Shift Control - D Position D3 Driving Mode Control

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Honda Pilot, 2010 Honda Pilot, and 2009 Honda Pilot. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The automatic transmission is provided with the D3 driving mode in D. D has two modes; general driving mode (shifts gears automatically 1st through 5th), and the D3 driving mode (shifts gears automatically 1st through 3rd). The transmission mode switches by pushing the D3 switch on the shift lever knob in D.

Fig 1: Identifying Shift Control & D Position D3 Driving Mode Control Switch

Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

In D3 driving mode, the D3 indicator next to the D indicator in the gauge assembly comes on. The D3 driving mode is cancelled by pushing the D3 switch, and the D3 indicator goes off. Also, the D3 driving mode is cancelled when the ignition switch is turned to LOCK (0). When the shift lever is moved out of D in the D3 driving mode, the D3 indicator goes off, but the transmission returns into D3 driving mode when returning the shift lever into D, and the D3 indicator comes on.

Fig 2: Identifying D3 & D Indicators In Gauge Assembly

Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.