Troops
I have a new 09 Ridgeline with 4000 kilometers. Twice now on in initial take off the truck has a shudder or shake on take off for the 1st 10 feet. It has only done it 2 times & otherwise the performance has been normal. It feels like the transmission is only 1/2 engaged. I know if I take it to the dealer it probably 99% won,t act up as it has only done it 2 times in the month I have owned it. It only does it very briefly on slow acceleration from a standing start & has only done it twice. Anyone else seen this happen??

When you shift from Reverse to Drive, try waiting a full second before releasing the brake. (That's assuming you're not still rolling back when you shift to Drive.) The Honda transmissions seem to engage almost in a two-step process which can feel like it doesn't fully engage for a second or so. You can duplicate the shudder if you go from Reverse to Drive quickly after backing or doing it while rolling. It isn't really good for the tranny, but, once you know what the cause is, you can avoid doing it.

Enjoy your new truck!!

This is from a dead stop on level ground. Also happened both times after truck was shut off for 10-15 minutes & restarted
thanx

The only other thing I can think of is either the door locks activating or, more likely, the ABS check. The brakes will "cycle" when you first start out and can make a "clunking"-type sound. It seems to be more noticeable while the truck is still new, but maybe you just get used to it.

If you start the truck, put it in Drive, and go (slowly), you should hear two distinct sounds. One will be at roughly 9mph, which is the door locks. The other is the ABS check. Both sounds are normal. The ABS check is only performed after starting the engine, not at every stop.

If this still doesn't seem to be the problem, keep posting clues. Someone here will be able to get it for you.

I'm just guessing, but shuddering to me makes me think of the differential. I know it should not be bad in a brand new vehicle. You need to take it to a dealer.

It is a shudder. The whole truck vibrates & it,s too aggressive to be a abs check. I will keep driving it & see how it goes as it has only done it twice & otherwise it shifts normally except for some abrupt downshifts going downhill occaisionely.

Possibly a bad engine mount?


Put the truck, in park or in gear with you fot on the brakes and rev the engine hard - if it looks like it is lifting up on one side or see alot of movement you may have a broken engine mount.

RidgeLI

From your description it sounds like transmission clutches not engaging fully. I had 2 different year S10 4 x 4's that did exactly what you have described. The pressure from the pump dropped and was not applying the band solidly. Once the rpm's incresased so did the pump pressure and no chatter, just on take off from a dead start like your description. (I realize the RL and others are electronic, but still the same issue, something has to apply the band around some type of clutch pack.) I am no transmission expert, nor do I claim to be, just past experience with 2 S10 trannys with the same symptoms would have me headed for the dealer, if nothing else than to get it on record should they mention abuse later on.

Not to scare you or anything.... but mine has been doing exactly what you describe for about a year now (shuddering/ clunking at take off)... Honda kept telling me it was normal and I was being overly worried....blah blah blah....

Well, this weekend while pulling our boat from the lake.... that clunk became a complete meltdown in the tranny. It now will not shift out of first at all and smells like trans fluid burning. Going into shop tomorrow. Thank goodness it is still under warranty as I have 58,000 miles on it. whew!!

BTW - our boat only weighs 2,400lbs which is well within the supposed towing limits of the Ridgeline.

Hope this helps!!!

When you shift from Reverse to Drive, try waiting a full second before releasing the brake. (That's assuming you're not still rolling back when you shift to Drive.) The Honda transmissions seem to engage almost in a two-step process which can feel like it doesn't fully engage for a second or so. You can duplicate the shudder if you go from Reverse to Drive quickly after backing or doing it while rolling. It isn't really good for the tranny, but, once you know what the cause is, you can avoid doing it.

Enjoy your new truck!!

Honda has eliminated the two step shift process. I don't feel it like I did in my '07 RL.

Not to scare you or anything.... but mine has been doing exactly what you describe for about a year now (shuddering/ clunking at take off)... Honda kept telling me it was normal and I was being overly worried....blah blah blah....

Well, this weekend while pulling our boat from the lake.... that clunk became a complete meltdown in the tranny. It now will not shift out of first at all and smells like trans fluid burning. Going into shop tomorrow. Thank goodness it is still under warranty as I have 58,000 miles on it. whew!!

BTW - our boat only weighs 2,400lbs which is well within the supposed towing limits of the Ridgeline.

Hope this helps!!!

That was what the Chevy dealer told me also, normal, don't worry, both times and both times new transmisson was the cure. That was why I suggested getting it into Honda. You may also want to see what happens with Tigerb8t and talk to your dealer before things go south.

Honda has eliminated the two step shift process. I don't feel it like I did in my '07 RL.

You mean for 2009? My 2008 has the double-bump when shifting from R to D. My 4wd Toyota had the same thing. I just learned to wait for the double bump before driving away.

Up date on my situation..... new Transmission, new torque convertor and complete tranny fluid system flush..... will be without my beloved truck for a week.

Up date on my situation..... new Transmission, new torque convertor and complete tranny fluid system flush..... will be without my beloved truck for a week.

Glad it's being covered under warranty. How was Honda to work with in your situation? Was your RL dealer maintained or did you do your own fluid changes? If the latter, did you have to substantiate your maintenance work?

Sorry to hear your Rl will be in the shop for a week. At least you caught it while under warranty and they didn't fight you on it.

I was having trouble for a while and they did fight me on it saying - "I was worrying about nothing." Had a pretty good case built when it finally went out. Service tech came out and said - "I guess you were right" - duh! lol.

I had Honda do all the fluid changes just because I was concerned about the transmission issue. Now that it is getting close to being out of warranty I am going to have a local shop do work that I don't do myself.