Go get you a Lund's fuel injector cleaner!!!
Two days ago, Jan 21, 2019, I took my pilot into the Honda dealership because the emissions system warning came up on my dashboard. Always, when a light comes up on my dashboard, my first thought is to look through the manual. So for that, it stated that I needed to take it to the dealership right away. So I called and took not in. They will tell that they need to run it through their computer tonsee what's wrong with it. The cost was $115 not including taxes. I can get it back IF I get it fixed right away after they find out what the issue is.
The problem was the fuel injectors being contaminated. They also pointed out that I needed to replace a pipe leading to the issue. The cost for the parts which were the fuel injectors was $838 and labor was $400 and something and does not include taxes so it came out to $1565 or so. Anyways, the question now was whether or not to let them fix it for me.
Before I said YES! There were a few things that I needed to see first. These are some of the things that you need to check out first before you make your decision.
1. See if it is covered under warranty. If it is, that's great. If it's not, then option 2.
2. Ask them for a service bulletin for your vehicle to see if your issue is covered under it. Which O forgot, make sure to go online and check if your vehicle, using your VIN number has a recall for it. Anyways, check recall and service bulletin. If the issue for your vehicle is covered under any one of these two then you are good to go. There is no recall that I know of for the emissions system but I stress it because the recall may have something have a part in the problem you're having. Anyways, I checked the recall for mine and there was none. The service bulletin did not apply to my 2016 pilot. It says it's for 2016 pilot but it's only for specific pilots. Mine was not one of them.
3. If you are trying to save money, ask them about the parts. Take a look at the part numbers for your parts and google it online. Yes, look it up online. Just remember, you have every right to those paperwork because you are paying for them. Anyways, they told me the fuel injectors for my vehicle will cost me $535 and the pipe test $300. Those same parts would only cost me $557 online because they were discounted off of Hondafactory website. I asked them if they price match and they said no. In the end they did discount it for me for only $70. Furthermore, they said that the parts if I order them myself will be backordered. This is not my first rodeo with parts. I work in logistics and maintenance so I know what it means. They had the parts for my vehicle, I just refused to pay full price for it.
4. Since I already know that I can get the parts for cheap online, my next option is to find someone that can put it on for me. It's good to have a mechanic on the side as a friend. Fortunate for me, I work with them every single day so all o need is ask and instead of paying $400 and something for labor, I can negotiate it qith them. Some also have their own shop.
5. So after spending 2 and half hours at the dealership. I opted to pay for the diagnostic fee and left with my car. First, I was not going to pay full price. Second I can do it myself and get someone else to put it on. That was the plan until the next day.
6. When I got to work, I explained to one of the mechanics what happened to my car. He said if it's a fuel injector, I need to clean it using Lund's fuel injector cleaner and so I went to O'Reilly's Auto Store, got me a bottle that was on sale for $3.99. I went home after work stopped at Sam's and proceeded to pour all of it in my gas tank and filled it up with gas. Then I sat in the car for 20 seconds and when I turned my car on, the warning sign went away.
I was able to fix the issue using a $3.99 fuel injector cleanser versus paying Honda $1565.
