Accessories and Maintenance

I recently treated my '06 Ridge to some maintenance and accessories. I'm embarrased to say how long ago I bought the Camera and Backup sensors but free time is not something I have a lot of and I really enjoy doing all my own work.

Maintenance:
Oil Change and Filter (Amsoil ASM 0W20, OEM A01 filter)
Cabin Air Filter (OEM Honda -- next time I'm going to try a TYC Genera from Rock Auto. I just bought three of these for other vehicles I own and I was pleased with the quality and fit and the price is dirt cheap -- no pun intended)
Rear Diff Fluid Change (OEM VTM-4 fluid) - Fluid coming out was red and clean and nothing on the magnet but a thin layer of super fine dust
Flushed Brake Fluid (Amsoil Series 600 DOT4 Fluid) - Flushed 36 oz. through the system using a vacuum bleeder at each caliper
Rotated tires and adjusted tire pressure I'm using a X-pattern for rotation and it seams to be working very well for me. I had never replaced my metal valve stem caps and it finally caught up to me. Three out of four were seized onto the stem. Some liquid wrench and careful persuasion
and I was fortunate to get them all off without trashing any TPMS sensors. I put the plastic ones on that Honda sent me a few years back.
Replaced Power Steering Fluid (OEM Honda), used a vacuum bleeder to suck out reservoir, started motor and worked wheel lock to lock a few dozen times with the tires off the ground (repeated this 3 times to get a good amount of new fluid in the system)
Checked air filter I have an OEM Honda filter in there that I replaced about 12K miles ago and it looked fine


Accessories:
Installed CoverKing neoprene seat covers. I purchased them through the Costco sale. I'm very happy with them for the price. The fit of the fronts is perfect. The rears fit well but the attachments could be better. I had two issues in the front. One head rest had velcro that was all unsewed and one Fastech buckle snapped while I was snugging up the covers. I called CoverKing, they had me email them pictures and replacements are on the way. The customer service was great. I was installing the rear seat covers yesterday and I need to call them back again. The center headrest has Velcro on one side and a tuck tab on the other. Makes no sense. Need all velcro. The tuck tabs on the seat back at the top intefere with the seat to cab mounting tabs. They need to be moved left or right a bit. I'll take pics and call them on Monday. Overall I'm very pleased. I have had Wet Okoles in the past (different vehicle) and the fit quality and mounting was very similar but the pricing of the Okoles was quite a bit more. The Wet Okoles may be a better quality (not sure) but for the money I payed for the Cover Kings I'm more than happy.

LED Lights Changed all interior and exterior lights to LED's from V-LEDs except for the backup lights and turn signals. I need to order the turn signals and I'm leaving the backup lights as is. I had one interior light burn out yesterday. I'll check it today and contact VLED for a replacement if necessary.

Backup Camera I installed the '06 OEM Backup Camera using the '09 Tailgate handle. Unfortunately Steel Blue Metallic is not an '09 color. I bought Formal Black handle to see how it would look. I didn't care for the look so I had the body shop I use paint it. It's a nuisance job for them but I've been going there for 25 years and they are good to me. They painted the handle and the color match is perfect.

WeatherTech Liners Ordered via Pizza Man's group by and waiting for delivery (thanks Pizza Man!):)

Backup Sensors I installd the OEM backup sensors

Line-X Since I had to remove all the bed panels to do the job I ended up pulling the bed floor and taking it to the local Line-X dealer. I had everything sprayed out of the truck. I went wit black Line-X topped with black Line-X extra. I even had the tie down hooks sprayed and the floor plugs (bot covers on the bed floor) sprayed. Result is outstanding and everyting fit perfectly on reinstall. The trim pieces (bed rail tops, tail gate top etc) were snug on install but no issues and no need to grind or trim anything. We had a talk about this prior to the job and he understood that the edges needed to have a thin coating. I did not do the inside of the trunk. I tought about it but opted not to do it.

I did the work sporadically over four days (an hour here, two hours there etc) to fit it into my schedule. Of course I had some other car issues come up at the same time so I had three cars taken apart at the same time (all complete now)!

Anyway, I took some final bed pictures yesterday.

Pics of the seat covers if interested in seeing them installed (http://picasaweb.google.com/cdmarano/CoverKingSeatCovers?feat=directlink) (front only, still need to work out some issues on the backs as described above)

Some pics of the camera install, backup sensor install and bed liner with Line-X (http://picasaweb.google.com/cdmarano/Ridgeline?authkey=Gv1sRgCLKIqKLm5fnPsQE&feat=directlink)

Wow! Well done! :cool:

I know all about the "time" thing. I still have back-up sensors to install. :o

I almost blushed seein' all that nakedidity! :p:D

Wow! Well done! :cool:

I know all about the "time" thing. I still have back-up sensors to install. :o

I almost blushed seein' all that nakedidity! :p:D

While I think the camera is "neat" I honestly find the backup sensors more useful. Plus they are watching even when you might not be! They have great sensitivity too. The OEM accessories are definitely decent quality items.

While I think the camera is "neat" I honestly find the backup sensors more useful. Plus they are watching even when you might not be! They have great sensitivity too. The OEM accessories are definitely decent quality items.

If I'd got the OEM sensors, I'd have had them installed for me, by now. I got the single Grote sensor for a song, and all it involves is the side panel and rear seat removal, so I had no excuse other than finding the time to do it. Now, I'm faced with a torn tendon in my elbow... just one thing after another.:rolleyes:
One of these days... :D

Great pics, btw! I'm sure they'll be of help to others doing their own installs. :cool:

Excellent job! I have a couple questions; does the trunk stay up with the X-Liner on? Still debating if I want to do this.
And out of curiosity, what was the "switch" that you installed on the right side post? Was this part of the camera or the sensors?
Great pictures BTW, no wonder it took a couple days, half your time was spent taking pics! :p

I always take pictures for my own pleasure. I should have taken more but when I had time I would and when in a rush I just worked.

The switch in the dash is part of the OEM backup sensors. It allows you to turn off the sensors if you don't want them on for some reason. Every time you put the vehicle in reverse there is a beep to let you the sensors are on (so if the switch is off it should remind you). I do find the pitch of the OEM backup sensors to be a bit annoying but I guess that is how they get you to pay attention.

The trunk lid does stay open with the Line-X. It is noticably heavier but I haven't had any issues with it staying open. Honestly the thickness of the Line-X on a Ridge line is much thinner than what would be done on a standard steel pickup bed. It has to be or nothing would fit properly.

My panels were all entirely coated but on the side panels he fanned it out a bit near the edges so it is even thinner where the panels overlap. It all looks perfect and uniform. It gives the bed a much cleaner look. If you opt for the X-Tra finish they can even color match to your vehicle if desired).

Personally I think the best way to do the Ridge bed is to pull all the panels and spray out of the truck. The bed floor can be done in or out but if in the truck there needs to be time spent masking off the remainder of the bed/cab etc. so you don't have a big mess of overspray.

If I'd got the OEM sensors, I'd have had them installed for me, by now. I got the single Grote sensor for a song, and all it involves is the side panel and rear seat removal, so I had no excuse other than finding the time to do it. Now, I'm faced with a torn tendon in my elbow... just one thing after another.:rolleyes:
One of these days... :D

Great pics, btw! I'm sure they'll be of help to others doing their own installs. :cool:

On the plus side you can do this all yourself (I did -- but defintely wait until your tendon has fully recovered) but it would be useful to have a friend help manuver the back seat in and out. I'm impatient and while I could have had a buddy come over and help with the seat I just ended up doing things when I had time. It is more bulky than heavy (a bit heavy too I guess).

The rear seat remove is a bit of a pain. It's not hard but lots of trim and fasteners to remove and replace.

Get Honda instructions for the Camera or Backup Sensors. The Honda instructions are very good and tell you exactly what you need to know.

It looks great - Where and How much did the Line-X dealer charge you, my local Line-X is unwilling to try. I might have to make it to Fort Worth to get our guest 4linex to do my truck. I too would pull out all the panels to have them sprayed.

A local guy traded in this 2006 Ridgeline for a 2009 Ridgeline and has the original Honda Tonneau cover move from his old truck to his new one. The dealer ( I helped supervise this :D ) took the panels from his old truck and repainted them with Honda Truck bed paint to make them look new and drilled 4 new hold for the extra tie downs in the back. they put the 2009 panels on the old 2006 ( they have 4 extra holes with black plug in them ) It was not that hard to remove and put them back in ( I even put some of the torx screws in to help ) The owner wanted it done that way as they took 5 trys to get the holes and rails right on the original Ridgeline and it worked exactly as he wanted it to ( and he had a different lock on the cover - much better than the Original lock. ) And looking at the fit and finish of the modified cover, I would have done the same thing as he did on swapping the panels.

A FYI to all older Ridgeline owner - the replacement panels for the sides of the truck bed have the 2 extra holes for the 2008 and 2009 extra tie down. There are 2 black plugs to fill in the holes for the 2006 and 2007 ( and some 2008 that did not get the extra tie downs ) - they look sort of like the plug for the spare tire tie down on the passenger side of the bed. According to the parts guy, there is no part number difference for any year Ridgeline for the truck bed panels.

I live in CT. I called wo of the three dealers in CT and the prices varied quite a bit from one to the other. Both had done Ridgelines before.

The dealer I used has a contract with one of the CT Honda dealers so he does Ridgelines often. He normally removes the tailgate and sprays the rest in place. Personally I don't care for that approach, but I haven't seen the finished product when done that way either. I don't like any bolt heads or plugs being sprayed over. If you ever want to take it apart later it will be such a headache.

He charged me $200 to prep and spray the panels with Line-X (everyting including the bed floor out of the truck and delivered to his shop). The X-Tra was an additional $100 ($300 total plust 6% tax so $318 out the door). I dropeed it off first thing Monday and it was ready by about 2PM (he had a few other trucks to do as well).

If I recall he was about $500 to spray in the truck plus another $150 for the X-tra.

Both dealers I called said the labor savings was significant to them (and resulting price to me) because a) it is a bit time consuming to pull everything -- not hard but time consuming) and then the additional time to mask everything properly. Time costs money.

The Line-X guy I used said he used a bit more product because there is more overspray doing the additional panels. This makes sense since he fanned out the edges so it wasn't too thick so he really needed to do each piece one at a time rather than putting several close together and spraying them all.

The end result is excellent. I love it. The X-tra gives it a deep, rich glossy shine that is supposed to last. It has UV inhibitors and kevlar in the X-Tra.