Honda Pilot & Light: 10 Questions Answered (For Newbies)

The Honda Pilot is a roomy midsize SUV that’s perfect for families searching for a daily driver. It also has great safety features, including powerful headlights that provide excellent visibility while driving.

Speaking of lights, this article contains a guide on how to replace your Honda Pilot’s headlights. It also provides information that covers various aspects of the lighting system on your vehicle.

Let’s go!

Which Light Bulbs Sizes and Types Do Honda Pilots Use?

The Honda Pilot has used different types and sizes of bulbs since it started production in 2003. Thus, replacing them can be difficult, as you have to get the right size/type for your model year.

We have collected the size and types of headlight bulbs found on Honda Pilots.

Read on to find out what size and type of bulb your vehicle uses:

1. Low Beam Headlights: Honda Pilots have always used an H11 bulb for low beam headlights since 2003.
2. High Beam Headlights: The Honda Pilot models use a 9005 bulb for high beam headlights.
3. Taillights: Honda Pilots use a 921 bulb for the backup light, which is part of the taillight assembly. The taillight bulb itself has a 7443R size.

Check here for the best prices for Honda Pilot light bulbs on Amazon.

How to Turn Off Daytime Running Lights on a Honda Pilots

Daytime Running Lights on Honda Pilots are supposed to bolster your safety by alerting other road users to your presence.

However, they also have their own drawbacks, which may necessitate removing them.

To start with, DRLs can wear out your headlights faster, as they are constantly active.

Luckily, the Pilot community has created a short guide on how to remove DRLs. It’s simple:

• You only have to disconnect the fuses connected to the vehicle’s DRL unit to disable the lights.
• The first fuse (fuse #18) you have to disconnect is a 20A fuse marked “Daytime Running Light Main”. This is usually the DRL main control unit and disconnecting it should disable the DRLs.
• The second fuse (fuse #37) is a 7.5A fuse marked “Day Light”. This fuse is connected to the DRL Warning Light, so disabling it means you won’t get annoying reminders that your DRLs are off.
• You have to locate the interior fuse box before you can disable these fuses. On most Pilots, the fuse box should be slightly above the brake pedal.

Honda Pilot Light indicator Symbols Explained

Do the light indicators on your Honda Pilot look like Greek symbols? We have a guide that will aid your understanding of these indicators.

1. Seat Belt Reminder: This is a reminder that someone is yet to use the seatbelt.
2. Charging System: This light indicator signals that you have a faulty charger or battery.
3. Supplemental Active Restraint System: Your active restraint system consists of the airbags and other safety equipment. If this light appears, the airbag system is defective and may not work during a crash.
4. Check Engine: This warning light signals a malfunctioning engine. Don’t drive until a mechanic checks out your car.
5. Low Oil Pressure: Low levels of oil in your engine will cause this light to start blinking on your dash.
6. Brake System Failure: Brake issues, such as problems with brake fluid or brake parts, are quite devastating. To protect your brakes from total failure, this light reminds you to go check the brake system.
7. Low Fuel Indicator: This sign shows you have low fuel in your gas tank. You should fill up immediately if you want this light to disappear.

Also check out our article about where Honda Pilots are made.

How Do You Adjust the Light on a Honda Pilot?

If your headlights are not aimed properly, they could distract other drivers and increase accident risk. Besides, they won’t provide enough visibility, negating their usefulness.

To adjust your Honda Pilot’s lights, you need to use the headlight adjusters located under the hood.

The top adjusters allow you to raise and lower your Pilot’s light beam. In contrast, side adjusters are used for moving the beam sideways.

It’s important to have your car parked before a wall or door so you can monitor the pattern of projection and correct your headlight’s aim.

Experts advise owners to get a partner to sit in the vehicle while they adjust the headlights. The ideal distance your car should have from the wall/door is 25 feet, and the floor must be level.

It’s also very important to know the towing capacity for your Honda Pilot.

How Does the Auto Light Sensitivity Work?

The Auto Light Sensitivity feature controls the timing of your Pilot’s automatic headlights.

The automatic lights can sense darkness and switch on to provide greater visibility.

Like most Hondas, the Pilot has several light sensitivity settings. You can set it to the max or opt for minimal sensitivity.

Maximum-sensitivity headlights are extremely sensitive to darkness and will start operating quite early in the evening.

However, minimal-sensitivity headlights won’t come on until they sense that it’s significantly dark. Thus, they may not switch on until it’s late into the night.

Please also read our article about the Honda Pilot in snow and winter driving. 

What Can Cause the Drive Light to Blink?

A blinking Drive (D) light is usually the result of a transmission problem. If you notice the light, notify your technician to avoid further damage to your transmission.

You can still inspect your vehicle to know what’s causing the problem. Transmission issues that can cause a blinking Drive Light include:

1. Defective transmission speed sensor
2. Bad shift solenoid
3. Dirty strainer/orifice
4. Bad binding mechanism

Check this article to learn about why headlights may be blinking.

Can I Use Headlight Covers on a Pilot?

Laws regulating the use of headlight covers vary across states. You have to browse your state’s transportation laws to know if headlight covers are legal on state roads.

Headlight covers are great for keeping vehicle lights in excellent condition, which is why they are popular.

But, if they are illegal in your state, a cleaning kit can be useful in restoring the headlights to their original condition.

The Dome/Interior Light Isn’t Working

On Honda Pilots, the dome light (aka interior light) illuminates the cabin when you open the door. However, it can malfunction and fail to work properly in some situations.

A common cause of malfunctioning interior lights on the Honda Pilot is electrical issues. The dome light unit could have a shorted circuit or a loose switch somewhere.

The dome light bulb itself might need replacement. Luckily, replacing the dome light bulb on the Honda Pilot isn’t that hard.

Also, make sure that the mounting screws on the dome light assembly are intact. Missing or loose screws can prevent the interior light from operating properly.

Make sure to also read our article about how long the Honda Pilot lasts.

Do Honda Pilots Have LED Lights?

Every driver loves to have LED lights, which is why some pay hundreds of dollars to upgrade their stock lights to LEDs. Not only are LEDs brighter, but they also consume less power.

If you want LEDs on your Honda Pilot, you have to buy a model released in 2016 or later. Older models do not have standard or optional LEDs—but you can easily buy an aftermarket LED kit.

The Lights Come on But the Car Won’t Start

You crank the car multiple times, but the engine refuses to turn over. However, the lights on the dash and headlights come on when you twist the ignition.

What you experienced is a problem that many vehicle owners face. In most cases, the problem is due to a fault with the ignition system.

Still, a faulty alternator or a dead battery can stop your vehicle from starting properly. You could also have a blown fuse or some electrical fault that’s stopping the vehicle from starting.

We recommend getting a tech to diagnose your vehicle. This way, you can get an expert opinion on the issue and arrive at a solution faster.

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