Honda Cars FAQ > Honda Pilot > 2003 Honda Pilot

2003 Honda Pilot

2003 Honda Pilot questions and answers

Got Your Eye On The 2003 Honda Pilot? Go To LemonFree.com Automobile Search Engine, For The Best Deals!

Looking for The Best Titan Car Insurance? Click here now!

Q: Rough idling...2003 Honda Pilot?
We have a 2003 Honda Pilot and it has about 98k miles on it. Recently, when at idle, the needle jumps to 2000 rpm then drops back to 1000 rpm constantly. Could this be the throttle position sensor? O2 sensor? Fuel pump? HELP!!!

A: the passages for the idle air control valve are clogged with carbon or the valve is stuck. this is a very common problem the idle is regulated by a valve called the idle air control valve. that valve regulates the amount of air that is allowed to bypass the throttle plates to keep the idle speed steady. it is an electric valve that has a plunger that moves in and out to either block a passage to allow less air through or in to allow more air around the throttle plates. if the passage is restricted by carbon (think of soot in a chimney) then the movement of the valve in and out has no effect as no air can flow through the port. if the valve is stuck then trying to move it has no effect and the result is the same--the engine 'hunts' for an idle. you can have the valve taken off and cleaned with an aerosol carburetor cleaner (or throttle body cleaner; they are the same product with different labels) and clean the passage with a pipe cleaner and the spray carb cleaner. that works in about 50% of the cases. in the other 50% the valve has to be replaced. be sure to spray the throttle plates and the venturi of the throttle body with the cleaner as well as carbon on the plates could cause the throttle plates to hang up. hope that helps

Q: 2003 Honda Pilot Turning Noises?
So about 2 years ago i bought a 03 Honda Pilot with about 70,000 miles on it. It now has 110,000. But now when i turn corners at a low speed, it hums extremely loud... I had the power steering fluid checked when i got my oil changed last week and everything checked out ok? does anyone know what i should do?

A: Replace the C/V joints,fix it straight away!!

Q: 2003 honda pilot snow tires ?
is it worth putting on studded snow tires for a 2003 honda piot. Since it has VTM-4 lock , or will regular tires work fine in the snow/ice. i live in place where we get alot of snow between Nov-february

A: The question is not if it is worth it or not but rather is it worth it to you? Most would no doubt simply use good all-weather tires. If you have done that already and feel that more is needed, well, you have to decide if it is worth it to you. If you drive with a tire that is only rated for summer use then yes, you should have special tires for winter.

Q: looking at buying a 2003 honda pilot EX-L?
what is the main things i check for when test driving a used pilot.So i dont have to worry about problems with it? yes i have gotten a car fax from the dealer . There was only one owner, and it wasnt involved in any wrecks and has gone through all its routine maintenance.

A: Nice car, I've sold a few. As far as Issues, the pilot is almost issue free. Look for excessive wear in the interior, check for all the cargo hooks and radio codes. look at the carfax( if the dealer doesn't have one make him get one!!! If a private seller service records!!!) Most important if you are buying from a dealer, make the deal contingent on *your* mechanic's inspection! If s/he finds *major* mechanical issues dealer fixes or no sale.

Q: Can someone tell me where i can get the dvd software for my 2003 honda pilot exl, for a cheap price?
I know its a black disk... Honda GPS Navigation Black DVD Ver 2.40 U.S, this is the latest version out.

A: there's nothing cheap out there. 2.00 bucks a gallon no one can sell cheap unless it very hot .

Q: Honda MRV Pilot 2003 vs Mitsubishi Pajero 2003.?
Actuallyim in dilemma & need your advice, i dont know which car should i buy, Mitsubishi pajero 2003 or Honda Pilot 2003, both of them stand on same shape, price, klm...etc. delema but i need to know the weaknesses of each one,

A: If you are intending to go off roading, the Pajero is a competent SUV. It'll tramp the Pilot hands down. But, if you don't see any plans to go off roading in the horizon, you are better of getting the Pilot. The Pajero has a better 4wd system that is meant for true off roading. The Pilot, although can have 4wd, it's meant to be used for everyday highway trek through the rains or snow.

Q: Goodyear Tracker 2 tires, on 2003 Honda Piolt ?
I recently was told, that Goodyear Tracker 2 tires were a tire choice for the 2003 Honda Pilot. I need to know if the Goodyear Tracker 2 tires, are a good tire, from a valid source. I could not find a source. I need to know if the Goodyear Tracker 2 tires, perform well onany typee of surface (ex. Snow, dry, and wet) All help will be appreciatedd. Thx

A: Call a honda dealership, they can tell you what tires came with the vechicle along with any alternatives you can use for them.We have done it many times, for people when we recommended new tires for customers.

Q: Honda Pilot Front Speaker Access?
Can someone help me to find from where I can get access to the front speakers in a Honda Pilot (2003) the dashboard is so well sealed that I do not know how to start to get access to them. Thank you for your help in advance.

A: the only speakers that are in the dash of that car are the tweeters. those speakers come out by gently prying up on the outside of the speaker grills where the sides of the speakers are set into the dashboard. there are a few clips that are pressure fit to hold the speakers in place. just work a flat blade of a small screwdriver around the grill as you pry upwards and the speaker will eventually pop up and out. You may want to wrap the tip of the screwdriver in a shop towel to avoid scratching anything. the speaker is attached to the back of the grill. hope that helps

Q: which car is better - MRV pilot 2003 or Pajero 2003?
actually i needyour advice, i dont which car should i buy, Mitsubishi pajero 2003 or Honda Pilot 2003, both of them are acceptable in shape but i need to know the weakneses of each one,

A: You should also consider that such a car may be expensive to insure. Check your insurance rates before buying one, for example here - carinsurance.yoll.net

Q: 2003 Acura MDX,Lexus RX300 or a Honda Pilot?
I am really having a hard time trying to make up my mind, I like all 3 but I have heard that there are problems with the MDX such as transmission and ect. Which one should I buy?and why??

A: 1) MDX - does not earn Consumer Reports highest rating; transmission problems in '00 and '01; none in recent models; bad audio system - across several years; mid-level complaints with the AC/heater system 2) RX300 - gets CR's second highest rating ("recommended"); fuel economy is an issue, about 12 mpg in town; some marginal issues with fit and finish; from personal experience it is a nice car but has annoying rear visibility problems 3) Honda Pilot - earns CR's very highest rating, higher than the other two; fuel economy is an issue; only gets about 12 mpg in town; road noise is an issue For all three, the satisfaction of existing owners is only above average, not at the highest level. I'd go with the Pilot because (1) the MDX seems to have more quality issues, although they are relatively mild compared to the typical car and (2) the visibility issues in the RX300 are a constant irritant for me.

Q: Honda Pilot problems?
I have a 2003 pilot and the air conditioner stopped working - I took it to the dealership to get repaired under the extended warranty and it seemed to work ok but I live in Phoenix and when it became 110 out the cool air came out but not cold like originally. Then I took it back - went to pick it up still wasn't working right so i took it back again and this time I picked it up HOT air blew out. So they said they fixed it but still not to it original condition - does anyone have any suggestions?

A: The first thing to do is to determine if it is or is not working as designed. You need a digital probe thremometer to do this. You can use a kitchen 'meat' thermometer if you have one as long as it is a digital thermometer. What you want to do is run the air conditioner for a few minutes then put the thermometer probe in the center dash air outlet. Turn the air conditioning up to High fan speed but do not put the system in the 'recirculate' mode--use the fresh air mode. Watch the thermometer. The temperature should drop down to about 38 degrees and then go up to about 42 degrees before dropping again. If the readings on your thermometer are in that range, the system is working as it is designed. If the temperature is higher or it does not cycle up and down in the 4 degree range then you have 'proof' that there is still something wrong. If the temperature is higher than 42 degrees but the temperature still cycles in a range of about 4 degrees then the refrigerant is low or there is too much refrigerant in the system. If the temperature doesn't cycle there is a problem with the thermostat. If the temperature is closer to the temperature of the outside air then the system isn't working. if you don't have a digital thermometer, take it to the dealer and ask them to test the system with you in the car. Once they determine if there is a problem they can tell you what if anything that they can do at that point to fix it if a repair is required. if you've lost confidence in the dealer, take it to any shop and I'm sure they will test it with the thermometer for you and give you an opinion. without the information on the outlet temperature I can't tell how far off of the 'original' condition it is and it would be wrong to hazard a guess as to what might fix it without knowing if there is a problem or if there is, how severe the problem may be. hope that helps answer your question

Q: Honda Pilot or Mercury Mountaineer?
Hi, I am thinking of buying a USED SUV and am trying to decide on the Honda Pilot or a Mercury Mountaineer - both 2003 models or higher. I am definitely looking for 3rd row seats and decent trunk space with all 3 rows of seats in use. Fuel efficiency is another consideration. Please can I have your views OR is there any other SUV in this class I should also consider? Thanks.

A: Ford has had more recalls this year than Honda has sold units since it's inception. The people that say the American cars are just as reliable have never owned a Japanese car, and have never driven a Japanese car with 100 or 200k mi on it. If they have, then they have only driven one or two bad examples. The American vehicles are loose and sloppy at those milages whereas the Japanese cars sitll feel a LOT newer. Also, at 6 years old Ford's have more than twice the problems than Honda's. Then there's the big thing DEPRECIATION. By far the most expensive portion of vehicular ownership. The Mountaineer isn't worth 1/2 of what they are trying to sell it for. The only thing I'd wonder is if there's enough room in either vehicle for you to have the fully loaded with 7 passengers and their equipment/luggage behind the 3rd row. It's been my experience that only the Excurrsion and Suburban have that kind of space, and they both cost loads of dough to keep fed. .

Q: Should I have small defects fixed before I trade in a car?
Hey guys, I'm thinking of selling my car to CarMax, I own a 2003 Honda Pilot EX-L with 38K miles on it. Its served me well over the years, but it consumes too much gas for a vehicle that all too often gets used by one person. There are a few scratches on the right half of the front bumper, and the driver's seat has saggy leather with a few creases on it. Should I opt to fix these to maximize my return from CarMax, or should is the cost going to be too high?

A: if the scratches arnt too bad, go to your local autozone or advanced auto and pick up a paint touch-up pen in the right color. its only a few dollars and if it doesnt bring up your price a little, youre only out a few dollars(one less burrito at Taco Bell for you!) The seat, I wouldnt worry about, its leather and too expensive to redo, leave it as is. good luck man!

Q: Which to used SUV to buy? Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot?
I'm looking at 2003's. Which SUV do most people prefer? They're quite similar, both are very reliable.

A: Highlander