[Hogan773]

Enjoying driving the new car around. Haven't had that "new car smell" since 2014!

Lots of little things popping into my head as I mess around with this new toy and I will just throw some of them down here rather than create individual threads.

1) Wireless Charger -- doesn't work for my or my son's phone, and I believe it is because we have those little metal plates tucked inside our cases that I use to stick my phone to the magnetic part of a Scosche phone mount in our other car. The system even pops up an error for my son's phone talking about danger if there is something "in between" the phone and the charger.

2) Passengers Airbag OFF light. So that little yellow light (right below the hazard flashers button) is going to be on all the damn time unless someone is sitting in the front seat? Seems odd.

3) Wifi connection to my phone? There are all these little wifi symbols in the upper right corner of the screen. I connected my phone via Bluetooth yesterday. But it also seems to say that my phone is connected to the car via wifi? There are apparently ways to get the car itself to connect to a wifi connection as a client. But the way I am set up is it somehow trying to use my phone as a hotspot for the whole car? I guess I need to see if there is an SSID being broadcast from the car. I am not talking about the "AT&T Hotspot" function as I hid that app and I have no intention of subscribing to separate service for the car. Also (separate thought) the car seems to maintain its own connection to "TCU" which the dealer told me was like the satellite for NAV? There is a second logo of the car with a little wifi fan coming out the side of it. Is that where one would get OTA updates? (mine shows "latest updates installed")

4) Color of car icon - on the 2023 Accords I remember seeing in a Youtube video that you can change the color of the car in the settings menu somewhere. Has anyone found that on the Pilot? I can't find it. Maybe it's not there because the Accord 12.3" screen is using a different software platform version.

 

[stieny]

Enjoying driving the new car around. Haven't had that "new car smell" since 2014!

Lots of little things popping into my head as I mess around with this new toy and I will just throw some of them down here rather than create individual threads.

1) Wireless Charger -- doesn't work for my or my son's phone, and I believe it is because we have those little metal plates tucked inside our cases that I use to stick my phone to the magnetic part of a Scosche phone mount in our other car. The system even pops up an error for my son's phone talking about danger if there is something "in between" the phone and the charger.

2) Passengers Airbag OFF light. So that little yellow light (right below the hazard flashers button) is going to be on all the damn time unless someone is sitting in the front seat? Seems odd.

3) Wifi connection to my phone? There are all these little wifi symbols in the upper right corner of the screen. I connected my phone via Bluetooth yesterday. But it also seems to say that my phone is connected to the car via wifi? There are apparently ways to get the car itself to connect to a wifi connection as a client. But the way I am set up is it somehow trying to use my phone as a hotspot for the whole car? I guess I need to see if there is an SSID being broadcast from the car. I am not talking about the "AT&T Hotspot" function as I hid that app and I have no intention of subscribing to separate service for the car. Also (separate thought) the car seems to maintain its own connection to "TCU" which the dealer told me was like the satellite for NAV? There is a second logo of the car with a little wifi fan coming out the side of it. Is that where one would get OTA updates? (mine shows "latest updates installed")

4) Color of car icon - on the 2023 Accords I remember seeing in a Youtube video that you can change the color of the car in the settings menu somewhere. Has anyone found that on the Pilot? I can't find it. Maybe it's not there because the Accord 12.3" screen is using a different software platform version.

1) I think the wireless charger is fully dependent on type of phone (how flat it lays) and the case. I have an older iPhone XS with an apple leather case and it lays flat and charges without issue every time and the entire time it’s on it. I think after market thicker cases and bigger camera bumps cause issue. The warning pops up on the screen anytime something charges on the pad.

2) I do believe the light is on when no one is present in the seat. You obviously wouldn’t want the airbag to blow if no one is sitting there as it just causes more issues so if the light wants to remind me of that, so be it.

3) I connect my phone via CarPlay which I believe usues Bluetooth to connect. The Wi-Fi is just for what hotspot the vehicle puts out, at least from what I’ve seen. I have mine set up and will pay for the subscription so I have it all set up via Honda Garage site + on the AT&T car Wi-Fi site. The kiddos stuff is connected to the Wi-Fi but my phone is not, it just connects via CarPlay. I did read somewhere that this system only has over the air updates with the hotspot activated but I don’t know if that’s true or not.

4) I have not messed or looked into this. The default is white and mine is white so, no need to investigate further. Lol

 

[Hogan773]

1) I think the wireless charger is fully dependent on type of phone (how flat it lays) and the case. I have an older iPhone XS with an apple leather case and it lays flat and charges without issue every time and the entire time it’s on it. I think after market thicker cases and bigger camera bumps cause issue. The warning pops up on the screen anytime something charges on the pad.

I confirmed that actually my son's iphone charges okay - he doesn't have the metal plate in his case - and mine also charges when I take my phone out of the case.

 

[blairellis]

I have issues with my iP14Pro I think because of the camera bump. My wife doesn’t have any issues with her Android. It’s a Samsung something or another that is flat on the bottom. I started a thread about this earlier, right after I got the car.

 

[Rico1]

Your "airbag off" light should not be lit when the seat is empty. Airbags ARE meant to deploy for an empty seat.

Honda models have a sensor on that seat to turn off the airbag when there is a small load (less than 65 lbs) on the seat, because an airbag can apparently injure a smaller child. Sometimes this light goes on when you put a backpack or other stuff there, but it should not be lit when the seat is empty.

Passenger side airbag should be on, even when the seat is empty.

 

[Hogan773]

Your "airbag off" light should not be lit when the seat is empty. Airbags ARE meant to deploy for an empty seat.

Honda models have a sensor on that seat to turn off the airbag when there is a small load (less than 65 lbs) on the seat, because an airbag can apparently injure a smaller child. Sometimes this light goes on when you put a backpack or other stuff there, but it should not be lit when the seat is empty.

Passenger side airbag should be on, even when the seat is empty.

Yes! This is just what I was thinking last night again while driving. I pointed it out to my wife and she said "mine" (her Accord) comes on sometimes if I have shopping bags in the front seat. Which jogged my memory that this airbag is supposed to turn off if there is some weight in the front seat but not enough for an adult. So like if you had a kid there, or a car seat or something.

So, sounds like some of us have our first squawk problem on this vehicle. Something isn't right with that seat sensor.

Does everyone have this issue? Or everyone with an Elite?

 

[stieny]

Yes! This is just what I was thinking last night again while driving. I pointed it out to my wife and she said "mine" (her Accord) comes on sometimes if I have shopping bags in the front seat. Which jogged my memory that this airbag is supposed to turn off if there is some weight in the front seat but not enough for an adult. So like if you had a kid there, or a car seat or something.

So, sounds like some of us have our first squawk problem on this vehicle. Something isn't right with that seat sensor.

Does everyone have this issue? Or everyone with an Elite?

Page 74 in the owners manual - it should turn off if the seat is empty or if there is a small child detected by the weight sensors….

 

[Rico1]

I stand corrected. That seems to be a change from previous design?

 

[Hogan773]

I stand corrected. That seems to be a change from previous design?

Ahh thanks Steiny. I was going to look at the manual once I got some coffee but you saved me the trouble. Well that is good I guess that I don't have a problem. Yes Rico it must be a change in philosophy. Maybe someone decided that it makes more sense not to blow the airbag if you don't need it (then you don't need the expense of replacing it). Still annoys my OCD that a yellow dash warning light needs to be on all the time if I am driving alone or driving with kids in the 2nd and 3rd row but nobody in front. But I guess nothing is perfect in life!

 

[stieny]

Ahh thanks Steiny. I was going to look at the manual once I got some coffee but you saved me the trouble. Well that is good I guess that I don't have a problem. Yes Rico it must be a change in philosophy. Maybe someone decided that it makes more sense not to blow the airbag if you don't need it (then you don't need the expense of replacing it). Still annoys my OCD that a yellow dash warning light needs to be on all the time if I am driving alone or driving with kids in the 2nd and 3rd row but nobody in front. But I guess nothing is perfect in life!

No problem at all. I think the thought here by many of the auto manufacturers is that if you get into a small fender bender and it triggers the front airbag sensors, they don’t want unnecessary airbags to go off - especially the passenger dash bag. When they deploy, they usually rip the dash in most vehicles which would warrant a full dash replacement.

 

[Hogan773]

No problem at all. I think the thought here by many of the auto manufacturers is that if you get into a small fender bender and it triggers the front airbag sensors, they don’t want unnecessary airbags to go off - especially the passenger dash bag. When they deploy, they usually rip the dash in most vehicles which would warrant a full dash replacement.

Seems a bit unnecessary to have a yellow warning light on at all times but it is what it is

 

[PHM]

Seems a bit unnecessary to have a yellow warning light on at all times but it is what it is

I really don't think that light should be on. Stop by your dealer.

 

[ScottMN]

The last 4 cars I've owned have had that light on when the seat Is unoccupied.

 

[Hogan773]

The last 4 cars I've owned have had that light on when the seat Is unoccupied.

It's strange. Something obviously changed. The manual for the 2023 is clear, as Steiny posted. Yet the manual for my 2014 Accord says the following -- it STILL TURNS IT OFF but doesn't feel the need for an indicator light!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If the front passenger seat is empty, the passenger's front airbag will not deploy and the indicator will not come on.

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
If the indicator comes on with no front passenger and no objects on the passenger’s seat, or with an adult riding there, something may be interfering with the weight sensors, such as: • An object hanging on the seat or in the seat-back pocket. • A child seat or other object pressing against the rear of the seat-back. • A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger's seat. • The front seat or seat-back is forced back against an object on the seat or floor behind it. • An object placed under the front passenger's seat. If none of these conditions exist, have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible. The passenger airbag off indicator may come on and goes off repeatedly if the total weight on the seat is near the airbag cutoff threshold.

 

[Toban]

Hey Hogan773

Do you think the new pilot is a quiet driving vehicle on the highway? The reviews are saying Honda put in more insulation to make the car ride quieter? How's the road noise? How is the car going over bumps? Any suspension noise?

I have a Touring coming in Canada which is the same as your Elite.

Your input is appreciated.

Toban

 

[blairellis]

I know I’m not Hogan but it’s much quieter than the 3rd gen pilots. There’s definitely more sound dampening material. Even in the back under the Jack storage area there’s more there than when I put the hitch on my old Pilot. Road noise to me is imperceptible. The suspension on the 4th gen is so much better than 3rd. 3rd would crash over bumps where this model soaks it up. Granted I had 106k when I sold it, so it’s not a fair comparison.

 

[Hogan773]

I know I’m not Hogan but it’s much quieter than the 3rd gen pilots. There’s definitely more sound dampening material. Even in the back under the Jack storage area there’s more there than when I put the hitch on my old Pilot. Road noise to me is imperceptible. The suspension on the 4th gen is so much better than 3rd. 3rd would crash over bumps where this model soaks it up. Granted I had 106k when I sold it, so it’s not a fair comparison.

I have only been on one true highway trip since I got the car 2 days ago, but YES I agree. Quietest Honda I have owned yet and notably quieter than our 2010 Odyssey. Agree also on the suspension. Steering feels very solid and connected, yet also not at all bumpy. Don't know how to describe it but I really like it. It's not "floaty" where you feel like you need to be correcting all the time, yet you also don't feel every bump through the wheel or through your butt.

I'm a big fan of this new car! I do have the Elite which I believe has the "acoustic glass" not only on the windshield but also the driver and passenger windows. I don't know for sure whether the Elite has "more" sound deadening material or if all the 2023 Pilots have the same amount....

 

[Pilot2023]

Wind noise is present at 60+ freeway speeds. I can hear it well if I audio is off. It's not harsh, but it is there.

 

[keangabriel0830]

Wind noise is present at 60+ freeway speeds. I can hear it well if I audio is off. It's not harsh, but it is there.

Yes, I just drove mine first time in the highway today and @ 70-80mph the wind noise is loud. I am not used to it, more pronounced. I did not have that on my 2013 Ford Explorer, way more quieter. I thought mine had problem with seals and insulation? Otherwise, road noise is Okay. Suspension is good and smooth.

 

[Hogan773]

Yes, I just drove mine first time in the highway today and @ 70-80mph the wind noise is loud. I am not used to it, more pronounced. I did not have that on my 2013 Ford Explorer, way more quieter. I thought mine had problem with seals and insulation? Otherwise, road noise is Okay. Suspension is good and smooth.

Hmm, well I am coming from a 2010 Odyssey where at 80mph there was LOTS of noise so this seems pretty composed to me