The Honda Pilot is a reliable, family-oriented crossover SUV for adventure or daily driving. But like other car models, the Pilot may experience problems from time to time. Many Honda Pilot owners have reported issues with the vehicle’s emission system.
If your Pilot has an emission system problem, you will see a warning notification in its instrument cluster. This message can be intimidating if you don’t know what it implies. The best way to address this issue is to identify and resolve the cause of the emission system problem.
In this guide, I’ll discuss the emission system problem Honda Pilot, including its causes, symptoms, and solutions.
Question: What Does Emissions System Problem Mean on a Honda Pilot?
The Honda Pilot emission system problem indicates a fault in the vehicle’s emission control system. The system limits the discharge of harmful gasses from the combustion chamber and other components. It monitors and controls gasses and pollutants exiting your car to ensure they’re harmless to the environment.
Issues with this system can cause increased emissions of harmful gasses into the atmosphere. When your Pilot’s ECU detects a problem with the emission system, it will trigger an emission system problem light on the dash.
Generally, the warning notification appears on the dashboard at around 40,000 to 60,000 miles. However, defects within the system can cause this message to show up earlier.
If you encounter this problem, it’s important to contact the dealership for help. But if you’re a DIY enthusiast, we’ll provide practical solutions to the problem.
But first, let’s look at the symptoms you may notice if your Honda Pilot has an emission system problem.
Answer: Symptoms of Emissions System Problem Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot emissions system problem may present the following symptoms:
- Dashboard warning light: Your Honda Pilot will display an Emission System Problem alert on the instrument cluster.
- Increased emissions: A faulty emission control system doesn’t reduce or control the emission of harmful gasses. If your Pilot has an emission system problem, it will likely fail the emissions test.
- Reduced fuel economy: The emission system in your Pilot has a significant effect on fuel efficiency. A problem with the system will cause a decrease in fuel economy.
- Loss in engine performance: Emission system problems can cause a loss in engine performance. You might notice a loss of power, engine misfires, or rough idles.
Answer: Causes of Emission System Problem Honda Pilot
Emissions system problem in your Pilot can occur due to several reasons. If you see the warning notification on the dash, use an OBD-II scanner to determine the cause. The diagnostic tool may scan fault codes like P0420 or P0430.
The P0420 fault code indicates defects with the catalytic converter, while the P0430 implies issues with the oxygen sensor. Issues with the converter and oxygen sensor are the leading causes of emission system problem.
Some owners may consider clearing the fault codes with the OBD-II scanner or resetting the emission system problem warning light. These are temporary fixes that don’t address the root problem. You can clear the fault codes or reset the ECM to clear the warning notification before driving to a car expert.
If you fail to fix the underlying problems, the emission system problem message will appear again on the dash.
Below, we’ll detail the most common causes of Honda Pilot emissions system problem and how to fix them:
Faulty Catalytic Converter
The catalytic converter is a device in your vehicle’s emission system that converts pollutants into less toxic gasses. Exhaust gasses from the internal combustion engine can be harmful if released into the atmosphere. The catalytic converter, located between the engine and the front part of the exhaust, changes these toxic gasses into safe gasses.
Over time, the catalytic converter can fail due to regular wear and tear, clogs, contaminants, or overheating. A malfunctioning catalytic converter will cause an increase in the emission of toxic gasses, triggering the warning notification.
A thorough cleaning of the converter can help remove any stuck gunk or contaminants. Replace the converter if it looks worn or damaged.
Defective Oxygen Sensor
Issues with the oxygen sensor can also cause the emissions system problem Honda Pilot. Typically, the emission system features two oxygen sensors on both ends of the catalytic converter. One of the sensors estimates the amount of fuel consumed, while the other measures oxygen levels in the exhaust.
If one of these sensors is faulty, your Pilot may consume too much fuel. Moreover, the sensor may damage the catalytic converter, increasing pollutants. When the ECU detects these issues, it will trigger the emission system problem message on the dash.
Contaminants, high mileage, and age are the leading causes of a defective oxygen sensor.
Remove the dirty or contaminated oxygen sensors and clean them using gasoline, a carburetor cleaner, or WD-40. If the sensors are old and worn, replace them.
Faulty Fuel Injectors
Fuel injectors introduce pressurized fuel into the internal combustion engine. Over time, injectors can get clogged, worn, or damaged and fail to inject fuel as expected. When this happens, the engine runs lean, resulting in poor combustion and increased emissions.
You can address this problem by cleaning the injectors. If you have damaged or worn injectors, replace them.
Clogged Air Filter
The air filter cleans the air flowing into the engine. It helps get rid of dirt, gunk, or debris that may get into the engine and affect its performance.
Over time, this filter gets clogged due to the accumulation of dirt and particles. A clogged filter prevents airflow into the engine, causing it to run rich. This issue leads to incomplete combustion and an increase in emissions.
The ECU will detect an emission problem in the system and trigger a warning notification. Replacing the clogged air filter should resolve this problem.
Bad Spark Plugs
Worn, damaged, or dirty spark plugs can cause the emission system problem Honda Pilot. The plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture to help power the engine. Faulty spark plugs won’t produce the required spark to ignite this mixture.
As a result, your Honda Pilot will experience incomplete combustion and increased emissions. Bad plugs can also damage the O2 sensors and the catalytic converter.
Locate the plugs and clean or replace them if necessary. Check the plug wiring and replace them if they look worn or damaged.
If none of these help solve the emission system problem in your Pilot, take your car to an auto repair shop. A professional will inspect the vehicle and troubleshoot issues causing the emission system to act up. The professional may also scan and fix the following:
- Malfunctioning Positive Crankcase Ventilation.
- Faulty exhaust gas recirculation system.
- Defective air injection system.
- Loose or broken gas cap.
Question: Can You Drive With Honda Pilot Emissions System Problem?
If the message just showed up on the dash, you can continue driving for a few more days. It’ll give you time to drive the vehicle to a repair shop to get the problem fixed.
It’s not advisable to keep driving for an extended period if your Honda Pilot has an emission system problem alert. Driving with this message can cause further damage to the emission control system, engine, fuel system, and transmission system.
Call the towing service if you notice engine misfires, loss of power, engine overheating, and increased emissions.
Final Thoughts
The emission system problem Honda Pilot means your vehicle’s emission control system is faulty. Issues with this system cause an increase in emissions, engine misfires, loss of power, and engine overheating.
The possible culprits include a faulty catalytic converter, defective oxygen sensors, clogged air filter, faulty fuel injectors, and bad spark plugs. Always inspect and fix the root problem if you see the emission system problem warning light. If this issue feels intimidating, take your Honda Pilot to a car expert to have the problem diagnosed and fixed.