I left this morning, no issues. Drove around town for a few hours making deliveries and running errands and no issues. I pulled into the driveway to run in the house to grab something and run back out. I shut the truck off and left the lights on as always do. When I came back out to the start her up...she clicked like I had a dead battery, the idiot lights and gages when hay wire and weird clicking noises started in addition to the dead battery clicking noise. I shut her off and it all continued until I pulled the key and then all went silent. I waited a few minutes, put the key back in and started her up and she started like there was never an issue. I noticed that the main cruise button light by my left knee was off and I always leave it on. It seems to be burned out now. I looked over everything else and all seemed fine except ivaN was requiring the code. ( good thing I had it in the book I never read:rolleyes: ) I entered the code and all was good.

Anyone else experience this? I know we have had electrical issues in the past with a few Ridge's but a search of my issue turned up nothing so I apologize if the is is a repeat.

So..do I head for the dealer or wait til it happens again?
Thanks for any help.
:p

I hope 50k isnt the "magic" #, im only 7500 miles away.

Id see if the problem re-appears, but Id also hate to get stranded, or my wife get stranded. Tough call since the dealer may have a hard time "duplicating" the issue.

either way, good luck

Lady,
Check your battery, it sounds like there might be a dead cell. It could also be due to an alternater heading south for the winter. If you and yours do not know how to do this, take the truck to a Pep-Boys or O'Rielleys and ask them to do it for you. Here in Texas, they do not charge you for the service.

Yes, LadyRidge, have someone you trust load test the battery and check out the charging system. The sooner the better.

UGH LadyRidge... As a non mechanical person, I would start by checking the battery connection... After that... H - E - L - P !!!:eek:

Hope it all works out....:D

We need to know if your clock had to be reset. If so, you have a bad battery connection, nothing more. Probably only need to tighten the cable to the terminal posts.

We need to know if your clock had to be reset. If so, you have a bad battery connection, nothing more. Probably only need to tighten the cable to the terminal posts.

Thanks guys..I'll have it looked at today. It did NOT do it at all the rest of the day and I was in and out of her til 10:00 p.m. last night.

I didn't have to reset the clock spark. Only the nav code was required.

I didn't have to reset the clock spark. Only the nav code was required.It could still be the battery. We have power flickers at home where the microwave will lose the time, but the oven doesn't. The Navi could just be more sensitive to the power loss than the clock. Or, the Nav could set the clock automatically...don't know since I don't have the Navi on mine.

Sound like your in good hands J.C. I'd give you the same advice to have it load tested and to make sure both connections are clean. They do sell a small unit that can jump start a dead battery in an emergency that you can store in the trunk called a Coleman Powermate Emergency Jump Start System. Their about $44.99

My dad told me that two dawg-gone many keys on yer key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. heehe!

Sound like your in good hands J.C. I'd give you the same advice to have it load tested and to make sure both connections are clean. They do sell a small unit that can jump start a dead battery in an emergency that you can store in the trunk called a Coleman Powermate Emergency Jump Start System. Their about $44.99

My dad told me that two dawg-gone many keys on yer key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. heehe!
Thanks Bro. I hope it doesn't come to that. I just pray when I turn the key. :eek: :D
I am going to venture out to the driveway as soon as it stops raining and do a little cleaning under Ridgena's hood. :p I'll report my findings if there are any to report.
:)

My dad told me that two dawg-gone many keys on yer key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. heehe!
Your dad must have known my dad. Told me the same thing! :D

My dad told me that two dawg-gone many keys on yer key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. heehe!My neighbor told me that. He didn't have kids and I couldn't believe a word he said either. :rolleyes:

The Navi system DOES set the clock automatically. I recently found that out when I installed the Hitch and Harness. Hope all is well, LR.
Hey big guy?? Good to hear from you. :)
Well..if nothing else....we learned the clock sets with the Nav. :D :p

Ok.....so it did it again tonight. :confused: :(
This time I had to wait a few minutes for it ( battery ) to rejuvenate itself before it would start.
I think I figured out when it does it..I just don't know why.

Drew and I went to dinner at Swenson's Drive In( yummy burgers ) and we had the ignition on the car off listening to the radio. Yesterday I had the ignition off and the lights left on.
So...bit by bit I will figure this out.
:)

we had the ignition on the car off listening to the radio. Yesterday I had the ignition off and the lights left on.
So...bit by bit I will figure this out.
:)

You don't say for how long the radio or lights were left on with the car not on. This can take a toll on the battery.

Really sounds like you just need a new battery. Both examples you have given, you are using power without the car being on, thus your starting problem occurs. If you have never had the battery replaced in 50K, that math works out as well.

Phew......nothing but a maintenence thing!!! (Hopefully) :D

My dad told me that two dawg-gone many keys on yer key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. heehe!\

Believe your Dad. He is right. I have replaced a couple of ignition switch mechanisms because of too many keys for other folks and one for myself. (Mercury Capri) I only have one key on the RL ring. It's the only key that matters.

\

Believe your Dad. He is right. I have replaced a couple of ignition switch mechanisms because of too many keys for other folks and one for myself. (Mercury Capri) I only have one key on the RL ring. It's the only key that matters.

Yeah Chris, funny how "The older I get the smarter he was" My dad was one of the first gear heads on the west coast with a Cadillac overhead valve V8 mounted in a 1929 Ford Model A roadster. I know he knows his stuff. even at 83 years young he still get his HotRod magazine and is glued in front of his speed vision channel.

You don't say for how long the radio or lights were left on with the car not on. This can take a toll on the battery.

Thanks Luder..good question...:)
The first time it happened it was about 6 or 8 minutes. I know this only because when I came back out I assumed the lights would be off with the auto shut off and they weren't.

The second time was about 15 with the radio only.

After the monsoon stops we have had for 2 days, I'll go check the battery connections as Spartan suggested. He had the exact same symptoms and the connectors on the tower were the issue.
So..eveyone go check and be sure you are all connected right so this doesn't happen to you.
If this is not the issue, I'll get a new battery.
Reporting back as soon as the rains ceases and desists. :)

Hey JC. When you get your new battery, ask them to make sure to check out the alternator as well. The weirdest part I've read so far is the Auto Shut-Off for the Headlights did not shut them off at 30 seconds. You may have other electrical issues involved. Is Ridgena still under warranty? If so, I would bring it back to the dealer and start there with the Auto Headlight off not working. Good luck JC. I'm glad you liked my new toy!!:( :)

Really sounds like you just need a new battery. Both examples you have given, you are using power without the car being on, thus your starting problem occurs. If you have never had the battery replaced in 50K, that math works out as well.

I disagree. Lady's battery is only about 1.5 years old. Mileage is not the sole variable to take into consideration when guessing about the value of a battery, time is also a key element and maybe even a more important determiner. Most new car batteries can be expected to perform fine for about 4 years. My bet is on a poorly performing alternator or on a loose cable or other interference at the cable connector draining the battery way more quickly than it should. There is no reason you cannot run the radio for an hour withoout turning on the truck and then a brisk ride would charge it right back to good as almost new.

Shooting, we all know you to be a dealer and so I would expect your first response to be for the customer to buy something from you and then figure out if it was necessary (just kidding, you actually do seem to want to help us in your many postings):D

Sound like your in good hands J.C. I'd give you the same advice to have it load tested and to make sure both connections are clean. They do sell a small unit that can jump start a dead battery in an emergency that you can store in the trunk called a Coleman Powermate Emergency Jump Start System. Their about $44.99

My dad told me that two dawg-gone many keys on yer key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. heehe!

I bought two of these from Sam's Club for the same price. It's made by Power On Board, model veco120b. It's rated for 450 cranking amps, and also has a 260 psi compressor built in, and a auxiliary 12v output (like cig lighter cord). I've used it several times to jump start and air up tires. Have one for my wife's 06 ABM EX Coupe and one for my 06 HRP Si.

You may have other electrical issues involved. Is Ridgena still under warranty?

I think the battery warranty is separate from the vehicle warranty. Ridgena's problem is beginning to bother me, my RL is only a couple of months newer than yours. Is this going to become common for RL's after 18 months or so. I have never had a problem with a battery in any Honda I have ever owned. I have never had one longer than 3 years. Hope your problem is not an indication of things to come.:confused:

I disagree. Lady's battery is only about 1.5 years old. Mileage is not the sole variable to take into consideration when guessing about the value of a battery, time is also a key element and maybe even a more important determiner. Most new car batteries can be expected to perform fine for about 4 years. I've never had a Honda battery go out quicker than 5 years. In fact, I just replaced the battery in our '01 Accord with 85,000 miles for the first time a few weeks ago, and it hadn't gone dead yet.

My guess is either a loose cable as already mentioned, or a defective battery from the start. With all the battery issues mentioned here, I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

As for the warranty period, the battery warranty is separate from the the vehicle warranty. I don't recall the warranty period on the battery, but I would guess it is at least a 2 year free replacement with a pro-rated warranty to 3 or 4 years.

My guess is either a loose cable as already mentioned, or a defective battery from the start. With all the battery issues mentioned here, I hope this isn't a sign of things to come. .

Just happened to think, could be the ground. The gound can be a pesky critter. It can have its good days and bad days. May want to have it checked, clean the contact surfaces, and tighten throughly.

25YHO,

We must have been posting at the same time.

25YHO,

We must have been posting at the same time.

Sounds like it. Now since JC has had the problem, guess I will be expecting mind not to start evertime. I have always had the best of luck with all of the vendor type items on Hondas; battries, tires, wipers, light bulbs, etc. Never have replaced the 1st item in all these years.:)

I think the battery warranty is separate from the vehicle warranty. Ridgena's problem is beginning to bother me, my RL is only a couple of months newer than yours. Is this going to become common for RL's after 18 months or so. I have never had a problem with a battery in any Honda I have ever owned. I have never had one longer than 3 years. Hope your problem is not an indication of things to come.:confused:

My question to JC was meant to mean "is the truck still under warranty"? Because I believe that her battery or alternator is really not the cause of the problem. Two things she mentioned: The lights were still on after 6-8 minuites after she shut her truck down and took her keys. The shut off should have turned them off. The other, was when she mentioned that it would not start, but could hear the clicking when she tried to crank the engine, is of course a good indication that the battery is dead. However, when she turned the key off, all that clicking should have stopped as well but did'nt. So I believe that there is a electrical circuit issue on the truck, that is causing these weird symptoms, as well as possibly killing the battery.

My question to JC was meant to mean "is the truck still under warranty"? Because I believe that her battery or alternator is really not the cause of the problem. Two things she mentioned: The lights were still on after 6-8 minuites after she shut her truck down and took her keys. The shut off should have turned them off. The other, was when she mentioned that it would not start, but could hear the clicking when she tried to crank the engine, is of course a good indication that the battery is dead. However, when she turned the key off, all that clicking should have stopped as well but did'nt. So I believe that there is a electrical circuit issue on the truck, that is causing these weird symptoms, as well as possibly killing the battery.

Electric circut problem? I think they live in the country, what about mice gnawing on wires? I've heard this is not uncommon. I park in a 7 car garage out back and found a family of mice nesting in my toyota truck air filter compartment. I only found them because they were taking their dinners on top of the engine's valve cover and leaving food remnants there. Ever since then I get a little paranoid about that. I always leave plenty of mouse poison out back.

On the other hand, she said she always leaves the lights on with the engine off. I think this kind of activity has just taken its toll on the battery.

OK ROC heads..here we go.:rolleyes:

I left this morning and drove 10 miles. I got out of Ridgena, shut EVERYTHING OFF, went in to the grocery for about 15 minutes, came back out...DEAD STICK.:rolleyes: I got out ( yes, it finally stopped raining ) and checked the terminals and the alternator plug and all seemed well.
So I let her sit for a few minutes as I had done yesterday and then tried again. NOTHING!! I called Todd and my second oldest son Tony and asked what they thought I should do. They said if I can get it started, get it to Auto Zone and have them test the battery, as MikeT suggested. I sat for about 20 minutes, tried again and still nothing. However, this time, I held the key in the start-her-up position and the motor did one of those...rrrr..........rrrr.........rrrr....almost as if it were a bad starter...like the cars back in the 70's use to do.....then all of a sudden she started up. HURRAY!! So..I headed straight for Auto Zone and they put her on the battery tester. The numbers started out in the high 11's then dropped to 9..8..7..6.. and when the test was done..it said bad battery. Ok...I need a battery so I bought a Duralast Gold, 3 year warranty, 750 cold cramping amps, 935 cranking amps for $83.00 with tax after core charge. Todd showed up in his White Steed Exploder and put it in for me. She started right up and ya know....she felt stronger to me when she started so I am thinking it's just been a gradual thing for sometime. I just got home and I will let her sit for a bit and then go out and enter the radio code and ivaN code and hopefully get to Drew's football game tonight at Baldwin Wallace College.

Thank you all so much for the help, and support.

Yes...I still love my Ridgeline. Even with her little bit of attitude. :p

JC, I found one thing about your post that makes me suspicious.

I thought AutoZone would replace the battery for you for free! :confused: :D

JC, I found one thing about your post that makes me suspicious.

I thought AutoZone would replace the battery for you for free! :confused: :D
It's the original battery from Honda. I didn't buy it from Auto Zone. Does that matter???:confused: :confused:

LadyRidge, my battery went out two months ago and I only have 15k miles on it and its over a year old. Truck sat for a week while I was away on business. When I came back the truck was dead as a doornail. Jump started it and went straight to the dealer. Battery had a short in one of the cells. I made the dealer replace it for nothing. Sometimes they just go dead!

Check the battery warranty. If it is based on time and not miles, then you should have had some warranty left. Autozone may not be able to HONOR THE WARRANTY, BUT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET hONDA TO REIMBURSE YOU (whoops, caps lock). Make sur eyou still have a copy of the load test, they will need it.

And not to say I told you so BillB, but.......:D

At least my recommendation was for something that might still have some warranty life left!!!! :D

Now, a mechanic I am not, but should Lady still have the alternator checked? can those make a battery go bad if they continually drain the battery?

If the Ridge is still under warranty, should have taken it to Honda. Probably would have replaced for nothing. That's what warranties are for.

I always replace my batteries with Optima Yellow Tops, a little more expensive, but wont leave you stranded ever... just cant beat a gel cell.:)

ridge had 50k on it. But the batterires have diferent warranties by time instead of miles.

OK ROC heads..here we go.:rolleyes:

I left this morning and drove 10 miles. I got out of Ridgena, shut EVERYTHING OFF, went in to the grocery for about 15 minutes, came back out...DEAD STICK.:rolleyes:

Hehe, so many responses came to mind I locked up and fell over :D

See what happens when you take her for granted. Like they say if a women isn't happy your not happy, if she is unhappy too long you lose half your stuff:D

Hehe, so many responses came to mind I locked up and fell over :D

Okay, I'm working again :cool: Sorry Lady, even though I am hitting 40 next month, I wasn't able to pass on that :D

It's the original battery from Honda. I didn't buy it from Auto Zone. Does that matter???:confused: :confused:Nope, doesn't matter (the one you're buying is from them). Actually, I thought maybe you just didn't trust them to do it.

I, of course, am out of the original warranty but I do have the extended. I am going to research it and find out if I am due a reimbursement.
I have had no issues with her since Todd put in the new battery. Maybe it was just a fluke thing.
I only leave the headlights on once in a great while but Drew and I do have habit of sitting with the accessory on, listening to the radio at races. I just wonder if over time it took it's toll.
Oh well....I'm not complaining....it was kind of nice to be stranded. It was sunny and I was in a parking lot on a Friday morning people watching.
Breaks come few and far between for me. It was welcome. :)

thats funny, i had the same thing happen to me but around 7,000 miles :confused:

Maybe Honda didn't use the best battery they could have!! :( :confused: