I've noticed that when my Ridgeline is cold, if I back out of the driveway in the morning, stop and put the shifter into "D", the transmission seems to engage and then another second or two later it really engages to the point you can drive off. It's like the first engagement is only partially holding and if you hit the gas it seems to slip a bit before the second engagement happens at which time the Ridgeline drives perfectly normal.

It only does it after the vehicle has sat for several hours and it only does it in first gear. Once warm, it's fine and only does a single engagement when shifting into "D". I was wondering if anyone else notices this 'issue'. It might be normal, but I'm not sure. Most vehicles I've had engage into gear right away, cold or hot. This is the only one that does it twice when cold. It's not a delayed engagement - you can feel two distinct times the transmission goes into gear.

Not sure about the "false" engagement, but I do notice it takes a couple of seconds before I can pull out after putting the RL in drive. Figured it was normal.

Not sure about the "false" engagement, but I do notice it takes a couple of seconds before I can pull out after putting the RL in drive. Figured it was normal.

6-20-06
Hi, I got a 2006 RTL, and when cold in the morning, I back out and put it in drive and when i start to excelerate slowly, at 5 to 15 miles per hour, I hear a clunk that sounds like it may be coming from the trans or some gear case. I think it may be the anti-lock brake system resetting, and clunk is herd.
I called several dealers and all they say is to bring it in and leave it over night for testing.
I have a 2001 Accord that has the ABS system that cycles every morning when I start out making a straing sound
I need a master mechanic to tell us what happens when starting out in the morning in the $32000.00 Ridgeline.....
Please tell me what is going on, Thank you

6-20-06
Hi, I got a 2006 RTL, and when cold in the morning, I back out and put it in drive and when i start to excelerate slowly, at 5 to 15 miles per hour, I hear a clunk that sounds like it may be coming from the trans or some gear case. I think it may be the anti-lock brake system resetting, and clunk is herd.
I called several dealers and all they say is to bring it in and leave it over night for testing.
I have a 2001 Accord that has the ABS system that cycles every morning when I start out making a straing sound
I need a master mechanic to tell us what happens when starting out in the morning in the $32000.00 Ridgeline.....
Please tell me what is going on, Thank you

6-20-06
Hi, I got a 2006 RTL, and when cold in the morning, I back out and put it in drive and when i start to excelerate slowly, at 5 to 15 miles per hour, I hear a clunk that sounds like it may be coming from the trans or some gear case. I think it may be the anti-lock brake system resetting, and clunk is herd.
I called several dealers and all they say is to bring it in and leave it over night for testing.
I have a 2001 Accord that has the ABS system that cycles every morning when I start out making a straing sound
I need a master mechanic to tell us what happens when starting out in the morning in the $32000.00 Ridgeline.....
Please tell me what is going on, Thank you

unixadm,
I haven't heard about this on the Ridgeline, but I know it's common on other vehicles. What it could be - and I'm not sure - is simply the fluid draining from the torque converter. Without fluid in the TC, you're not getting any fluid coupling when you first shift to D, the second shifting you feel is actually after fluid is pumped into the TC and the TC coupling.

Try this:
Before putting the transmission into D, put it into R for about 5-10 seconds with your foot on the brake. Then shift to D. It should go solidly into D. If it works when you're doing this, my above theory may be correct. To some extent, this is normal. But you may want to have your dealer confirm this.

Also, check your ATF fluid level, and make sure you follow the correct procedure to do this, otherwise it won't be accurate.

Please post your findings.

Only hesitation I get is when I let off the gas around a corner and then giving some gas exiting the corner she will seem to stumble or bog for a second before finding the right gear..... no issues in the morning with a cold tranny:o

6-20-06
Hi, I got a 2006 RTL, and when cold in the morning, I back out and put it in drive and when i start to excelerate slowly, at 5 to 15 miles per hour, I hear a clunk that sounds like it may be coming from the trans or some gear case. I think it may be the anti-lock brake system resetting, and clunk is herd.
I called several dealers and all they say is to bring it in and leave it over night for testing.
I have a 2001 Accord that has the ABS system that cycles every morning when I start out making a straing sound
I need a master mechanic to tell us what happens when starting out in the morning in the $32000.00 Ridgeline.....
Please tell me what is going on, Thank you
Based on the info provided by many knowledgeable people on this forum, your diagnosis is most likely correct. The ABS system is doing its thing.

-- ridged (not a mechanic by any stretch of the definition)

(I think it may be the anti-lock brake system resetting, and clunk is herd.)

Your thinking is right on. It's is a resetting on the brake system. I have it and told the dealer and he confirmed it. I also have it on my Infiniti G35 coup.

Cold Start, transmission: I don't see that on my Ridge, but I do see the slowing down and a second to upshift, when you step on the gas.
That the wire throttle body, not working 100% right and give a wrong messenger to the transmission.

Fix: The computer has to be resetting with a update programming, but there is no update program for it. So we have to live with it.

I would tell the dealer to look at it and to see if there is a fix. LOLOL
They I would can Honda customer and make a complaint about it. The more complaints they get, them maybe they would make a update on it, or TSB.

My wife drive a Lexus ES330 (2004), and has the same problem and they reprogram the computer and it help a little and I mean a little.

:eek:

Same deal woth mine. You pull away, and then there is a "clunk". In fact, I did not buy the forst truck I test drove because of it and asked for a different one. Turns out that the one I bought does it also. Go figure.

I just noticed my tranny slip this am. My 06 RTL has a little over 50K on it. Truck sat outside last in only 40 degree temps. Got in, fired up, backed out of the driveway, put it into drive, and there was a delay, had to build RPM's to move forward. Slipped the tranny back in neutral, stopped for 20 seconds, slipped it back into drive, same thing. Later the in day after the truck was warm, no problem. I had no clunk. Hum, is this normal, and TSB's on this? Thanks.

I just noticed my tranny slip this am. My 06 RTL has a little over 50K on it. Truck sat outside last in only 40 degree temps. Got in, fired up, backed out of the driveway, put it into drive, and there was a delay, had to build RPM's to move forward. Slipped the tranny back in neutral, stopped for 20 seconds, slipped it back into drive, same thing. Later the in day after the truck was warm, no problem. I had no clunk. Hum, is this normal, and TSB's on this? Thanks.

Check your transmission fluid level. Usually the rule of thumb is from cold start, is to let the vehicle run and wait for the engine fan to cycle on and off twice while the vehicle is idling in park. This gets the transmission at the correct operating temperature to confirm the oil volume (relatively cool). Shut the engine off and then check the oil within 60-90 secs of shutting the engine off. The oil level changes at it gets warm and expands. It is difficult to get an exact measurement due to the heat affects of the oil volume.

To the OP,

I believe that I've experienced the same thing you describe in my new 2007 RT. But for me I have to back out of the driveway a short distance first and then I stop, shift to drive and give it a little gas, and it starts to move but then I notice a much firmer shift into drive as I start to move out, that's how I would describe it. It too only happens after the vehicle has been sitting overnight in relatively colder weather (55-65ish) for us.

I just assumed that it's normal but I'm going to have the dealer take a look at it since Honda's trackrecord isn't so great with automatic transmissions.

I've had my new 2008 RTL now for 3 weeks and loving it. The nav system, XM radio, voice control, it's a great vehicle. But lately I'm noticing something that I'm hoping is user error and not a problem. Sometimes when I shift from reverse to drive or from park to drive, I'm not able to physically move the shifter lever all the way into "D". If I let go of the lever none of the transmissions options are selected (P, R, N, D, 2, ...). At this point I move the lever back to park and then back down into drive. So far this is working but my concern is I'll get stuck out of drive at some point. I live in the Phoenix area so it really doesn't get to cold here and the truck lives in my garage which never gets below 40. Does anyone else have this problem? Do I need to take a trip to my dealer?

Thanks

I'm guessing that nothing is wrong. You will get used to the shifter. It's quirky.

That's what I figured, but I knew this was the place to find out for sure. Thanks for the reassurance.

I've had my new 2008 RTL now for 3 weeks and loving it. The nav system, XM radio, voice control, it's a great vehicle. But lately I'm noticing something that I'm hoping is user error and not a problem. Sometimes when I shift from reverse to drive or from park to drive, I'm not able to physically move the shifter lever all the way into "D". If I let go of the lever none of the transmissions options are selected (P, R, N, D, 2, ...). At this point I move the lever back to park and then back down into drive. So far this is working but my concern is I'll get stuck out of drive at some point. I live in the Phoenix area so it really doesn't get to cold here and the truck lives in my garage which never gets below 40. Does anyone else have this problem? Do I need to take a trip to my dealer?

Thanks

There is a cable that connects from the transmission to the shifter. I would take it to the dealer and have them check to make sure that there isn't an issue with the cable (Binding or out of adjustment).

My 2008 RTL behaves very similarly, but having driven mostly Hondas for the past ~6 years I didn't really notice or think it odd. It acts like a Honda; their transmissions behave differently from others, but you get really used to it after driving them for a while. It doesn't seem to be a problem, I've never had a Honda transmission die on me. I've got a 94 dodge grand caravan whose transmission has always shifted smoothly....but it's on it's 3rd. My 93 civic and 98 CR-V that both had more miles on them (the civic was over 200K) were still on their first, and behaved the same from when I got them to when I sold/traded them. Only reason I still have the van is that it could carry a lot (4x8 sheetrock and plywood fit exactly in the back with the seats out), which was useful before I got the ridge, and at this point nobody wants it.

Check your transmission fluid level. Usually the rule of thumb is from cold start, is to let the vehicle run and wait for the engine fan to cycle on and off twice while the vehicle is idling in park. This gets the transmission at the correct operating temperature to confirm the oil volume (relatively cool). Shut the engine off and then check the oil within 60-90 secs of shutting the engine off. The oil level changes at it gets warm and expands. It is difficult to get an exact measurement due to the heat affects of the oil volume.

I have always gone by the rule of thumb that the transmission fluid level should be checked at operating temperature and with the engine running.

Whatever procedure you used in the past is meaningless.

Use the procedure in your owner's manual. Page 241.

Engine and transmission warm.
Vehicle level.
Engine OFF.

I've noticed that when my Ridgeline is cold, if I back out of the driveway in the morning, stop and put the shifter into "D", the transmission seems to engage and then another second or two later it really engages to the point you can drive off. It's like the first engagement is only partially holding and if you hit the gas it seems to slip a bit before the second engagement happens at which time the Ridgeline drives perfectly normal.

It only does it after the vehicle has sat for several hours and it only does it in first gear. Once warm, it's fine and only does a single engagement when shifting into "D". I was wondering if anyone else notices this 'issue'. It might be normal, but I'm not sure. Most vehicles I've had engage into gear right away, cold or hot. This is the only one that does it twice when cold. It's not a delayed engagement - you can feel two distinct times the transmission goes into gear.

trany has about a 3-5 second delay