Another satisfied customer!!! I just purchased a 2012 Honda Pilot EX-L in Florida. They don't use defrost much down there and I missed checking it off my checklist. Sure enough, got it home and mode didn't work. I watched your video, located the correct actuator and abracadabra! defroster works, so does the floor vent. Yay! Thanks so much for a truly useful, well done, non-verbose and generally great video. 🙂 P.S. The actuator is in a slightly different position on 2012. I couldn't get to it through the hole in the bracket. The actuator is still hidden but I could reach my fingers behind the bracket and feel the arm and appropriate lubrication points.
Awesome. Glad it worked for you. Mine goes in and out and I still haven't replaced it yet. I just point all the vents all the way up with ac or heat on high and it kinda works. I'll get around to it one day.
Update on previous comment. Hours later had stopped working again...redid it the touch,,,it worked again...then I sprayed grease on the white plastic circle...Noticed a white "arm" moving down when pushing the defogger button. So I sprayed a little grease to that as well. It must have done the trick as the actuator was still working many hours later. 🙂🙂
Just did the same on my 2011 Pilot - today. I knew it had to be a lever because you could hear it trying to switch. So knew it wasn’t the motor. Came to RU-vid to look for a video and bam, here’s yours. Moved white actuator lever and it loosened up the pivot point. Thanks for taking the time to make video to same me time.
Just watch your video and went to my Honda and actual touched with my hand and it started working again. It was stuck blowing to my feet and passenger feet. Rear and 2 sides vent were fine. The middle center front were not. Thank you so much for your vide. I had purchased the parts and was ready to do the work on the weekend, but now will wait. Thanks again
After watching your video, I went out to my Honda and reach down with a screwdriver and tapped on that white lever actuator. Turned on the defroster and it started working immediately! Again I don’t know how long it will last either, but thanks to your video it certainly helped me out.
2012 Honda Pilot...last night the air flow was not flowing out from the bottom of the windshield. This morning I turned on the engine with the same result...So I tried what is described in the video...I do know what I did, but I touched the actuator and pushed the round white plastic, then put the car on...the air started to flow to the windshield. Hopefully it will last. Thanks...it was like magic!!! 🙂
Thanks for the video!! I had the same exact issue. I took a long, 12 inch, #2 Philips screwdriver and inserted it into the white plastic shaft of the motor and gave a little twist. It started working! I think I'm going to try to squirt some silicone lubricant into that area. My Pilot is now 11 years old and I'm thinking that the grease that came from the factory is probably dried out by now. We will see.
I believe 09 is the same as 11 but I'm not 100% sure. It only takes a few seconds to drop the glove box, and you should be able to tell if it is set up the same. Good luck
Had the same problem with my first GEN 2008 Honda pilot at 24°F realized it might be frozen so I just let the car warm up and it flipped for me but I’m gonna leave it on defrost
Those who’ve done this…how hard did you apply pressure to the arm? My wife’s 2011 Pilot is having the same issues. I’m afraid I might break the arm with the pressure I’m applying.
I just swept the screwdriver towards the front of the car like a left to right motion, not a poking or jabbing motion. Make sure your defrost button is on.
I tried it on my 2011 honda pilot and it loosened the stuck part. seems like those is a common issue for this model but good to know that it can be loosened with a light tap in the right spot. the screwdriver into that hole to tap that arm piece did the trick. it needs lubing because it keeps getting stuck in that same location
