2022 Honda Pilot SE AWD
Posted by TWSS_69@reddit | Autos | View on Reddit | 2 comments
Recently purchased a CPO 2022 Honda Pilot SE AWD with 32,000 miles. So far my wife and I have been enjoying the vehicle. My only real concerns are with the auto idle stop and the VCM systems. This vehicle is intended to be our primary family hauler for the next 5 to 10 years so longevity of the starter and the engine is very important. Are these systems fairly reliable or is it a good idea to try and disable/bypass them early on?
I found a couple devices searching online and they both seem fairly easy to install. Wondering if anyone has familiarity with either of the two. Could they end up causing bigger problems for the vehicle? If there are better devices out there to disable the systems I’d be interested to find out more about them.
https://www.idlestopper.com/product/idlestopper/5
https://www.svcmcontroller.com
I’d be interested to hear from fellow 3rd gen Honda pilot owners regarding how the vehicle reliability has been long term.
shrike71@reddit
Honda certified tech, here. The auto start/stop systems have evolved into very robust systems with a long lifespan. The only reason to disable it is if you hate the stop/start itself (which I do). You will have other issues with the car long before the starter goes. Batteries typically last 5-7 years, so budget accordingly.
VenomousWarthog@reddit
I picked up a ‘17 Pilot and put the S-VCM device in it right after getting it after researching the different VCM defeat devices available. The support received from the folks who made it was very good, and the device works as intended.
Digging through the piloteers.org forum has a bunch of info on VCM defeat devices in general. They also have a lot of discussion on when to drain/fill the transmission fluid. I can’t recall the duration most recommend in that forum, but rest assured it is more than what Honda recommends. Personally I will be doing it on mine every 15-20k given the high mileage on my car. Is this interval overkill? Probably. But it’s something I can do quite easily myself and for the cost is worth the peace of mind.