My Ridge is an early production model and has about 37,000 miles on it now. At 28K I had a major service, including changing of the transmission fluid and general tranmission maintenance. At 35K my maintenance minder went off again for an oil change. When in for that service I told the service rep that my truck hadn't been shifting as smoothly as it had been. Transmission seemed to hunt and clunk into gear at both upshifts and downshifts.

They discovered that my transmission was low on fluid and thought that maybe at the last service it hadn't been properly filled. I drove it a couple of days with the topped off fluid and found it to be shifting fine with one exception - down shifting at 40 mph. After a couple of days of troubleshooting dealer contributed the issue to a faulty EGR valve which was replaced under warranty. So far so good.

So if anyone is having what seems to be a tranmission shifting concern you might point them to your EGR valve. (A part that was recently replaced on my friend's 1998 Accord for about $500.)

My only other major concern that was also corrected under warranty was the replacement of the 60% side of my rear seat cushion. The under side edge was not staying attached to the seat frame.

I've had my truck for 18 months and love it more every day. A great truck and a great cruiser all rolled up in one.

Ted, by mentioning the EGR valve...could it be that you are actually referring to the transmission valve body instead? The EGR valve is the exhaust gas recirculation valve and is engine-related. In many transmission-related problems, the dealer is limited, by the factory, to the replacement of the valve-body in a last ditch effort prior to transmission replacement.

You mentioned 37,000 miles now - was it replaced under facotry or extended warranty.

I believe it could be EGR if plugged up and not monitored - like durring regular maintenance, could be EGR solenoid which is an electronic part that opens valve ot recirculate exhaust to engien to completly burn fuel.

Dealer said EGR valve not the transmission valve body. It seems to have worked as I'm not having any other problems with the shifting. As far as the warranty goes it happened before 36,000 so it was covered by my bumper to bumper warranty but I asked the dealer if this had happened later if it would be covered by the 60K powertrain warranty and he said yes.

As a side note and completely unrelated - pulling into the garage after trick and treating with my kids I cut the swing into the bay too tight and scratched and dented the living daylights out of my passenger side door and rear quarter panel. UGH!@#!# Good thing I have a $200 insurance deductible.........

As a side note and completely unrelated - pulling into the garage after trick and treating with my kids I cut the swing into the bay too tight and scratched and dented the living daylights out of my passenger side door and rear quarter panel. UGH!@#!# Good thing I have a $200 insurance deductible.........

Dang...sorry about your misfortune! You probably have those narrow garage doors like I do.

They discovered that my transmission was low on fluid and thought that maybe at the last service it hadn't been properly filled. I drove it a couple of days with the topped off fluid and found it to be shifting fine with one exception - down shifting at 40 mph. After a couple of days of troubleshooting dealer contributed the issue to a faulty EGR valve which was replaced under warranty. So far so good.

So if anyone is having what seems to be a tranmission shifting concern you might point them to your EGR valve. (A part that was recently replaced on my friend's 1998 Accord for about $500.)

Coincidentally, I posted earlier today in a Tranny TSB thread that I've noticed that the 40mph downshift has become more prominent after having the 06-062 TSB software update performed.
The downshift @ 40mph was always "noticeable" while traveling downhill, but I've begun to notice that the tranny is shifting "rougher", even when on level ground. I don't know if it has anything to do with the recent TSB work, but having only 4500+ miles on my RL, I wouldn't think the EGR valve would be bad.

I wasn't aware that an EGR valve was so costly. The "Wells" EGR valve I replaced recently on my Saturn cost me around $40. But it's not an electronic-type... :confused:
When you say "So far so good", I'm assuming you've had the opportunity to monitor the "40mph downshift" and the shift is smoother.
BTW... I checked my tranny fluid level a couple days ago... it's fine.
Thanks for the info :cool: ... I'll definately keep this in mind if my problem stays or gets worse.

Pug

I believe because EGR is an "emissions" component honda is required tio warranty it for 5 yrs 100K miles

Coincidentally, I posted earlier today in a Tranny TSB thread that I've noticed that the 40mph downshift has become more prominent after having the 06-062 TSB software update performed.
The downshift @ 40mph was always "noticeable" while traveling downhill, but I've begun to notice that the tranny is shifting "rougher", even when on level ground. I don't know if it has anything to do with the recent TSB work, but having only 4500+ miles on my RL, I wouldn't think the EGR valve would be bad.

I wasn't aware that an EGR valve was so costly. The "Wells" EGR valve I replaced recently on my Saturn cost me around $40. But it's not an electronic-type... :confused:
When you say "So far so good", I'm assuming you've had the opportunity to monitor the "40mph downshift" and the shift is smoother.
BTW... I checked my tranny fluid level a couple days ago... it's fine.
Thanks for the info :cool: ... I'll definately keep this in mind if my problem stays or gets worse.

Pug

Franc944, you think this could be due to K&N airfilter :D Just kidding, I'm sittin' here trying to have fun. Please don't flame me if this offended you. :cool:

Nothing offends me -

I remember just spraying down EGR valves when they start to stick with carborator cleaner and charging for a new part when I worked at a Ford dealer.

And those valves were $7.00 throw aways.

Nothing offends me -

I remember just spraying down EGR valves when they start to stick with carborator cleaner and charging for a new part when I worked at a Ford dealer.

And those valves were $7.00 throw aways.

Just watched a car guys garage show on the SPEED channel, and they were pushing a MAF spray cleaner due to "common occurance of clogging". The host was saying he had tried it and loves the stuff (It's good for the connector contacts and the heated elements). He even used it to clean the entire outside of the MAF.

I liked it better when it was "Shade Tree Mechanics", found it wierd when two guys garage had 3 guys...?

After a couple of days of troubleshooting dealer contributed the issue to a faulty EGR valve which was replaced under warranty. So far so good.

So if anyone is having what seems to be a tranmission shifting concern you might point them to your EGR valve.
Had this same problem on our ex-MDX -- I felt something weird that I feared had to do with transmission (our MDX was part of a transmission recall), yet no one else could feel it for quite awhile. It was a subtle thing that felt like the MDX was searching for the next gear. Finally, after one of the dealer's technicians drove the MDX home and back overnight (75 miles roundtrip), they figured out it was the EGR valve.

They should include the MAF spray with K & N filters.