Me and my wife just bought a 2013 Honda Pilot EX-L. I have a large family and this vehicle fits perfect for us. Love the room and overall capabilities of the vehicle. But the fact it’s a Honda, makes me feel more comfortable for its longevity. Definitely happy with my purchase!
I'm 23 years old and finally had enough of my cash junker cars constantly blowing up on me every 3-4 months and needing major repairs, so I took the wizards advice and got myself a 2012 Toyota Avalon! Thanks Wizard! I love it! It's my first car I ever financed on my own, so that's answering Mrs. wizards question. It was a pretty easy process getting it financed 😆
The choice is dictated by the terms of the availability of a "good" car... too good to not buy.... and the terms of the finance. Each person needs to work out for themselves how much to finance for how long if there is a bargain to be had right now.... and it won't wait for you to get your financial shit together in 6 month's time. Used wisely this stands everyone in good stead...think of it as a mortgage on a good home (you paid cash for your home?) A friend got off a plane in another country, walked into a car dealer's place, paid by credit card for a good used VW Beetle, went job hunting, got a job that afternoon and into accommodation by that evening. He paid off the credit card the next month... and drove the VW 4 years after that saving money for a house every week...... @@user-tb7rn1il3q
My parents have a 2012 with over 270,000 miles on it now. It still runs and drives great. It's had a couple of alternators over the years along with timing belt services on time. These are fantastic vehicles.
My mom’s 2009 Pilot’s exhaust keeps rusting gas holes in it and the transmission is starting to fail. But it has 160k miles on it. To be fair we ran the truck with no oil changes for like 3 straight years and ran well up until now 😂
@@Inferno45 Same here, my 2012 Pilot exhaust system has rusted out twice. Also have had to:: replace starter, my A/C doesn't work, the fan was always noisey, my ABS doesn't work, and my TPMS doesn't work. seat leather broken in a few places. Overall not as good as I expected from Honda, it still runs though. 160k. Also I get a smell of antifreeze fluid burning, I wouldn't be surprised if I have a small head gasket leak. Expensive for timing chain replacement, Also on honda's rotors always need to be replaced when you do a brake job.
During the pandemic I purchased a 2011 Honda Pilot with 86k. Did the timing belt and water pump and new tires and it was fantastic. No Otho issues and changed the oil every 3,500 miles. Did the transmission oil. Traded it in with 125k miles. Highly recommend that generation of Pilots! I hope your daughter and boyfriend enjoy their Pilot. Merry Christmas!
Our 2011 Honda Pilot was totaled by a Kia Soul after t-boning my wife and kids. Suffice to say by the grace of God and great engineering it kept them alive! We found a 2013; they serve us well!
I remember when me and my wife started out we were married in 1992 and were driving a 1978 Oldsmobile Cutless and it was not in good shape. We had no credit and needed an economical car to get around in. Went to the bank and we met with a loan officer about getting a loan for a 1992 Ford Escort. The lady was an older woman and had a real snobby look to her and as soon as I saw her I told my wife she is not going to help us. I learned a valuable lesson that day as she approved our 1st loan after we explained our situation she turned out to be a very caring person and I will never forget her. She told us now make all your payments on time and next time you need a loan I will approve it and she did a year later I came to see her needing a loan so I could buy a 1992 Ford Ranger. She did what she said she would do and the rest is history. 30 years later I have always aid my loans back and have stellar credit. Thanks to that lady for trusting us. This is your daughters start to building their credit. Glad they got a Honda too.
My wife has the exact truck 2011 though, just rolled 215K miles, just needed a catalytic converter .... Pretty much first major repair. Every 100K we do the timing belt/pump, obviously 2 already. Many, many sets of brakes 😂, I'm an expert at them now. Also recent did an alternator. Still runs beautiful...... NO CAR PAYMENT for years with this bad boy, served us well for the last 13 years! 7 years payment free problem free.
i got same car about 120K miles on it, i am the first owner and now thinking should i change time belt my self or spend like $1300 to mechanic ... any advise how hard is done. I want keep this car another 100k miles
@@sidowsidow I will say 1300 bucks is cheap insurance because if you mess it up there goes your engine. I do as much work as possible on my cars to save money and do the job right. You might want to look for a Honda tech who moonlights. I found a guy several years ago and he did it for 650 using Toyota parts on my sons land cruiser.
I replaced the cat in my 2011 as well, it’s because it’s burning massive amounts of oil, but a VCM tuner to deactivate the VCM and oil burning went away! Runs great
How does one deactivate the VCM. My pilot is at 90k right now and it's about time for a timing belt, but I've heard the VCM can cause issues, but not sure how easy it is to deactivate it.
After tons of research, I bought a 2019 Honda Pilot for my wife about two years ago. It's a different body style than the 2015, but the power train is essentially the same. It's a great family car, and we both absolutely love it. Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs.Wizard and Happy New Year. (BTW, I love your channel and never miss a video)
Dielectric grease on your battery ground will keep you from having any electrical problems. Honda only has one ground from the battery and it needs all the help it can get.
My parents have a 2003 pilot with 240,000 miles and climbing that they have had since brand new. Minimal work needed ever and we still trek from Texas to Alabama in it yearly! Just now refreshing things like mounts and bushings for peace of mind, but they’re hardly even needing it.
I can tell you as someone who just purchased a 2013 Pilot they are solid. I also have a 2006 Acura MDX the last car my family bought new and that thing is 250k miles and going strong as well.
My dad had a 09' Pilot and it overheated two times after ~90K miles due to a plastic radiator mounting bracket breaking according to two repair mechanics (One dealer & other is a franchise shop) which is why he sold it early this year sadly. Now dont get me wrong, im not saying the 09' Pilot is a lemon (He brought it new), but I think the issues he experience have to do with the fact we live in the rust belt states.
The plastic radiator mounting bracket didn't rust off... it cracked off due to old age and vibration/ fatigue. When that happened did it crack the radiator and it then lost fluid and boiled the head gasket before it got spotted? @@Poorgeniu5
Yeah I never deactivated the VCM and never got around to timing belt service, but our 2012 Touring AWD lasted 199K miles until I got into an accident and it was deemed totaled. When we got it, it was listed as $41,280? Before taxes and everything. My uncle helped negotiate at around $38K out the door and were able to get crosbars and running boards added.
I had a 2004 Acura MDX bought new in June 04, which is similar to the Pilot. I put nearly 400,000 miles on it and gave it to a family member.. and today its still running everyday. The only thing I needed was at 250,000 miles I had a transmission problem and spent $2600 on it .. well money spent. I had the oil changed every 5,000 miles and had the timing belt changed every 100,000 miles at my dealer. These are tough but very comfortable SUV's and will run forever !!
I had a 2004 Honda Pilot with 380k miles that succumbed to rust. Both the engine and the transmission were still great. I have now a 2008 Honda Pilot with 244k miles. Both the engine and transmission are in good shape. The VCM can lead to oil burning. You may want to consider disabling it. Congrats to your daughter for listening to you.
Congratulations! Ive owned a 2007 Honda Pilot and now a 2011 Honda Pilot. I can attest that these are bulletproof, reliable cars. Make sure you follow the maintenance schedule and these run forever.
funny we just talked about our Pilot. 2015 Its a perfect all around use vehicle ours has low mileage and is perfectly maintained and has been garaged all its life. My miles are about 1/3 of this one. It’s a keeper !
Looks in good condition, just make sure to deactivate the VCM and don’t skip the timing belt job also make sure you use OEM parts or get the Aisin kit. My 07 Honda pilot has been rock solid all these years with just regular maintenance, mine doesn’t have VCM.
05 odyssey here and same. i went with the vcm tuner 2 so I can run regular non active mounts w/o worrying about it coming back on. worth the extra $$$ to me vs the original vcm tuner you have to set manually
@@disco.lemonade the main benefit of deactivating the VCM is stopping oil consumption and the spark plugs won’t continue to be soaked with umcombusted fuel and oil. Gas Millage could decrease but not much. You’re correct these 1st and 2nd gen pilots can be very reliable with proper maintenance.
@@theheavenlyfire S- VCM controller should do the trick, I believe there’s another option called VCM muzzler. There are multiple online forums regarding that topic.
Great choice for a vehicle outside of the VCM issues. Don’t wait too long on the timing belt. If it’s never been done, you’re on dangerously thin ice. The primary cats on those V6s actually bolt right to the heads, can’t remember if the one you pointed out is a secondary cat or not. It’s about time for the compliance bushings on the rear of the front lower control arm to be replaced. The passenger side lots all of the internal fluid and the driver side appeared to be cracked. Another great choice and hopefully they enjoy it.
Just had one. It was decent. The VCM is trash. I had oil consumption and constant jerking of the engine which causes the motor mounts to wear prematurely. Not a ton of issues outside of that and brakes. Otherwise solid enough.
I also had a valve cover leaking 😢 on my 2005 Honda Odyssey 3.5 (right onto the alternator) my first mechanic didn't catch that somehow? 2nd mechanic did. 2 new alternators in a year... 2 x $800. Also, mine had the VCM as well. Surprisingly, Honda decided to shut down the entire rear bank of cylinders leading to vibrations wearing out engine mounts. But I found out about a plug-in module that shuts down the VCM so it's full time V6 now thanks to an Eric the Car Guy video in his series about a similar van. It cost me about $130 back then.
@michaelwright1602 you lucked out. I bought mine for $130 (I found the receipt) bought it directly from the link ETCG recommended. Didn't do any shopping around 🥴
I have a 2004 honda pilot with 183k miles. My father bought it back in 2012 with 112k miles and still runs to the point that I was a kid when he bought it and now I drive it as my daily driver, one if not the best cars we ever had will last ages if well kept.
My niece bought her Honda Pilot new back in 2015, identical to this one. She and her three boys have put hard miles and abuse on it over the years, but it is still a damn good vehicle.
Nice find! My 2011 Pilot has 110k miles. One thing to look at are the two lower control arm bushings (lollipops). They will leak fluid and cause wobbly steering. The stock steel spare wheel will rust from water sitting on the top recesses. I bought a new wheel (Honda brand) from Amazon and a temporary spare tire from The Tire Rack (not cheap). The rusty wheel wouldn’t allow the tire to hold air.
Bought my 2007 4WD Pilot new. Got the base model. I've never had a mechanical problem with it. It's great in the snow. It pulls a utility trailer with half a cord of fresh-cut firewood uphill without straining. We can load two over-filled Costco carts in it with room to spare. My only complaint is the road noise. But it's the perfect car for us traveling or hauling stuff.
The sunglass holder has the mirror on there to look into the back seats. If you press it up once, it will hold. Press it again and it will close. I have this on my CRV.
Wizard - VCM = ticking time bomb. Having owned a Honda with one, never again - it soured me a bit to Honda. They did rebuild and re-ring the motor which was only a band-aid for a couple years. Get that VCM delete done and hope for the best. It's too bad because those 3.5's are such great motors.
That's an awesome gift. Maintenance. Whether it was paid for or done by the person, just having someone else do it for free plus parts, is a great gift. I'm sure they'll be greatful. Merry Christmas Wizard and to your loved ones!! 🎄
I’ve got a 2016 Acura RDX 3.5 with 100,000 miles on it so far! I’ve changed fluids, two sets of ties. Not ONE wrench on it or ONE drop of leaking oil. Second Honda …..and will buy a THIRD when the time comes. I’ve had VERY good luck with Honda products! From lawn mowers, generators…..to cars!! Sold on Honda products!
A friend of mine back in Ontario has a 2015 MDX with around 500,000 kms. Last December he replaced the air suspension for the first time. It only cost him $1500 Canadian from his garage. He bought it brand new and it still serves him well.
I’m glad there are people who are really thrifty and considerate with their money out there instead of going straight to the dealer for a new car. Wish there were more people like this so we wouldn’t have so many repos and debt. Good job teaching younger generations😊
Can you imagine how much less stress there would be if working families were payment free on their vehicles. I hope everyone can enjoy this blessing in 2024.
Wizard you probably already know this but do not allow that vehicle to run until 15% oil life for maintenance as those were known to require piston rings. Starts as a Po303 misfire. Former Honda service manager. There was a TSB all about this.
I have the 2012 Honda Pilot. As you were looking at the front suspension, it looked like the lower control arm bushing was cracked. It is the very large diameter bushing that takes the thrust load. I think you should take a second look at it,
Bought a 2013 Honda Pilot EX-L 4WD Love this vehicle! I didn’t like that it turned off cylinders with the VCM so I Had to install a VCM Tuner 2, now all 6 cylinders are always running. Definitely recommend. Makes the drive a lot smoother
Hey wizard that's my car I have one of those at 2013 Honda Pilot I love it I've had it for 8 years it's been a very very Good car already changed the tiny belt and all the police and water pump and tune up end valve adjustment awesome car love your show
My 2009 Pilot is running 199k, almost 200k now and it’s still running strong. Recently changed the timing belt. It’s a really strong and reliable car. Reliable in off roads too.
Very nice vehicle for anyone as a practical, pretty much do anything, daily driver. Rust-free. Very clean; just needs a minor valet. Practical color combo. Modern looking. Nice V6, too. Although the miles are arguably quite high, this should do 2-300k miles or more if well-maintained before needing any major work. And I suspect a younger person is unlikely to keep it that long before trading up. Those tires will last quite a while yet, especially if mainly driving on freeways. As soon as the timing belt and water pump are done, it should only need regular fluid changes, the odd suspension work, and brakes and tyres -- all normal stuff -- for 105,000 miles, which is the service interval for the timing belt on one of these.
One of my favorite cars. Had a 2008 the previous design and loved it. However, this is my absolute favorite body style. One day may find the right one. By the way, that little mirror in the headliner center console is for watching the kids in the back of the vehicle. If you open it and push it up half way, it should stay so that you can watch your kids. Many mini-vans have this feature. Love your channel. Thanks for the very good advice and tips.
That mirror in the overhead console is for viewing the back seats. It should open half way for backseat mirror section, and then press again for access to glasses container section.
I have a 2012 Pilot very much like this… it just turned 99k a few days ago! About two years ago we were wanting to replace it but we changed our mind because the local dealers were price gouging. I took that down payment money and invested it instead. At this point because we have had this Pilot for so many years it just feels like a part of my family now. Good luck to your daughter and her BF!
The thing I don't like about that Pilot is the rubber timing belt despite being a 2015. A modern internal timing chain that is lubed with engine oil is just as smooth yet, less plastic timing guides, last the lifetime of the vehicle with proper oil changes.
My mechanic has gotten good at replacing these timing belts, claims he can do it with a blindfold. Now the timing chains in those Ford or Chevrolets don't necessarily last any longer and in the case of GM, its an engine out job.
71 yrs old used to do a lot of my own work on cars in the 70s but not so much now I still do the Basics Front end , Drive train, Brakes ,Fuel systems ,love watching your channel very informative for me , have a nice new building thinking about installing a lift plenty of room plus heated .Son says don't bother He's probably right I won't use it that much anyway.
Good parents helping their kids out with a highly reliable vehicle! Between the pilot and the highlander they’re both up there as two of the most reliable vehicles one can purchase. They don’t break, they just slowly disintegrate after 200 years of use
With the 4 cylinder these are fantastic vehicles, a customer of mine has one with 220k and no issues at all. Now the 3.5L is another matter, besides the known VCM issues the CARB models tend to have total catalytic converter failure all at once (as in all 3 of them). Back when these were less desirable another customer of mine had a purple one of these where all the cats went out at once (at 189k) and at the same time the trans began to slip so they just junked it. Not a huge fan of the 3.5L
Looking for unsolicited advice from a Honda certified master tech? Keep an eye on the bank 2 VTEC spool valve. It's common to leak onto the alternator. Also, the front lower control arm compliance bushings are torn. The oil pan is likely wet due to a leaking oil pump o-ring. Easy to address during timing belt replacement. The spark plugs on cylinders 1-4 are prone to oil fouling from stuck oil control rings. That said, still a good purchase.
I have a 2015 honda pilot that I bought in late 2017 when it had a little over 27,000 miles on it. Today it has over 345,000 miles and still running great, original engine, transmission and suspension. I didn't know about the issues caused by VCM until I started having them on my car but luckily all I had to do was replace a fouled spark plug and unstick the piston ring by running an engine cleaner through the intake and an oil additive, and bought an S-VCM to disable VCM and haven't had any issues since. Aside from that, this is what I've had to do on my car outside of routine maintenance: Windshield Alternator around 220,000 mi AC compressor around 260,000 mi Front right sway bar link Front right wheel hub assembly Right engine mount 1 ignition coil and 1 fuel injector
Don't open the sunroof. The frames/tracks tend to warp, and it will not seal. It's a $3000+ job to dig it all out and replace. Other than that, out pandemic-found 2015 has been great!
Wouldn't mind a 2nd gen like this one. Like everywhere else, the market still needs to calm down, and I'm trying to wait until spring/summer to really start looking for a new to me vehicle. Don't want a first gen just due to age, and I just can't get past the looks on the 3rd gen front end.
I strongly recommend you watch Kevin Hunter's videos before you buy a car. He's an ex-car salesman who exposes ALL their tricks. There's lots to learn, so start now. Because of what I learned there, we recently bought a new Mazda with absolutely zero hassle. It was like buying a bicycle from Amazon. I was stunned.
I bought a (mint, rust-free, west-coast) 2003 EX-L, loaded with leather, heated seats, upgraded stereo with factory sub; etc. at 230km for $6k, 2.5 years ago. Now at 275km. I have done the timing belt, water pump and tensioner service. New plugs, coils, K&N air filter, accessory belts, extreme duty rotors and pads, VTM diff fluid, new suspension components all around, 2.5" lift, 5mm oversized sidewall tires (8/10 of an inch overall); resulting in a 3 3/8" lift. Bush-bar, off-road LED lighting and flush-mount LEDs in the rear bumper cover.. a dozen other things of reasonable validity that I have forgotten.. Removed the rear 8 feet of exhaust, fabbed a custom 304 stainless, 2.5 inch Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonator and a 3 inch NPBoosted 45 degree dump muffler, 1 foot before the rear subframe/CVs in-order to gain 3 inches of clearance below the rear subframe. Honestly, from 2900 RPM to redline; it's a rough mix of a 2JZ and a VG35. I go off-roading and over-landing a fair amount. I built a bed riser out of 3/8s inch plywood with 3 vertical 2x4's underneath to create storage wells and an air circulation layer so I can set up my 6 inch sleeping foam, resulting in a 6.5 foot load floor (leaning the front seats forward a little bit) where I sleep very well while camping. I have taken this vehicle FAR BEYOND what I ever anticipated that it would handle BEFORE I DID ALL OF THESE UPGRADES. I'm talking mountain wash-outs with 2 foot boulders, 2 feet of mud and water. Only using 4-VTM , in 1st gear when required. Especially in Canadian winters where we get 1 or 2 feet of snow at random: this rig is great. For an 8 seater family SUV/Soccer-mobile, with a 3.5 VTEC V6, weighing 5000lbs; the early Pilots are QUITE/SURPRISINGLY capable. I spent MAYBE $4K over initial price.
I am a Honda Service Advisor in Northern California. I would not have recommended this vehicle to anyone looking at a preowned vehicle. There are several other better choices in the mid SUV class that are a much better alternative. Many issues plague this vehicle, engine, transmission, check engine light problems, water leakage from door seals and the list goes on. The fact that a mechanic has bought this vehicle is a big plus for their daughter, but my bet here is that Dad may be busy with this SUV in his shop. That said, good luck!
It's cool u did this for your daughter,id hope you would have fixed it being her father,I would have just replaced all 4 tires,for safety sake,and best grip for the AWD system with winter coming
Cool! I just bought a 2013 EX-L, just finished changing out the valve cover gaskets and cleaning out the oil from the rear bank plug tubes... Kind of ruined my plans for the Christmas weekend. But, she is fixed, up and running, and it is such a cool little SUV. These first and second gens are much nicer than the 3rd and 4th, at least to my eye.
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq I just bought the car, and the oil in the tubes were well over the plugs. I was installing new plugs when I made the discovery. Something like that, I do not like letting go, especially with my work schedule, free time is rare to do these things. And I do not trust these shops, too many bad experiences. So, I spent all night out in the driveway under the work lights. I started at around 2000, spent nearly 6 hours finding and getting the parts to do the job prior to starting. I finished up around noon, PCV valve looked to be the original factory one, of course it snapped off in the valve cover... Installed the S-VCM to kill that stupid cylinder cut off too. Then I discovered I need to rebuild the power steering pump, just ordered those parts, $38, will do that next weekend... Today, diff and T-case fluid change, install auto car start and work on the Accord, time for a service on her too...
We have had a 2003, my oldest daughter2005 still have at 400k, and us back to 07 2007. the 03 went to my youngest daughter who now has a 2021. With proper maintenance they go forever.
The only thing that I don't really like on this generation of the Pilot believe it or not is the positioning of the gear selector and the reason for that is because if you're driving and you go to reach for the climate control or the radio or what have you it's very easy to inadvertently knock the gear shifter into neutral and that can be pretty dangerous if you're driving up a hill. My father told me about that on our car and I never actually thought it would be an issue until I saw him do it, and then one day I was driving the car and I just so happened to do it myself by accident. So do keep that in mind. The transmission on that car also has an external filter as well so do be sure to change that out while you're in there.
In past videos, the wizard has warned against cylinder deactivation features on cars and this one has vcm. I have had problems with it on my wife's 2010 Honda Accord. I deactivated it and all problems are gone. If it has been deactivated on this vehicle perhaps all is well. Even though I solved it I would still not buy a Honda with vcm.
The only real leaking points are valve cover gaskets the oil pump and spool valve and the oil pan but you reseal those are the three parts when you do the timing belt service what time is 9 hours at the dealer I used to work Acura and Honda. You would be surprised some Honda's will be brought in for timing belts by customers
Hello Car Wizard ans Mrs Wizard, love your channel. What would be very interesting is showing us how you clean the headlights. There are many videos out.. but I would love to see you method. I am sure a lot a viewers would.
Strange that the dealer would get rid of a car with such few, easily fixed issues. The stealership I worked for (after college but before I received my first job offer) made far more money off their used cars than new. Guess it has too many miles.
If they calculate in their repairs it probably gets to expensive for a 130k car. Remember, car wizard is doing this for "free" because it is his daughters(boyfriend). Things like timing belt changes are expensive (labor).
Considering Mr.Wizard has been a active customer for them for years and constantly promoting/shouting out euroasianauto. I see it as a favor for each other. Remember Mr Wizard also purchased 23 vehicles from him!
Those are expensive repairs for the dealer, even with their in-house shop... They still have to pay the mechanics and purchase the parts. Sure they get a break, but it is not much. Just like the 2013 Pilot EX-L 4WD I just purchased... This new to me Pilot has an exceptional service record according to CarFax, and I paid $700 under book. And I think I know why... I have already done at least $2000 work on her, that is, if I had taken her to the dealer or a shop, the parts cost around $300, I did the labor. I had to replace the upper and lower intakes, valve covers, tube grommets, PCV valve and other little issues the dealership would have nailed me to the cross for financially. Thank God the timing belt and water pump was recently completed. This Pilot had 113,800 miles on her when I purchased, and it is clean as a whistle. New Bridgestones all the way around too... But, it has brake issues, leaking power steering pump, which I am going to rebuild... And it needs rear shocks... I just picked up a set... Once these vehicles hit that 100,000 mile mark, they can get very expensive if you rely on a shop to fix. Best to own tools, and enjoy working on them. ;-)
I have a 2011 and I bought it brand new…140000 miles…absolutely the best vehicle I’ve ever owned…I just wish it had apple CarPlay…20mpg is pretty good…
My family has had a 2012 Honda Pilot EX for 9 years. It’s been a great suv, it has just over 160,000 miles and is running strong. Other than regular maintenance, we haven’t had to do many repairs, which have all been minor things. Though it mostly gets driven in the city and averages 16 mpg. So that’s really the only downside.
I owned a 2004 Pilot that I bought new. I put over 300k miles on it with nothing more than the standard maintenance. I'm 67 and that was the best vehicle I ever owned. I gave it to my son and he totaled it within a year. Grrrr.......
Honda pilots, Acura MDX and many other Honda products all suffer the same issue of warped rotors. The factory spec rotors just can't keep up and a good set of performance aftermarket rotors will prevent problems down the road. I have seen several sets of new stock rotors on a Honda pilot end up warped within a few thousand miles
@@JohnSmith-yv6eqThese dealers I am sure charge for that work, but rarely if ever actually do it when replacing pads... I will be purchasing new aftermarket rotors here soon for my new to me 2013 Pilot, as there are issues with braking.
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq yes, 100 percent! Calipers and all the areas that allow pads to hang up can be a factor in causing warped rotors but I am saying Honda has a weak spot in the rotor.
The mirror on the bottom of the sunglasses holder is so you can see all your kids in the back seat. If you press it half way back up it will stay in a position that you can see the entire back seat in that small mirror.
Dealers in the UK don't tend to sell much over 3 years old they just get rid...occasionally you may come across an older car in good condition at a dealer.
I’m surprised you didn’t just change the timing belt now. Certainly it’s another $100-150 in parts but why not do it now. I would certainly just get it done for my kids. Anyway this Pilot with serve the daughter just well for 10+ years
These cars are pretty good. My mom has a 2016 (the gen after the square ones). Its a base model LX 2WD. She bought it second hand, and it has been pretty good. I had to replace almost the whole suspension on the front, since it was driven rough by the previous owner (new shocks, control arms and end links), front brake pads and recently, the oil filter housing started pouring oil. Had it replaced at the dealer and they did a good job and not too expensive. We also replaced a battery and other maintenance items. Other than that, the car has been pretty good. No major leaks, A/C works great, lots of power and really confortable. The only thing I dont like of that car is the sound system. Its regular, nothing special and it sounds bad when you crank up the volume. Granted, i have a Grand Cherokee with the Alpine sound system which sounds phenomenal and im used to that, so yeah. These Pilots are great cars, I like them, but are not so good on gas.
Great choice, Wizard. A retired mechanic myself of 40 plus years, that’s exactly what I encouraged my daughter and her husband to get a few years ago. Done ✅
Great video Mr Wizard!. 2013 pilot here with 180k and only complaint i have is white paint totally peeling off. Went round and round with Honda and they finally paid to repaint most of the car. Beware of pearl white on these cars. They start peeling above the windshield and then the whole roof peels off, flowed by trunk and maybe doors.
My Acura RDX has the same engine. We purchased it at 110k miles. For some reason the car fax showed a timing belt was done at 60k…. I have no idea why so early? So this fall it went over 160k so I didn’t want to delay now that it’s had 100k on the current one. The belt didn’t have a single crack and all the pulleys and w.p. were smooth and tight. I probably could have gotten another 100k! ;)
That's a nice car , same color as my wife's , except we had to put a trans. in hers , now it needs an exh. sys. and I can't remember what else , 'cept the alternator ,oh yea , it needs valve cover gaskets .
The sunglasses holder mirror is for watching the kids in the back seat...It will stay in place if you raise it back high enough but not closing completely.
Merry Christmas from Ireland and a happy new year to you and all your family. While a lot of the cars you feature are not always available in Ireland I always find your videos interesting. I always buy Toyota ,Corolla ,avensis myself because they are so reliable. Take care and keep the videos coming.
This is Wizards 23rd vehicle purchase from us! Thanks for your years of business! What will he buy next! Happy Holidays everyone!
all hail Bob.
Here is a link to my video of me delivering if you would like to see.
ruclips.net/video/5LiJ90Rew2Q/видео.htmlsi=hgXdJ05DahONoUfx
A zonda
Happy Christmas Bob!
Me and my wife just bought a 2013 Honda Pilot EX-L. I have a large family and this vehicle fits perfect for us. Love the room and overall capabilities of the vehicle. But the fact it’s a Honda, makes me feel more comfortable for its longevity. Definitely happy with my purchase!
Original 2003 pilot owner here still going strong with 312k miles now and not one single major repair. Best purchase I ever made.
Have you ever a valve adjustment done on it ?
I'm 23 years old and finally had enough of my cash junker cars constantly blowing up on me every 3-4 months and needing major repairs, so I took the wizards advice and got myself a 2012 Toyota Avalon! Thanks Wizard! I love it! It's my first car I ever financed on my own, so that's answering Mrs. wizards question. It was a pretty easy process getting it financed 😆
I have an '11 Avalon, which is the exact same car. If you take care of it it'll take care of you.
They are good cars, but you should never go into debt to buy a car. There are good (mechanically not cosmetically) $2500 cars.
Great car.. and surprisingly quick. I loved blowing the doors off a few muscle cars here and there!
@@user-tb7rn1il3qdon't say never. Different people find themselves in different situations
The choice is dictated by the terms of the availability of a "good" car...
too good to not buy....
and the terms of the finance.
Each person needs to work out for themselves how much to finance for how long if there is a bargain to be had right now....
and it won't wait for you to get your financial shit together in 6 month's time.
Used wisely this stands everyone in good stead...think of it as a mortgage on a good home (you paid cash for your home?)
A friend got off a plane in another country, walked into a car dealer's place,
paid by credit card for a good used VW Beetle,
went job hunting,
got a job that afternoon
and into accommodation by that evening.
He paid off the credit card the next month...
and drove the VW 4 years after that
saving money for a house every week......
@@user-tb7rn1il3q
My parents have a 2012 with over 270,000 miles on it now. It still runs and drives great. It's had a couple of alternators over the years along with timing belt services on time. These are fantastic vehicles.
My mom’s 2009 Pilot’s exhaust keeps rusting gas holes in it and the transmission is starting to fail. But it has 160k miles on it. To be fair we ran the truck with no oil changes for like 3 straight years and ran well up until now 😂
@@Inferno45 Same here, my 2012 Pilot exhaust system has rusted out twice. Also have had to::
replace starter, my A/C doesn't work, the fan was always noisey, my ABS doesn't work, and my TPMS doesn't work. seat leather broken in a few places. Overall not as good as I expected from Honda, it still runs though. 160k. Also I get a smell of antifreeze fluid burning, I wouldn't be surprised if I have a small head gasket leak. Expensive for timing chain replacement, Also on honda's rotors always need to be replaced when you do a brake job.
During the pandemic I purchased a 2011 Honda Pilot with 86k. Did the timing belt and water pump and new tires and it was fantastic. No Otho issues and changed the oil every 3,500 miles. Did the transmission oil. Traded it in with 125k miles. Highly recommend that generation of Pilots! I hope your daughter and boyfriend enjoy their Pilot. Merry Christmas!
Our 2011 Honda Pilot was totaled by a Kia Soul after t-boning my wife and kids. Suffice to say by the grace of God and great engineering it kept them alive! We found a 2013; they serve us well!
I am looking at getting a 2011 Pilot. It is about $12K. Would you say that would be a good deal?
@@AustinBigWig how many miles, any service records, and what's the status of the title?
I remember when me and my wife started out we were married in 1992 and were driving a 1978 Oldsmobile Cutless and it was not in good shape. We had no credit and needed an economical car to get around in. Went to the bank and we met with a loan officer about getting a loan for a 1992 Ford Escort. The lady was an older woman and had a real snobby look to her and as soon as I saw her I told my wife she is not going to help us. I learned a valuable lesson that day as she approved our 1st loan after we explained our situation she turned out to be a very caring person and I will never forget her. She told us now make all your payments on time and next time you need a loan I will approve it and she did a year later I came to see her needing a loan so I could buy a 1992 Ford Ranger. She did what she said she would do and the rest is history. 30 years later I have always aid my loans back and have stellar credit. Thanks to that lady for trusting us. This is your daughters start to building their credit. Glad they got a Honda too.
My wife has the exact truck 2011 though, just rolled 215K miles, just needed a catalytic converter .... Pretty much first major repair. Every 100K we do the timing belt/pump, obviously 2 already. Many, many sets of brakes 😂, I'm an expert at them now. Also recent did an alternator. Still runs beautiful...... NO CAR PAYMENT for years with this bad boy, served us well for the last 13 years! 7 years payment free problem free.
Love to hear it 👍
Payment free is truly FREEDOM.
i got same car about 120K miles on it, i am the first owner and now thinking should i change time belt my self or spend like $1300 to mechanic ... any advise how hard is done. I want keep this car another 100k miles
@@sidowsidow I will say 1300 bucks is cheap insurance because if you mess it up there goes your engine. I do as much work as possible on my cars to save money and do the job right. You might want to look for a Honda tech who moonlights. I found a guy several years ago and he did it for 650 using Toyota parts on my sons land cruiser.
I replaced the cat in my 2011 as well, it’s because it’s burning massive amounts of oil, but a VCM tuner to deactivate the VCM and oil burning went away! Runs great
As long as the VCM is deactivated and the timing belt maintenance schedule is maintained. I know ALL about the VCM issue with my '12 Accord.
How does one deactivate the VCM. My pilot is at 90k right now and it's about time for a timing belt, but I've heard the VCM can cause issues, but not sure how easy it is to deactivate it.
@@herbiehusker1889 just type in VCM deactivation through Google.
@@herbiehusker1889search vcm delete. There are a few different options. I chose one that was a simple plug and play.
Don't forget the valve adjustment TSB as well
@@herbiehusker1889Look up S-VCM, that is the one I just installed. They are out of Canada, but ship from the US, had mine in three days. Easy install.
After tons of research, I bought a 2019 Honda Pilot for my wife about two years ago. It's a different body style than the 2015, but the power train is essentially the same. It's a great family car, and we both absolutely love it. Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs.Wizard and Happy New Year. (BTW, I love your channel and never miss a video)
I FIND POWERTRAIN HEADLIGHTS TAILLIGHTS ETC. A TYPO WITH A SPACE!!!!!!!!!!!😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫
@@santinoeli71506 Chill dude, no body cares.
You have contributed greatly to mans' overall knowledge base...thank you.
@@Duraputer
Dielectric grease on your battery ground will keep you from having any electrical problems. Honda only has one ground from the battery and it needs all the help it can get.
@@santinoeli71506 Wha even is this?
My parents have a 2003 pilot with 240,000 miles and climbing that they have had since brand new. Minimal work needed ever and we still trek from Texas to Alabama in it yearly! Just now refreshing things like mounts and bushings for peace of mind, but they’re hardly even needing it.
Have you ever a valve adjustment done on it ?
I can tell you as someone who just purchased a 2013 Pilot they are solid. I also have a 2006 Acura MDX the last car my family bought new and that thing is 250k miles and going strong as well.
We have a 2009 Pilot with 220k miles and we've had it for almost a decade. It runs perfectly and we love it! I can definitely vouch for these.
I've read bad things about the VCM system in the engines. Did you disable yours?
Same here. I put 127k miles on mine with no issues. One CEL and was easy to fix.
My dad had a 09' Pilot and it overheated two times after ~90K miles due to a plastic radiator mounting bracket breaking according to two repair mechanics (One dealer & other is a franchise shop) which is why he sold it early this year sadly. Now dont get me wrong, im not saying the 09' Pilot is a lemon (He brought it new), but I think the issues he experience have to do with the fact we live in the rust belt states.
No blown head gasket?
The plastic radiator mounting bracket didn't rust off...
it cracked off due to old age and vibration/ fatigue.
When that happened did it crack the radiator and it then lost fluid and boiled the head gasket before it got spotted?
@@Poorgeniu5
My 2007 Pilot has 209K miles and runs like a top. Aside from the VCM these 2nd gens are dead reliable. Nice choice!
Car Wizard and Scotty Kilmer are my two favorite RUclips car channels! Merry Christmas...
Yeah I never deactivated the VCM and never got around to timing belt service, but our 2012 Touring AWD lasted 199K miles until I got into an accident and it was deemed totaled.
When we got it, it was listed as $41,280? Before taxes and everything. My uncle helped negotiate at around $38K out the door and were able to get crosbars and running boards added.
I had a 2004 Acura MDX bought new in June 04, which is similar to the Pilot. I put nearly 400,000 miles on it and gave it to a family member.. and today its still running everyday. The only thing I needed was at 250,000 miles I had a transmission problem and spent $2600 on it .. well money spent. I had the oil changed every 5,000 miles and had the timing belt changed every 100,000 miles at my dealer. These are tough but very comfortable SUV's and will run forever !!
I had a 2004 Honda Pilot with 380k miles that succumbed to rust. Both the engine and the transmission were still great.
I have now a 2008 Honda Pilot with 244k miles. Both the engine and transmission are in good shape.
The VCM can lead to oil burning. You may want to consider disabling it.
Congrats to your daughter for listening to you.
Honda Pilots are nice usually. Plus 4WD and third row. He made an awesome choice.
Congratulations! Ive owned a 2007 Honda Pilot and now a 2011 Honda Pilot. I can attest that these are bulletproof, reliable cars. Make sure you follow the maintenance schedule and these run forever.
funny we just talked about our Pilot. 2015 Its a perfect all around use vehicle ours has low mileage and is perfectly maintained and has been garaged all its life. My miles are about 1/3 of this one. It’s a keeper !
Did you disable that cylinder deactivation tech? VCM?
One of the major problems for this and MDX generation
Looks in good condition, just make sure to deactivate the VCM and don’t skip the timing belt job also make sure you use OEM parts or get the Aisin kit.
My 07 Honda pilot has been rock solid all these years with just regular maintenance, mine doesn’t have VCM.
05 odyssey here and same. i went with the vcm tuner 2 so I can run regular non active mounts w/o worrying about it coming back on. worth the extra $$$ to me vs the original vcm tuner you have to set manually
What changes when deactivating VCM? Gas mileage gets worse?
@@disco.lemonade the main benefit of deactivating the VCM is stopping oil consumption and the spark plugs won’t continue to be soaked with umcombusted fuel and oil. Gas Millage could decrease but not much. You’re correct these 1st and 2nd gen pilots can be very reliable with proper maintenance.
@@alexandercuello3168how do you deactivate vcm?
@@theheavenlyfire S- VCM controller should do the trick, I believe there’s another option called VCM muzzler. There are multiple online forums regarding that topic.
Great choice for a vehicle outside of the VCM issues.
Don’t wait too long on the timing belt. If it’s never been done, you’re on dangerously thin ice.
The primary cats on those V6s actually bolt right to the heads, can’t remember if the one you pointed out is a secondary cat or not.
It’s about time for the compliance bushings on the rear of the front lower control arm to be replaced. The passenger side lots all of the internal fluid and the driver side appeared to be cracked.
Another great choice and hopefully they enjoy it.
I was just telling my brother-in-law that he needs to get the timing belt done on his Pilot (140K miles).
Just had one. It was decent. The VCM is trash. I had oil consumption and constant jerking of the engine which causes the motor mounts to wear prematurely. Not a ton of issues outside of that and brakes. Otherwise solid enough.
I also had a valve cover leaking 😢 on my 2005 Honda Odyssey 3.5 (right onto the alternator) my first mechanic didn't catch that somehow? 2nd mechanic did. 2 new alternators in a year... 2 x $800. Also, mine had the VCM as well. Surprisingly, Honda decided to shut down the entire rear bank of cylinders leading to vibrations wearing out engine mounts. But I found out about a plug-in module that shuts down the VCM so it's full time V6 now thanks to an Eric the Car Guy video in his series about a similar van. It cost me about $130 back then.
That device, S-VCM, $106 delivered. Just installed mine.
@michaelwright1602 you lucked out. I bought mine for $130 (I found the receipt) bought it directly from the link ETCG recommended. Didn't do any shopping around 🥴
My piece of advice after owning a Honda V6 is get a VCM Tuner II to disable the VCM. It only causes problems.
Agree 100%
I have a 2004 honda pilot with 183k miles. My father bought it back in 2012 with 112k miles and still runs to the point that I was a kid when he bought it and now I drive it as my daily driver, one if not the best cars we ever had will last ages if well kept.
That radiator problem you had...was it a cracked mounting bracket holing the radiator?
Another commenter had that problem, too.@@TripleLinde333
Had an 05 with over 250k. The 12-15 Pilot AWD is the last of the breed to consider.
My niece bought her Honda Pilot new back in 2015, identical to this one. She and her three boys have put hard miles and abuse on it over the years, but it is still a damn good vehicle.
Nice find! My 2011 Pilot has 110k miles. One thing to look at are the two lower control arm bushings (lollipops). They will leak fluid and cause wobbly steering. The stock steel spare wheel will rust from water sitting on the top recesses. I bought a new wheel (Honda brand) from Amazon and a temporary spare tire from The Tire Rack (not cheap). The rusty wheel wouldn’t allow the tire to hold air.
Bought my 2007 4WD Pilot new. Got the base model. I've never had a mechanical problem with it. It's great in the snow. It pulls a utility trailer with half a cord of fresh-cut firewood uphill without straining. We can load two over-filled Costco carts in it with room to spare. My only complaint is the road noise. But it's the perfect car for us traveling or hauling stuff.
The sunglass holder has the mirror on there to look into the back seats. If you press it up once, it will hold. Press it again and it will close. I have this on my CRV.
Wizard - VCM = ticking time bomb. Having owned a Honda with one, never again - it soured me a bit to Honda. They did rebuild and re-ring the motor which was only a band-aid for a couple years. Get that VCM delete done and hope for the best. It's too bad because those 3.5's are such great motors.
That's an awesome gift. Maintenance. Whether it was paid for or done by the person, just having someone else do it for free plus parts, is a great gift. I'm sure they'll be greatful. Merry Christmas Wizard and to your loved ones!! 🎄
I’ve got a 2016 Acura RDX 3.5 with 100,000 miles on it so far!
I’ve changed fluids, two sets of ties. Not ONE wrench on it or ONE drop of leaking oil.
Second Honda …..and will buy a THIRD when the time comes. I’ve had VERY good luck with Honda products!
From lawn mowers, generators…..to cars!! Sold on Honda products!
A friend of mine back in Ontario has a 2015 MDX with around 500,000 kms. Last December he replaced the air suspension for the first time. It only cost him $1500 Canadian from his garage. He bought it brand new and it still serves him well.
Even Honda push mowers from 1984 still work like the day they came out of the factory
Honda is not making mower engines anymore.
The stock will run out about June 2024....read all about it...
@@rawr51919
I’m glad there are people who are really thrifty and considerate with their money out there instead of going straight to the dealer for a new car. Wish there were more people like this so we wouldn’t have so many repos and debt. Good job teaching younger generations😊
Can you imagine how much less stress there would be if working families were payment free on their vehicles. I hope everyone can enjoy this blessing in 2024.
Wizard you probably already know this but do not allow that vehicle to run until 15% oil life for maintenance as those were known to require piston rings. Starts as a Po303 misfire. Former Honda service manager. There was a TSB all about this.
I have the 2012 Honda Pilot. As you were looking at the front suspension, it looked like the lower control arm bushing was cracked. It is the very large diameter bushing that takes the thrust load. I think you should take a second look at it,
I noticed that too my advice if your going to change 1 change them both.
Bought a 2013 Honda Pilot EX-L 4WD
Love this vehicle! I didn’t like that it turned off cylinders with the VCM so I Had to install a VCM Tuner 2, now all 6 cylinders are always running. Definitely recommend. Makes the drive a lot smoother
Hey wizard that's my car I have one of those at 2013 Honda Pilot I love it I've had it for 8 years it's been a very very Good car already changed the tiny belt and all the police and water pump and tune up end valve adjustment awesome car love your show
Iam sure your daughter is glad her dad is the car wizard
My 2009 Pilot is running 199k, almost 200k now and it’s still running strong. Recently changed the timing belt. It’s a really strong and reliable car. Reliable in off roads too.
Very nice vehicle for anyone as a practical, pretty much do anything, daily driver. Rust-free. Very clean; just needs a minor valet. Practical color combo. Modern looking. Nice V6, too. Although the miles are arguably quite high, this should do 2-300k miles or more if well-maintained before needing any major work. And I suspect a younger person is unlikely to keep it that long before trading up. Those tires will last quite a while yet, especially if mainly driving on freeways. As soon as the timing belt and water pump are done, it should only need regular fluid changes, the odd suspension work, and brakes and tyres -- all normal stuff -- for 105,000 miles, which is the service interval for the timing belt on one of these.
I have 265,000 miles on my 2007 EXL Navigation 4WD I’ve owned it for 4 years and it’s still going pretty strong. They’re decent cars, SUV’s
Have you ever a valve adjustment done on it ?
One of my favorite cars. Had a 2008 the previous design and loved it. However, this is my absolute favorite body style. One day may find the right one. By the way, that little mirror in the headliner center console is for watching the kids in the back of the vehicle. If you open it and push it up half way, it should stay so that you can watch your kids. Many mini-vans have this feature. Love your channel. Thanks for the very good advice and tips.
Great buy, congrats to your daughter's boyfriend on such a great car. Merry Christmas.Thanks Euroasian Bob
That mirror in the overhead console is for viewing the back seats. It should open half way for backseat mirror section, and then press again for access to glasses container section.
I have a 2012 Pilot very much like this… it just turned 99k a few days ago!
About two years ago we were wanting to replace it but we changed our mind because the local dealers were price gouging. I took that down payment money and invested it instead.
At this point because we have had this Pilot for so many years it just feels like a part of my family now.
Good luck to your daughter and her BF!
As long as you change the timing belt when due ($1100) and keep the spool valve/vtec solenoid from leaking and ruining your $450 alternator...
The thing I don't like about that Pilot is the rubber timing belt despite being a 2015. A modern internal timing chain that is lubed with engine oil is just as smooth yet, less plastic timing guides, last the lifetime of the vehicle with proper oil changes.
My mechanic has gotten good at replacing these timing belts, claims he can do it with a blindfold. Now the timing chains in those Ford or Chevrolets don't necessarily last any longer and in the case of GM, its an engine out job.
71 yrs old used to do a lot of my own work on cars in the 70s but not so much now I still do the Basics Front end , Drive train, Brakes ,Fuel systems ,love watching your channel very informative for me , have a nice new building thinking about installing a lift plenty of room plus heated .Son says don't bother He's probably right I won't use it that much anyway.
Good parents helping their kids out with a highly reliable vehicle! Between the pilot and the highlander they’re both up there as two of the most reliable vehicles one can purchase. They don’t break, they just slowly disintegrate after 200 years of use
Both are pretty good. The HL is a little better for longevity. The Pilot has a much better AWD system. If mpg is not a concern get a 4R.
With the 4 cylinder these are fantastic vehicles, a customer of mine has one with 220k and no issues at all. Now the 3.5L is another matter, besides the known VCM issues the CARB models tend to have total catalytic converter failure all at once (as in all 3 of them). Back when these were less desirable another customer of mine had a purple one of these where all the cats went out at once (at 189k) and at the same time the trans began to slip so they just junked it. Not a huge fan of the 3.5L
They never had a 4 cylinder engine in the pilots
i have a 2011 pilot with over 411,000 Kms, shes running just fine.
I have a 2005 Pilot with 258K miles. Still going strong. Easiest oil changes and transmission fluid changes as well.
Amazing 👍
22MPG out of a 3 row SUV is actually solid. Long live Honda.
Looking for unsolicited advice from a Honda certified master tech? Keep an eye on the bank 2 VTEC spool valve. It's common to leak onto the alternator. Also, the front lower control arm compliance bushings are torn. The oil pan is likely wet due to a leaking oil pump o-ring. Easy to address during timing belt replacement. The spark plugs on cylinders 1-4 are prone to oil fouling from stuck oil control rings. That said, still a good purchase.
The only ergonomic issue is the location of the gear selector. I had a habit of knocking it into neutral with my knee.
I did that once. Freaked me out.
Never had an issue with the gear selector position, nor has my wife.
I have a 2015 honda pilot that I bought in late 2017 when it had a little over 27,000 miles on it. Today it has over 345,000 miles and still running great, original engine, transmission and suspension. I didn't know about the issues caused by VCM until I started having them on my car but luckily all I had to do was replace a fouled spark plug and unstick the piston ring by running an engine cleaner through the intake and an oil additive, and bought an S-VCM to disable VCM and haven't had any issues since. Aside from that, this is what I've had to do on my car outside of routine maintenance:
Windshield
Alternator around 220,000 mi
AC compressor around 260,000 mi
Front right sway bar link
Front right wheel hub assembly
Right engine mount
1 ignition coil and 1 fuel injector
Wow lots of miles!! Where are you driving that pilot? Lol
@@tl8885 Lyft/Uber and road trips and camping trips haha
@@rh3toricalanswer ok that explains it
Don't open the sunroof. The frames/tracks tend to warp, and it will not seal. It's a $3000+ job to dig it all out and replace. Other than that, out pandemic-found 2015 has been great!
Wouldn't mind a 2nd gen like this one. Like everywhere else, the market still needs to calm down, and I'm trying to wait until spring/summer to really start looking for a new to me vehicle. Don't want a first gen just due to age, and I just can't get past the looks on the 3rd gen front end.
Probably not Spring because Tax season is when everyone buys a car
I strongly recommend you watch Kevin Hunter's videos before you buy a car. He's an ex-car salesman who exposes ALL their tricks. There's lots to learn, so start now. Because of what I learned there, we recently bought a new Mazda with absolutely zero hassle. It was like buying a bicycle from Amazon. I was stunned.
I bought a (mint, rust-free, west-coast) 2003 EX-L, loaded with leather, heated seats, upgraded stereo with factory sub; etc. at 230km for $6k, 2.5 years ago. Now at 275km.
I have done the timing belt, water pump and tensioner service. New plugs, coils, K&N air filter, accessory belts, extreme duty rotors and pads, VTM diff fluid, new suspension components all around, 2.5" lift, 5mm oversized sidewall tires (8/10 of an inch overall); resulting in a 3 3/8" lift. Bush-bar, off-road LED lighting and flush-mount LEDs in the rear bumper cover.. a dozen other things of reasonable validity that I have forgotten..
Removed the rear 8 feet of exhaust, fabbed a custom 304 stainless, 2.5 inch Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonator and a 3 inch NPBoosted 45 degree dump muffler, 1 foot before the rear subframe/CVs in-order to gain 3 inches of clearance below the rear subframe. Honestly, from 2900 RPM to redline; it's a rough mix of a 2JZ and a VG35.
I go off-roading and over-landing a fair amount. I built a bed riser out of 3/8s inch plywood with 3 vertical 2x4's underneath to create storage wells and an air circulation layer so I can set up my 6 inch sleeping foam, resulting in a 6.5 foot load floor (leaning the front seats forward a little bit) where I sleep very well while camping.
I have taken this vehicle FAR BEYOND what I ever anticipated that it would handle BEFORE I DID ALL OF THESE UPGRADES. I'm talking mountain wash-outs with 2 foot boulders, 2 feet of mud and water. Only using 4-VTM , in 1st gear when required. Especially in Canadian winters where we get 1 or 2 feet of snow at random: this rig is great.
For an 8 seater family SUV/Soccer-mobile, with a 3.5 VTEC V6, weighing 5000lbs; the early Pilots are QUITE/SURPRISINGLY capable. I spent MAYBE $4K over initial price.
I am a Honda Service Advisor in Northern California. I would not have recommended this vehicle to anyone looking at a preowned vehicle. There are several other better choices in the mid SUV class that are a much better alternative. Many issues plague this vehicle, engine, transmission, check engine light problems, water leakage from door seals and the list goes on. The fact that a mechanic has bought this vehicle is a big plus for their daughter, but my bet here is that Dad may be busy with this SUV in his shop. That said, good luck!
Everyone else screaming delete the VCM 😮
It's cool u did this for your daughter,id hope you would have fixed it being her father,I would have just replaced all 4 tires,for safety sake,and best grip for the AWD system with winter coming
My parents had a 2012 EX. I got my driver's license in it. I have a soft spot for this gen Pilots! Reliable, cool boxy design and a comfortable ride.
Cool! I just bought a 2013 EX-L, just finished changing out the valve cover gaskets and cleaning out the oil from the rear bank plug tubes... Kind of ruined my plans for the Christmas weekend. But, she is fixed, up and running, and it is such a cool little SUV. These first and second gens are much nicer than the 3rd and 4th, at least to my eye.
Maintenance issue....
you could have done the job 4 weeks or 4 months ago...
but I understand that it had to be right on Christmas!
(It always is!)
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq I just bought the car, and the oil in the tubes were well over the plugs. I was installing new plugs when I made the discovery. Something like that, I do not like letting go, especially with my work schedule, free time is rare to do these things. And I do not trust these shops, too many bad experiences.
So, I spent all night out in the driveway under the work lights. I started at around 2000, spent nearly 6 hours finding and getting the parts to do the job prior to starting. I finished up around noon, PCV valve looked to be the original factory one, of course it snapped off in the valve cover... Installed the S-VCM to kill that stupid cylinder cut off too. Then I discovered I need to rebuild the power steering pump, just ordered those parts, $38, will do that next weekend...
Today, diff and T-case fluid change, install auto car start and work on the Accord, time for a service on her too...
Merry Christmas.
You will be rewarded in heaven!
Cheers...
@@michaelwright1602
We have had a 2003, my oldest daughter2005 still have at 400k, and us back to 07 2007. the 03 went to my youngest daughter who now has a 2021. With proper maintenance they go forever.
The only thing that I don't really like on this generation of the Pilot believe it or not is the positioning of the gear selector and the reason for that is because if you're driving and you go to reach for the climate control or the radio or what have you it's very easy to inadvertently knock the gear shifter into neutral and that can be pretty dangerous if you're driving up a hill. My father told me about that on our car and I never actually thought it would be an issue until I saw him do it, and then one day I was driving the car and I just so happened to do it myself by accident. So do keep that in mind. The transmission on that car also has an external filter as well so do be sure to change that out while you're in there.
In past videos, the wizard has warned against cylinder deactivation features on cars and this one has vcm. I have had problems with it on my wife's 2010 Honda Accord. I deactivated it and all problems are gone. If it has been deactivated on this vehicle perhaps all is well. Even though I solved it I would still not buy a Honda with vcm.
Was it difficult to find someone to disable the VCM system?
@@LesterHightower Not at all, YT channel Camping Randy posted a video on deactivating the VCM.
I did it myself with the vcm muzzler2. From a dealer named verbatim
@@LesterHightower It's real simple.
My mom has a crv she absolutely loves it the pilot is one of my favorites
I really like this style of pilot, the 2016 to 2022 pilot I personally did not care for. I personally love Honda.
The only real leaking points are valve cover gaskets the oil pump and spool valve and the oil pan but you reseal those are the three parts when you do the timing belt service what time is 9 hours at the dealer I used to work Acura and Honda. You would be surprised some Honda's will be brought in for timing belts by customers
The mirror is so you can see your kids in the back seat. If you push it up half way it will stick opened
Hello Car Wizard ans Mrs Wizard, love your channel. What would be very interesting is showing us how you clean the headlights. There are many videos out.. but I would love to see you method. I am sure a lot a viewers would.
Strange that the dealer would get rid of a car with such few, easily fixed issues. The stealership I worked for (after college but before I received my first job offer) made far more money off their used cars than new. Guess it has too many miles.
If they calculate in their repairs it probably gets to expensive for a 130k car. Remember, car wizard is doing this for "free" because it is his daughters(boyfriend).
Things like timing belt changes are expensive (labor).
Considering Mr.Wizard has been a active customer for them for years and constantly promoting/shouting out euroasianauto. I see it as a favor for each other. Remember Mr Wizard also purchased 23 vehicles from him!
Those are expensive repairs for the dealer, even with their in-house shop... They still have to pay the mechanics and purchase the parts. Sure they get a break, but it is not much.
Just like the 2013 Pilot EX-L 4WD I just purchased... This new to me Pilot has an exceptional service record according to CarFax, and I paid $700 under book. And I think I know why...
I have already done at least $2000 work on her, that is, if I had taken her to the dealer or a shop, the parts cost around $300, I did the labor. I had to replace the upper and lower intakes, valve covers, tube grommets, PCV valve and other little issues the dealership would have nailed me to the cross for financially.
Thank God the timing belt and water pump was recently completed. This Pilot had 113,800 miles on her when I purchased, and it is clean as a whistle. New Bridgestones all the way around too... But, it has brake issues, leaking power steering pump, which I am going to rebuild... And it needs rear shocks... I just picked up a set...
Once these vehicles hit that 100,000 mile mark, they can get very expensive if you rely on a shop to fix. Best to own tools, and enjoy working on them. ;-)
Repairs. Pretty simple.
I would do those things asap.. the belt and water pump right away... dont wait
I have a 2011 and I bought it brand new…140000 miles…absolutely the best vehicle I’ve ever owned…I just wish it had apple CarPlay…20mpg is pretty good…
Thoughts on shutting off the variable cylinder management?
I was going to ask the same thing.
My family has had a 2012 Honda Pilot EX for 9 years. It’s been a great suv, it has just over 160,000 miles and is running strong. Other than regular maintenance, we haven’t had to do many repairs, which have all been minor things. Though it mostly gets driven in the city and averages 16 mpg. So that’s really the only downside.
I owned a 2004 Pilot that I bought new. I put over 300k miles on it with nothing more than the standard maintenance. I'm 67 and that was the best vehicle I ever owned. I gave it to my son and he totaled it within a year. Grrrr.......
Would recommend changing all fluids transaxle differentials coolant power steering brake fluid etc.
Honda pilots, Acura MDX and many other Honda products all suffer the same issue of warped rotors. The factory spec rotors just can't keep up and a good set of performance aftermarket rotors will prevent problems down the road. I have seen several sets of new stock rotors on a Honda pilot end up warped within a few thousand miles
Could that also be NOT refurbishing the slide pins etc when doing the pads...?
Calipers need love too.
@@JohnSmith-yv6eqThese dealers I am sure charge for that work, but rarely if ever actually do it when replacing pads... I will be purchasing new aftermarket rotors here soon for my new to me 2013 Pilot, as there are issues with braking.
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq yes, 100 percent! Calipers and all the areas that allow pads to hang up can be a factor in causing warped rotors but I am saying Honda has a weak spot in the rotor.
It must be great to have a dad who is a car Wizard.
Wishing you all a great Chistmas and New Year.
Before too long there might be a little red haired tyke running around the shop and handing tools to Grandpa Wizard. 😉
I think that David and Jenny would make excellent grandparents.
Have a great Christmas.@@sprague49
The mirror on the bottom of the sunglasses holder is so you can see all your kids in the back seat. If you press it half way back up it will stay in a position that you can see the entire back seat in that small mirror.
Bought 2015 Honda Pilot Ex-L…..running strong..EXCELLENT VEHICLE….😃
Dealers in the UK don't tend to sell much over 3 years old they just get rid...occasionally you may come across an older car in good condition at a dealer.
I bought my used 2014 Honda pilot in 2017 and put 100,000 miles on it. There is no other card for me. 😮❤ I plan to run it as long as I can
Happy holidays to Wizard, Mrs Wizard and family, and to all channel subscribers and viewers.
Every Honda/Acura I ever owned eventually got the foggy headlights. Thankfully it's a cheap and easy fix.
I’m surprised you didn’t just change the timing belt now. Certainly it’s another $100-150 in parts but why not do it now. I would certainly just get it done for my kids. Anyway this Pilot with serve the daughter just well for 10+ years
These cars are pretty good. My mom has a 2016 (the gen after the square ones). Its a base model LX 2WD. She bought it second hand, and it has been pretty good. I had to replace almost the whole suspension on the front, since it was driven rough by the previous owner (new shocks, control arms and end links), front brake pads and recently, the oil filter housing started pouring oil. Had it replaced at the dealer and they did a good job and not too expensive. We also replaced a battery and other maintenance items. Other than that, the car has been pretty good. No major leaks, A/C works great, lots of power and really confortable. The only thing I dont like of that car is the sound system. Its regular, nothing special and it sounds bad when you crank up the volume. Granted, i have a Grand Cherokee with the Alpine sound system which sounds phenomenal and im used to that, so yeah.
These Pilots are great cars, I like them, but are not so good on gas.
How what timing!! Was just in negotiations Friday trying to buy a Honda Pilot for my daughter!
Great choice, Wizard. A retired mechanic myself of 40 plus years, that’s exactly what I encouraged my daughter and her husband to get a few years ago. Done ✅
Great video Mr Wizard!. 2013 pilot here with 180k and only complaint i have is white paint totally peeling off. Went round and round with Honda and they finally paid to repaint most of the car. Beware of pearl white on these cars. They start peeling above the windshield and then the whole roof peels off, flowed by trunk and maybe doors.
My Acura RDX has the same engine. We purchased it at 110k miles. For some reason the car fax showed a timing belt was done at 60k…. I have no idea why so early? So this fall it went over 160k so I didn’t want to delay now that it’s had 100k on the current one. The belt didn’t have a single crack and all the pulleys and w.p. were smooth and tight. I probably could have gotten another 100k! ;)
I really love your "Buy and don't buy"videos ,they are my favorite videos, I really appreciate them and I'm glad that you have them available for me
Nailed it again. yup, wicked reliable!
your the best Wiz! Happy holidaze cheers from Maine to you and the Mrs. Wiz!
That's a nice car , same color as my wife's , except we had to put a trans. in hers , now it needs an exh. sys. and I can't remember what else , 'cept the alternator ,oh yea , it needs valve cover gaskets .
The sunglasses holder mirror is for watching the kids in the back seat...It will stay in place if you raise it back high enough but not closing completely.
The Wizard is at it again, A good man doing what he does best, keeping us informed and auto manufacturers honest.
Merry Christmas from Ireland and a happy new year to you and all your family. While a lot of the cars you feature are not always available in Ireland I always find your videos interesting. I always buy Toyota ,Corolla ,avensis myself because they are so reliable. Take care and keep the videos coming.