Found out something about my Honda Pilot:

So I have an ancient Honda Pilot, a 2009. Bought used, runs ok but had intermittent problems like check engine light coming on, tire pressure monitor error light coming on, emissions light coming on but also going off and then a few days later coming on again.
So driving it the other day, it really started giving trouble, transmission having problems shifting and such.

Managed to get it home and did a check on the battery and alternator.
I found with engine turned off, battery read 12.1 volts, pretty low.

Then remeasured with engine running, the voltage clocked in at a huge 12.9 volts. Should be around 14 volts, so figured the alternator was bad.

Scheduled a trip to my trusted mechanic and today he put a new one on.
Started car, and lo and behold ALL the error lights and messages disappeared! It seems for at least the Honda Pilot, low voltage causes trouble on most of the systems. I was tearing out what little hair I had left because it was so intermittent.
Now it seems obvious, poor recharging of battery voltage and when it got low enough, BOOM some frigging error light or other would come on.

Now the error messages are all gone and it runs almost as good as new!

So anyone with an elder Honda having intermittent problems like that, check out the alternator and battery voltage, with engine running and a DVM reading battery voltage, if it is not around 14 volts, the alternator is weak or broke.

@sonhouse said
So I have an ancient Honda Pilot, a 2009. Bought used, runs ok but had intermittent problems like check engine light coming on, tire pressure monitor error light coming on, emissions light coming on but also going off and then a few days later coming on again.
So driving it the other day, it really started giving trouble, transmission having problems shifting and such.

M ...[text shortened]... ng and a DVM reading battery voltage, if it is not around 14 volts, the alternator is weak or broke.

@suzianne said
This sounds like good advice for any car owner, not just Hondas, even though this may be a problem esp. for Hondas.

@very-rusty said
How much do you know about cars Suzie Q?

-VR

@sonhouse said
So I have an ancient Honda Pilot, a 2009. Bought used, runs ok but had intermittent problems like check engine light coming on, tire pressure monitor error light coming on, emissions light coming on but also going off and then a few days later coming on again.
So driving it the other day, it really started giving trouble, transmission having problems shifting and such.

M ...[text shortened]... ng and a DVM reading battery voltage, if it is not around 14 volts, the alternator is weak or broke.

@great-big-stees said
Well if she knows on which side the gas cap is located, a lot more than me.

@Suzianne
It was an eye opener but in hindsight I should have put it together but my mechanics didn't either so I don't feel so bad about it now.

@sonhouse said
@Suzianne
It was an eye opener but in hindsight I should have put it together but my mechanics didn't either so I don't feel so bad about it now.

slapshot drives a hockey puck
he spanks it with his very own stick
the thing only comes in one color
but there's plenty of room for his chessboard chick


lol these write themselves

A time joke sookie?

-VR

@great-big-stees said
Well if she knows on which side the gas cap is located, a lot more than me.

@very-rusty said
How much do you know about cars Suzie Q?

-VR

@very-rusty said
Personally I wouldn't own a Honda!

-VR

@hakima said
I drive a Honda. It’s the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

P.S. Did you know that the phrase, “Pesonally, I...” is redundant?

@great-big-stees said
"Pilots" need redundancy. 🤔