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mgata
08-17-2006, 06:58 AM
I drove a Pilot LX yesterday and we’re thinking about buying one. I’ve been reading about the Pilot since it came out so I am fairly familiar with some of the problems that it has. Recently, I red about the noise coming from the Noise Cancellation System, but I dismissed as “crazy people hearing things”. Well, after a 5 mile test drive, I am a crazy guy hearing things also, unless some of you are hearing it too.
First, my wife test drove it with my uncle in the front seat and salesman in the back. No noise came through. Then, we switched and I drove. The road is smooth as glass, no imperfections, car drove like a dream. The road is 3 lanes one way, divided by a big grassy median, with three lanes going in the opposite direction. Traffic was extremely light.
While cruising at about 1700-1800RPM, this LOUD, tractor trailer-like noise came though the car for just about 2-3 seconds. I mean LOUD. I immediately looked in the mirror, thinking that an 18 wheeler is behind me trying to pass me. Nothing behind me…the closest car was a Buick or something like that about 600 yards back traveling in the same direction as we were. However, on the opposite side of the road, on the first lane, traveling away from me, about 5 lanes away, plus grassy median, there was a truck. The problem is, that this truck was not right across…it was also about 700 yards and I barely saw it through the mirrors that are how far it was. I mean, that was the only truck, but is seems physically impossible for the noise to naturally propagate like that. Of course, when it happened, my uncle looked at me right away and said, “What the hell was that noise…someone trying to run us over?” The only person that heard nothing was the car salesman…”noise, what noise?” I am not an automotive engineer by any means…heck, I am not any sort of engineer, but the only plausible explanation I have is that if the stars are aligned just right, the Active Noise Cancellation, captures and blocks the noise when it happens, but sometimes it can amplify it. I would like to mention that it did not happen when my wife drove it. I was not in the car, but my uncle was and he said that there was no noise, which makes me think, there’s nothing wrong with the car mechanically. Of course, Honda dealers know nothing about it, since it is a very freaky occurrence…until it happens to you. Did any of you hear it?
Incidentally, I did not buy the car, but not because of this, but because the dealer basically told me, “ don’t expect trade-in value, unless you trade in a Honda”, which I understand to a point having Hondas all my life, but giving me1000 bellow fair trade in value ( NADA, Black Book, Kelly Blue Book ) is BS.
:(

sleeksilver
09-06-2006, 11:43 AM
Sell your car privately.


Noise cancelation just creates a "white noise" it shouldn't be making any tractor like noises....

mgata
09-06-2006, 05:42 PM
Yeap, sold the Mitsu for the money I wanted to, went back to the dealer the same day and bought an LX Pilot...not the one with the noise though. So, far I have about 500 miles on it, and no strange noises.
The car does need an alignment since it pulls to the right a little bit...not a lot, but I am a perfectionist and I can't live with that. I am going to the dealer next Tuesday to have an alignment done under warranty.
My 2001, Japanese made CRV, didn't need one when it was new, nor does it need one now. Hey, it's made in ALABAMA, what can I say...

Racoon
09-06-2006, 07:34 PM
Try to duplicate the test drive, especially the section of the road where you heard the noise, with your Pilot.

:)

bing
09-06-2006, 10:43 PM
Okay, call me crazy but I've not being able to detect Honda's noise cancellation at work! No, I've never heard a tractor trailer type sound and that's an anomaly. Try another Pilot to see how it sounds like, perhaps even comparing it to LX models that don't have it.

Let me know if someone can tell a difference?

Bing

mgata
09-09-2006, 05:08 PM
Well, like I said earlier. So far, after 580 miles, the one I purchased exhibits no noise at all so I am happy.
It does need an alignment though. I have an appointment for Tuesday.
Anyway Bing, thanks for the processing my accessories order. I just received all the stuff I ordered through the "marketplace".

Patman
10-02-2006, 04:06 PM
We test drove an LX that had the noise cancelation and it had the noise amplification issue some have reported. I wasn't an all the time deal but in a 30 minute test drive we were able to hear it at least half a dozen times under various road conditions and speeds. It's put out the the sound system. The salesman admitted it was not the first Pilot that did it but Honda was going to make sure it was fixed. We ended up getting an EX-L 4WD so it's a non-issue for us.