Honda Pilot Climate Control Reset

There might be several reasons why your Honda Pilot’s climate control stopped working – we’ll walk you through how to troubleshoot and solve the problem.
Written by Bonnie Stinson
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
background
If your Honda Pilot’s climate control is acting up—whether it’s blowing hot air or not turning on—the HVAC system may need a reset. Luckily, it’s as easy as pushing a few buttons!
The Honda Pilot is the perfect SUV for anyone needing the practicality of a minivan but without the “sports mom” vibe. With a comfortable interior packed with standard features and an easy-to-use climate control system, the Pilot offers an extremely comfortable ride.
That is, until your climate control system refuses to blow cold air in the dead of summer. If your Honda Pilot needs a climate control reset,
Jerry
is here to help. As a
car insurance
app, we also have plenty of guides to fix any issues that might happen to your vehicle. We can even help you save on your
Honda Pilot car insurance cost
. Let’s get started!
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Honda Pilot climate control reset instructions

If you’re having issues with your Honda Pilot’s climate control system, a variety of problems might be the culprit. However, the most common cause is usually something electrical. Common symptoms of an electrical problem are usually one side of your vehicle’s vents blowing hot air while the other blows cold air. The easiest way to solve this issue is to reset your HVAC system.
Luckily, you can easily reset your HVAC system yourself. It’s almost as easy as turning your computer off and back on again!
Step 1: Turn the car off. Any time you work with your vehicle’s electrical system, you’ll want to turn your car off!
Step 2:Turn your key to position two. 
Step 3: At the same time, press and hold the “OFF” and “DEFROST” buttons on your climate control panel. 
Step 4: Keep holding the buttons until the light on the control panel blinks on and off five times. 
Step 5: Release the buttons.
This should reset your Honda Pilot’s HVAC system. However, if you continue to have issues, you might want to do some further troubleshooting to figure out the issue.

Other reasons your Honda Pilot A/C isn’t working

Resetting your Honda Pilot’s climate control will generally fix your A/C issues if the problem is electrical. But, if a reset didn’t solve the problem, there may be something else going on with your system. Here are some other common climate control issues: 

Dirty cabin air filter

If the cabin’s air filter becomes too dirty, your A/C unit can’t ventilate properly. This will result in poor heating, cooling, and airflow. It’s recommended that you get your air filter changed every 10,000 to 20,000 miles to keep it (and your HVAC system) functioning properly.

Dirty or clogged condenser

Dirt, grime, and bugs can collect on your air conditioning condenser over time which hinders the condenser’s ability to release heat and keep your A/C blowing cold air. You can remove your front bumper and clean out your condenser mesh with a low-pressure power washer. If the condenser is clogged or leaking, you’ll want to take your vehicle to a mechanic and have it properly diagnosed.

A/C refrigerant leak

If your A/C is blowing hot air all the time, you might be dealing with a refrigerant leak. If this is the case, you’ll want to repair the leak and get
an A/C recharge.
 

A/C compressor failure

The
A/C compressor
works with your condenser to cool the air that comes out of your vehicle’s vents. If it's not functioning properly, your A/C won’t blow cold air. In most cases, a compressor can’t be repaired once it has malfunctioned and will need to be replaced entirely.

Dirty evaporator

In some cases, dirt and debris can slip through your cabin’s air filter and collect on your evaporator. In time, this dirt can build up to the point that it will block airflow and cause your A/C to lose efficiency. The evaporator can be cleaned, but since it’s difficult to access it’s recommended that you take your Pilot to a mechanic and have it cleaned by a professional. 

Bad blower motor

If your HVAC system isn’t working at all, chances are your blower motor is worn out or has failed entirely. Blower motors can’t be repaired, so if yours is damaged and not working it will need to be replaced.

Faulty blend door actuator

Your blend door actuator controls the airflow and temperature inside your Pilot, so if you’re having trouble with either one, it might be a faulty actuator. Usually, if your actuator is faulty you’ll hear a clicking sound from under the dashboard that may change when you turn the A/C on or adjust the temperature.
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How to diagnose a Honda Pilot climate control malfunction

With so many issues that might be causing your climate control woes, you’ll want to make sure you know exactly what the problem is before you try repairing your climate control system. 
You can use an onboard diagnostics (OBD) tool to try and scan for the problem, or you can take your Honda Pilot to a mechanic to have the problem diagnosed. You’ll want to find a mechanic that’s certified to do HVAC repairs so that your system will be fixed properly.

How to keep Honda Pilot insurance costs low

While SUVs are great for hauling around extra people and cargo, unfortunately, they can come with higher car insurance premiums, and the Honda Pilot is no exception. But that doesn’t mean you have to take out a second mortgage to afford your premiums!
With
Jerry
, you can find affordable coverage in less time than it takes to reset your Pilot’s HVAC system. Just answer a few questions at sign-up, then relax while you browse through customized quotes from top companies. You can find the coverage you need, but pick the rate that gives you the best deal. 
As a
licensed broker
, Jerry can even help cancel your old plan and sign you up for the new one. Once you make the switch, you’ll join other happy Jerry customers that have saved an average of $800+ a year on their premiums.
 “I thought my previous insurance rate was the best I could get, since I have a luxury SUV. After
Jerry
found me quotes, I ended up paying only $80 a month for the same exact coverage. I’ll be shopping for auto insurance through Jerry from now on!” —Petra S.
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