So I just bought my wife a 2007 CPO Honda Pilot. It has another 18,000 miles of warranty and up to 100,000 miles of powertrain warranty that I would like to maintain.
I also want to put a trailer hitch on the car and tow my little sailboat. The boat weighs less than I do - about 150lbs, so maybe 250lbs with the trailer. Basically, nothing.
According to the dealership (and we all know they're ALWAYS right), if I want to install a tow hitch, I have to install the entire towing package (transmission cooler and power steering cooler) from Honda otherwise I void my warranty.
I'm wondering what the real story is on this. I imagine that the safe towing capacity is reduced without the cooler, but I would also think that there would be some reasonable limit to be able to tow without it. I mean, do you need a transmission cooler to have one of those bike mounts that fits into the trailer hitch, or a small luggage tray? I would think not, but the dealer seems to think so.
Also, on that note, if I were to install a trans cooler and power steering cooler, there are much better ones out there than the honda OEM ones, and I'd be in the same boat. If its not the Honda one, they claim the warranty is void.
I realize that its up to the dealer to prove that aftermarket product caused a failure, but I also think it would be pretty easy for the dealer to tell Honda "Customer towed boat without transmission cooler. Transmission warranty void" and Honda would back them.
Anyone been through this before and might be able to offer some advice?
BTW, the trailer hitch is about $250, the wiring harness 75. The package that includes everything (coolers + hitch + wiring) is 750.
I also want to put a trailer hitch on the car and tow my little sailboat. The boat weighs less than I do - about 150lbs, so maybe 250lbs with the trailer. Basically, nothing.
According to the dealership (and we all know they're ALWAYS right), if I want to install a tow hitch, I have to install the entire towing package (transmission cooler and power steering cooler) from Honda otherwise I void my warranty.
I'm wondering what the real story is on this. I imagine that the safe towing capacity is reduced without the cooler, but I would also think that there would be some reasonable limit to be able to tow without it. I mean, do you need a transmission cooler to have one of those bike mounts that fits into the trailer hitch, or a small luggage tray? I would think not, but the dealer seems to think so.
Also, on that note, if I were to install a trans cooler and power steering cooler, there are much better ones out there than the honda OEM ones, and I'd be in the same boat. If its not the Honda one, they claim the warranty is void.
I realize that its up to the dealer to prove that aftermarket product caused a failure, but I also think it would be pretty easy for the dealer to tell Honda "Customer towed boat without transmission cooler. Transmission warranty void" and Honda would back them.
Anyone been through this before and might be able to offer some advice?
BTW, the trailer hitch is about $250, the wiring harness 75. The package that includes everything (coolers + hitch + wiring) is 750.