Engine idles high then low?

Tiny
JCJONES210TX
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 HONDA PILOT
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 209,184 MILES
I was driving down the highway one day and the vehicle just felt like something slammed on the brakes intermittently for a brief second almost like it got thrown in park or reverse really quickly then back out it got better when I switched it to d3 but on downshifts It's pretty harsh and if I have to make a dramatic change in speed also going from park to reverse is nasty sounded just a loud clunk all other gears are fine mainly reverse, and sometimes it won't even go in reverse I have to turn it off and back on, so I figure it's definitely something electrical, so I started checking sensors and solenoids all those checked out bench tested them, so I get to the neutral safety switch and check the male end of the connector and everything checks out except one combination in drive I have no continuity between pin 2 and 3, but I do have it from 2 and 7 and 3 and 7, so I don't know what my next step should be or if this is even the issue with what I'm dealing with as we are down 2 vehicles right now luckily its summer and kids don't have anywhere to be anything you can do to help me would be greatly appreciated.
Friday, June 7th, 2024 AT 10:31 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Do you have any trouble codes? I would run them even if you don't have a check engine light on.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

The fact that the test says you should have a connection and you don't is telling us the switch is bad, here are close-up wiring diagram so you can see how the gear range sensor-neutral safety switch works and how to change it out. Also, can I ask if the "D" lights up when the transmission is in the D gear? Check out the images (below). Please upload pictures or videos in your response to any problems so we can see what to help you with.

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Saturday, June 8th, 2024 AT 11:53 AM
Tiny
JCJONES210TX
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I had them run a diagnostic at advanced auto parts and no codes came up I do have a check engine light that is on I believe stays maint required a few days ago I had the flashing drive light come on then next time I stated it it was no flashing as of now the light for drive is still solid green when in drive I have noticed it hesitates to start then it turns over I will take some pictures in a bit. I was. Wondering if I should chase that number 2 pin wire and see if there is damage anywhere or should I do pin 3 from what I’m understanding it just switches out to complete different grounds depending on what gear you are in.
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Saturday, June 8th, 2024 AT 7:07 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, it just uses a ground to connect the gear range sensor to help tell the PCM what gear it is in, here are the wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works.
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Monday, June 10th, 2024 AT 10:18 AM
Tiny
JCJONES210TX
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Okay, so, today I get in my vehicle and head to the store and the engine starts to rev up and down on its own like maybe throttle position sensor, or I don't know, so I shut it off and turn it back on and it does the same thing I proceed to the store and the vehicle is pretty much picking up speed by itself like I'm coasting, and it's accelerating anyway I get to a light and I try something I don't know why I did, but something told me to shut off the A/C, so I did and immediately after it shut off u hear clunk I turn it back on it stops, so I try the cycle again same thing same noise sounded like it was under driver's seat or close to vicinity what could this be could all this be tied together to one thing. What is my next step? What should I do?
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 AT 10:56 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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I would run the codes to see if any are stored and if not let's send the PCM out to be checked, it seems like the idle speed is hunting from the high range to the low which will be a computer problem. Thanks for the videos, they help. You can find a PCM rebuilder by searching google or eBay. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
JCJONES210TX
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So, I now have some codes yesterday I had p0780 shift malfunction just a few days ago and today I am getting p0730 incorrect gear ratio and all my gauges today are shutting down at a stop light and I am losing power to everything also saw a little smoke coming from engine bay I was thinking maybe the alternator going out as the car would not start after I turned it off also have had check ignition light abs light and battery light on.
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Monday, June 24th, 2024 AT 7:23 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the videos they help, yep something is shutting down, it looks like to me that the instrument cluster is having gan issue which can cause the engine idle to fluctuate as it is doing. But first lets look a the battery and alternator. I have seen either of these short out internally and cause the problem. Here is a guide to help test the alternator, and if the battery is old I would replace it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Tuesday, June 25th, 2024 AT 10:36 AM
Tiny
JCJONES210TX
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So the alternator was definitely bad I just changed it out also put a newer battery in as well and I start it up when I'm finished its kicks over starts up sounds good then about 45 seconds later it cuts off completely and won't turn back over. No lights, no dinging from door being open because key is in ignition. Nothing whatsoever, no crank, no start, no nothing, completely dead. When I use a voltmeter to check continuity from ground of battery to various places around the car I get a noise pretty much anytime I hit something solid metal, but when I touch that positive terminal on the battery I get nothing. What is going on here? Do I have a bad ground somewhere?
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024 AT 7:07 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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This looks like the ignition switch is bad, to be sure we can use the voltmeter and this guide to help test the voltage through the switch, leave the switch plugged in when testing.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

If the switch tests bad here is how to change it out. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes.

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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024 AT 9:54 AM
Tiny
JCJONES210TX
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
So, I have been going through a lot of electrical throughout the vehicle a few shady looking grounds but nothing too bad the only place I have any power from the battery is at the starter and the alternator anything beyond that I have zero power none of the fuse boxes have any sort of power to them so I can't really check fuses but did pull each one out individually and confirm there are no blown fuses what should I do from here I am kind of stuck I was going to go grab a ignition switch in a few minutes just didn't want to waste my time and money on something I wasn't too sure was going to work or not please let me know where do I got from this point. I'm kind of lost. Also, I was curious about the started cut relay I want to say from the schematic I saw it is in line before the ignition switch I may be wrong though.
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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024 AT 11:07 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Are you using a test light to check for power at the fuse panel? Is this how you can tell there is no power? Be sure to test through the ignition switch before you replace it. Here are the power distribution wiring diagrams so you can see how the fuse panels get power. Check for bad connections at the fuse panel and battery power leads. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024 AT 1:37 PM
Tiny
JCJONES210TX
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So, I found the short it was my fault all along I had one of the power wires that run to the battery wired to a fuse box, and it blew the fuse I never thought to look there I swear I was going crazy anyway most of the problems seem to have gone away after replacing alt I have some shifting issues still but not as bad I need to test that neutral safety switch again and see if it still comes out bad between pin 2 and 7 in drive my main issue now is that if I'm going down a fairly big hill it seems like the brakes are engaging automatically I don't know if its transmission or ABS or what. Help please, thank you.
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Monday, July 8th, 2024 AT 11:31 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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I am glad you got it fixed, sorry, we only handle one problem per thread, please post your new question here, you must be logged in.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

Cheers, Ken
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Tuesday, July 9th, 2024 AT 9:43 AM

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