Many Honda Pilot owners appreciate the convenience of the Walk Away Auto Lock feature, which secures their vehicle simply by walking away. However, there are times when this feature may not work as expected, leading to frustration and concern.
This article discusses the common causes and solutions for this issue.
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Troubleshooting Steps for Honda Pilot Walk Away Auto Lock
When the Honda Pilot’s Walk Away Auto Lock feature is malfunctioning, specific strategies can help diagnose and rectify the issue. This section provides a methodical approach to troubleshoot and solve common problems that inhibit the system’s effectiveness.
1. Complete Reset
To troubleshoot the walkaway feature on your Honda Pilot, begin by conducting a full reset of the car’s head unit. Turn off the unit, wait momentarily, then restart it to eliminate any temporary errors or glitches.
Next, proceed to the vehicle’s settings menu to pinpoint the walk away auto lock feature. Once located, toggle it off and then back on. This action can help refresh the system’s settings and may rectify any problems preventing the walk away feature from operating correctly.
Always refer to your Honda Pilot’s manual for precise instructions on how to reset the head unit and adjust the walk away feature, as the procedure might differ slightly across different models and production years.
2. Ensure Door Closure
For the lock mechanism to engage, it’s vital that all doors of the Honda Pilot are completely shut. Each door has a sensor that detects if it is not fully closed. It’s important to check and ensure that all doors are firmly closed, as even a slightly ajar door can disrupt the activation of the locking feature. Confirming that each door is securely shut is essential for the proper operation of the walk away lock feature.
3. Verify Settings
Ensure that the walk away lock feature is activated in your Honda Pilot, as it may revert to ‘off’ following a reset and require manual reactivation. Listen closely for the initial single beep that confirms all doors are shut; stay near the vehicle to catch the second beep, which signifies the doors are locked. To avoid a rapid triple beep signal that indicates the vehicle hasn’t locked due to quick departure, refrain from walking away too swiftly right after closing the doors.
4. Alternate Key Fob
Initially, confirm that the walk away lock feature is active in your Honda Pilot’s settings, ensuring it’s checked both pre and post any resets. If issues persist, attempt to use a spare key fob to switch the walk away lock feature off and then on again in the vehicle settings.
One effective approach reported by users involves utilizing the secondary key fob to toggle the feature off and then on in the settings. This solution might be overlooked until necessary, especially if the alternate fob is not immediately available, but it can often preclude the need for a dealership visit.
5. Inspect Hood Latch
Occasional malfunctions in the walkaway lock and alarm system of your Honda Pilot might stem from a misaligned hood latch. This misalignment may not be easily visible or register as an open hood, yet it disrupts the key fob’s communication, leading to erratic behavior in the vehicle’s security features.
One common solution, as discovered by dealers and shared by users, involves addressing the hood latch. Many find that regularly opening and firmly closing the hood can resolve the issue most of the time, effectively resetting the alignment and restoring function to the walkaway lock system. This simple action can often correct the problem without needing further intervention.
Related: 8 Common Honda Pilot Locking Problems (Solved & Explained)
6. Distance Cell Phone from Fob
The radio frequencies emitted by cell phones can disrupt the communication between your key fob and Honda Pilot, potentially hindering the auto lock feature’s proper function.
The closer the cell phone is to the fob, the more likely it is to cause interference. To ensure the auto lock operates without interruption, it’s advisable to maintain a distance between your cell phone and the key fob, minimizing any signal disruption and allowing the vehicle’s security features to work effectively.
7. Tighten Hood Latch Actuator Connector
A loose connector in the hood latch actuator might be the culprit behind the malfunctioning walkaway lock feature in your Honda Pilot. Such a loose connection could lead to inconsistencies in the system’s operation.
To address this, a vehicle diagnostic scan is recommended to pinpoint the loose connector. Once identified, securely reattaching it should reinstate the alarm system’s functionality. For these technical issues, particularly those concerning the vehicle’s security, consulting with a dealer or qualified technician is highly advisable to ensure proper handling and resolution.
8. Remove Extra Fob
The malfunction of vehicle features like the walkaway lock in your Honda Pilot could be due to an additional key fob being too close to the vehicle, often left inside areas like the glove box.
This nearby second fob can interfere with the system’s normal operation. Simply removing this extra fob from the vicinity of the car typically resolves these issues, returning the vehicle’s functions to their standard, operational state. This is a straightforward fix that restores the intended performance of your vehicle’s features.
9. Manage Interference from Passengers and Objects
The walk away lock feature’s effectiveness can be influenced by groceries in the back seat, passengers, and particularly the timing of exiting and closing doors. To ensure the feature works consistently:
- Before Exiting: Manually unlock all doors.
- After Exiting: Close the driver’s door and listen for a confirmation beep.
- Retrieving Items:
- Open the back passenger door to access groceries or attend to passengers.
- Close the door after retrieving items or once passengers have disembarked.
- Timing with Passengers: If children or passengers are exiting after you, ensure you close their doors while you’re within 5 feet of the car. Walking away too soon, especially when others are still inside or exiting, can disrupt the lock’s activation.
By being mindful of these steps and the presence of passengers or groceries, you can significantly improve the reliability of the walk away lock feature.
10. Check 12V Battery
A low car battery can affect the electrical systems, including the auto lock feature. Check and, if necessary, replace the battery to maintain optimal performance.
By methodically following these steps, Honda Pilot owners can often diagnose and solve issues with the Walk Away Auto Lock feature, ensuring their vehicle remains secure and functional.
11. Defective Door, Hood or Tailgate Switch
A defective door, hood, or tailgate switch can interrupt the Honda Pilot’s signal circuitry, preventing the auto lock from recognizing a fully secured vehicle. If these switches aren’t functioning correctly, the system may erroneously perceive an open entry point, thereby inhibiting the activation of the walk away auto lock. Ensuring all switches are operational is critical for the system’s ability to securely lock the vehicle automatically.
If a defective door, hood, or tailgate switch is suspected, it should be inspected and repaired or replaced to ensure the auto lock functions properly.
12. Faulty Kep Fob
A faulty key fob may fail to communicate the necessary signal to the Honda Pilot’s auto lock system, preventing it from engaging the walkaway feature. To fix this, replace the key fob or reprogram the fob itself to restore proper communication between the fob and the vehicle’s security system. Regular maintenance and checks of the key fob’s functionality can prevent these issues.
13. Malfunctioning Outer Door Handle
A malfunctioning outer door handle on a Honda Pilot can disrupt the signal that informs the vehicle that the door has been closed, preventing the walk away auto lock feature from activating. Repairing or replacing the faulty door handle is essential to restore the integrity of the auto lock system and ensure the vehicle can detect when it’s secure to engage the locking mechanism.
Auto-Lock Beeps 3 Times
If your Honda Pilot’s auto-lock emits three beeps, it usually signals problems with the walk-away auto-lock feature, often due to exiting the vehicle too rapidly before it has had a chance to secure. The owner’s manual indicates that the auto-lock function won’t engage if the smart entry remote is too distant from the car, specifically beyond 8 feet.
To mitigate this issue, take a moment to pause near the vehicle after exiting to allow the auto-lock to engage properly. Alternatively, reopening and then closing the door can reset the lock mechanism, helping to ensure that the vehicle secures itself as intended.
Related: Honda Pilot Beeping Problems? (7 Causes & Solutions)
Common Issues and Solutions
When the walk away auto lock feature on a Honda Pilot stops functioning, it is generally due to software glitches, hardware malfunctions, or user setting errors. Identifying the exact cause is crucial for finding the right solution.
Software Glitches
Software issues in the vehicle’s system can lead to the malfunction of the walk away auto lock feature. Sometimes, the system may require a simple reset to function properly. Owners have discussed how the problem can occasionally be resolved by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes to reset the car’s computer systems. Another potential software issue could be related to the vehicle’s firmware, which may need an update from a Honda dealer.
Hardware Malfunctions
Key hardware components, such as door lock actuators or the key fob battery, can fail and cause the auto lock feature not to engage. For instance, a weak or dead key fob battery is a common culprit and is easily fixed by replacing the battery. Alternatively, should there be an issue with the car’s door sensors or locking mechanisms, these might require professional inspection and repair.
User Setting Errors
The walk away auto lock feature may be inadvertently turned off in the vehicle settings. It’s important to check the customization settings on the dashboard to ensure the feature is activated. Honda provides a guide on locking the doors and tailgate which details the steps for turning the auto lock feature on or off. Additionally, user error, such as leaving the key fob inside the vehicle, will prevent the system from locking the doors for safety reasons.
Related: Honda Pilot Alarm Going Off (12 Common Causes)
