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.

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

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

How much do you know about cars Suzie Q?

-VR

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

-VR

Well if she knows on which side the gas cap is located, a lot more than me.

@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.

had a honda civic estate plus a honda crv great cars run forever real workhorses, the car i had the most trouble with was a vw golf the engine fault light was always on and the oil warning light had a loud ringing noise, had it checked out they said they would need to put a reconditioned engine in so i left it with them, they rang me that night telling me the new engine would not fit as some modifications had been made to my car so they put the old engine back in , guess what both problems solved and I ran that vw for another 5 years.

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

LOL@ stees! I bet you're serious too!!!

Come on buddy you must have put window cleaner in at some point? Or do you have it all done for you?

-VR

@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.

Personally I wouldn't own a Honda!

-VR

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.

You don't know about the little arrow on your fuel gauge? It points either left or right to indicate which side the cap is.

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

-VR

Probably more than you.

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

-VR

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?

@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?

"Pilots" need redundancy. 🤔

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

You forgot to ask me if I really cared! 😛 😉

-VR