I found three problems causing lack of heat on our feet in late model Honda Pilots. This is based upon my 2017 Pilot LX.
First -- Honda apparently designed the "feet only" setting to also split air to the windshield. This is just like the setting that splits it between the window defrost and floor heat. Exactly like it on my 2017. If you adjust the setting from "defrost and floor" to just "floor", the air flow does not change AT ALL going to the windshield. Honda Master Tech verified this at a Honda dealership, but would not declare it a problem since all the other Hondas checked did it to some degree also.
Second -- under the dash and above the gas pedal is the terribly designed "splitter elbow vent" for distributing the floor air. It is WAY too restrictive. I removed this "splitter elbow vent" and modified it by machining the openings MUCH larger. See attached pictures.
Third -- the "splitter elbow vent" snaps into a flimsy plastic manifold up under the dash. When I first removed it, it was not snapped in place. So a large percentage of the heated air was leaking out into the dash.
We can fix the second and third problems -- it is not comfortable to get to that "splitter elbow vent" -- but once it is opened up and properly snapped into the manifold up under the dash, then the amount of air blowing on my feet increased two to three times! Much better situation for winter in the Midwest! Note that I don't like to run my heater fan above "3" indicators as the really high fan settings like 4+ are quite loud. But if the fan speed is cranked up my feet get hot. And my eyes dry out from all the split air coming off the windshield defroster vents...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
click to see larger images
I found three problems causing lack of heat on our feet in late model Honda Pilots. This is based upon my 2017 Pilot LX.
First -- Honda apparently designed the "feet only" setting to also split air to the windshield. This is just like the setting that splits it between the window defrost and floor heat. Exactly like it on my 2017. If you adjust the setting from "defrost and floor" to just "floor", the air flow does not change AT ALL going to the windshield. Honda Master Tech verified this at a Honda dealership, but would not declare it a problem since all the other Hondas checked did it to some degree also.
Second -- under the dash and above the gas pedal is the terribly designed "splitter elbow vent" for distributing the floor air. It is WAY too restrictive. I removed this "splitter elbow vent" and modified it by machining the openings MUCH larger. See attached pictures.
Third -- the "splitter elbow vent" snaps into a flimsy plastic manifold up under the dash. When I first removed it, it was not snapped in place. So a large percentage of the heated air was leaking out into the dash.
We can fix the second and third problems -- it is not comfortable to get to that "splitter elbow vent" -- but once it is opened up and properly snapped into the manifold up under the dash, then the amount of air blowing on my feet increased two to three times! Much better situation for winter in the Midwest! Note that I don't like to run my heater fan above "3" indicators as the really high fan settings like 4+ are quite loud. But if the fan speed is cranked up my feet get hot. And my eyes dry out from all the split air coming off the windshield defroster vents...
Hope this helps some people!
- Beth H., Franklin, OH, US