lot of stuff that needs taken apart, is it worth the ~$180 to have Honda do it?

[Type JDM]

Hey Mike I'm gonna say that it's easy to do. I work at a local Honda dealer and have installed several. It's pretty simple to do.

[rocky]

Have you considered non Honda wiring harness?

[karlpenney]

I haven't seen a 3rd party harness for the 2012 yet. You'd have the same installation issues anyway. For 2012, the control unit harness and relay block is not pre-installed like it was in 2009-2011. So they saved a few $, but now we have to take half the car apart to put that in. I don't think our dealer knows what is involved, but they agreed to do it for just the parts cost.

[FiremanMike]

Would someone mind pointing me to the install instructions? Last time I checked the thread here the link was dead...

[whizmo]

This is one of those things that is pretty straightforward, but dirty/nasty work that is a lot easier with a lift and a helper. About like exhaust work. For $180, I'd probably have the dealer do it.

- Mark

[RSQ Pilot]

Originally Posted by FiremanMike

Would someone mind pointing me to the install instructions? Last time I checked the thread here the link was dead...

http://www.collegehillshonda.com/ins...2012/08l91.pdf

[alocker]

I'll do it for $350.00! J/K.

First off, from experience don't bother with aftermarket. Vampire taps/crimps are unreliable and do not fit like the OEM part does.

It take about 30 mins to install with one tool and that is taking your merry time. It ain't like exhaust work, your on your back for 5 of those minutes. The bonus is you can get close to $100 when you sell the car and take the harness kit off to sell separately.

[karlpenney]

Locker, it's going to be a lot more than 30 min for a 2012. The back left seat needs to be taken out in order to allow removal of the lower left interior panel. This is because Honda left out the control harness and relay box that was pre-installed in previous years.

[rocky]

Wow, decontenting to keep price low!

[alocker]

Originally Posted by karlpenney

Locker, it's going to be a lot more than 30 min for a 2012. The back left seat needs to be taken out in order to allow removal of the lower left interior panel. This is because Honda left out the control harness and relay box that was pre-installed in previous years.

I apologize. I did not know they changed in 2012. I have a 2012 touring so I did not have to deal with this.

I did review the instructions and they are very thorough and you still only spend a few minutes under the car. Assuming you have the tools and know how NOT to cross thread bolts, this is still a nice little project a novice could do to save a few hundred bucks.

[tazmoto1526]

$150 for the 2012 Honda Pilot trailer harness kit PN#08L91-SZA-100A...The 2012 requires you to install the control harness and comes in the kit.The 2009-2011 come with the control harness installed at the factory.
Their's an access panel on the inside left compartment you can use to install control unit and harness,it's tight quarters to work in.I ordered form Honda Parts Superstore.

[Kjoe89]

Just did install on my 2012 LX. Could do next one in less than 30 min using no more than utility knife, hand file, phillips and flat screwdrivers. YOU DO NOT have to take interior parts out / off. Just fold 3rd seat forward. You can now reach inside froward access panel and free harness pig tail from main harness. Just follow harness up and you will feel pigtail taped there. Release or carefully cut tape. Plug in fuse box and harness from kit, fish loose end behind plastic panel then mount fuse box onto factory tab. In rear access panel behind storage compartment you can now plug in controller box and mount it using the 2 screws provided. I used phillips headed screws for this. Rest is pretty clear in directions availabe from Collage Hills.

[mewantumfish]

I just installed mine in 1 hour. A couple of things to note. You dont have to take the panel off or even loosen it. I just removed the 3 bolts that held on the computer box in the back panel so I could get my hand behind the plastic and it worked great. next the plug in the rear down by the exhaust pipe . You need to take it off of the frame and also take the frame clip out of the plug in order to get the dummy plug out.