I have a new 2006 Honda Ridgeline (in addition to my Pilot). The on-demand 4wd will not engage... I was pulling my jet skis out of the water and the right rear tire started to spin? This surprised me because I was of the understanding that the on-demand 4wd should engage automatically (sales person and Honda website both said it should engage automatically). I sat there spinning my right rear tire for a while and then gave up and manually put it into 4wd while in Drive 2. The car then worked and pulled me out of the situation. I contacted my local dealer and they just gave me the run around and couldn’t find anything wrong with the car. If this is how the Ridgeline works, then how can they say that it is on-demand 4wd. This is definitely a concern when I take it up to the snow… I can’t drive around at 18mph all the time. Is this how it is supposed to work? Is anyone else having this problem?

I also have this problem!

I was pulling into my driveway (almost flat and gravel... We are redoing my drive.) and as I pulled up to my garage the right rear tire started to spin? I sat there spinning the right rear tire for a while until I figured out that I needed to put the car into D 2 and 4wd. The 4wd then engaged… I was able to recreate the loss of traction 5 times. This is not how the on-demand 4wd was described to work. Even the honda.com states "The VTM-4® system operates automatically." Please let me know what you find.

Thats not the way mine works. If a tire starts to spin it kicks in and the flashing triangle in the gadge cluster begins to flash.

The below explanation of the VSA and VTM-4 systems were supplied last year by a member who took the time to digest the scientific and marketing words and put it into a little of both types that I have found informative to understand what might be going on in your type of situation. I hope some or all makes sense to explain why you were not getting the performance you expected.

1. VSA= Vehicle Stability Assist. The system uses multiple sensors to determine in the vehicle is maintaining the intended direction you input. It uses a steering wheel angle sensor plus yaw and later g sensors to calculate the actual path vs. the intended path. If there is a significant difference, the system begins taking action. If it is a understeer condition that is due to much power being applied to the wheels, it will begin cutting power and applying brake to the inside wheel. If it is an oversteer condition due to the mu surface or a vehicle response due to a power off from the throttle, it will apply brake to the outside wheel.
2. The system also acts as a full time traction control system. If it detects slip on one wheel, it will divert power to the tractive wheels by braking the slipping wheel. If it detects multiple wheels slipping and calculates you are commanding too much power foe the available mu of the surface, it will begin cutting engine power.
3. As a safety precaution, the VSA system cannot be shut down when a TPMS warning is detected.
Next explanation is the VTM-4 system. First off, it is a predictive rather than reactive system. It ALWAYS launches in 4WD mode. It removes power form the rear wheels when it detects there is no speed differential between the front and rear wheels.

1. The VTM-4 system is always active and can not be shut down unless there is system failure. If a failure is detected, a VTM-4 warning lamp will illuminate in the cluster.
2. The VTM-4 lock button, applies the maximum torque to the rear wheels. If will lock the left and right rear wheels together and therefore should not be used on high mu surfaces. It can only be activated in 1st, 2nd or Reverse gear positions to prevent damage to the rear differential.
3. The system also protects for an oil over temperature condition and will shut down to protect the system.

Next, lets have a lesson in physics: simple beam theory. When a large trailer is loaded on the back of a vehicle, the rear axle load increases. The reduction in tractive capability combined with a low mu surface will result in wheel slip. This will trigger two simultaneous actions: The VTM-4 will increase the torque distributed to the rear axle and the VSA will begin cutting engine power due to the slip condition. If you continue down this path of applying engine torque with the throttle and hold the vehicle at a stall condition, you will overheat the transmission. Additionally, hot engines do not have as much combustion efficiency as an engine at normal operating temperature. The engine ECU will begin retarding the timing to prevent spark detonation and ruining the piston.
Analysis: If you encounter a condition where with a low mu surface and begin to lose forward momentum, you should shut down the VSA system, shift to 1st gear, apply VTM-4 lock, and smoothly apply engine power. This set-up provides the maximum possible driving force at the wheels. If you have applied 20 inch wheels you should be towing – you have killed the available torque at the axle.

Just because the rear axle is not slipping, does not mean the VTM-4 system is not functioning. You may have reached a stall condition at the rear axle due to the available force at the rear wheels combined with the mu of the surface (high axle load improves tractive force) and the reduced engine power caused by the front wheels slipping.

Did you guys turn your VSA off??? That is the only remotely possible way it could do what you are saying.

If this is true then I would have the dealer fix. Don't take no for an answer. Your trucks are malfunctioning.
Or maybe trolls have climbed into the transfer case and have striped the gears?:confused:;)

Did you guys turn your VSA off??? That is the only remotely possible way it could do what you are saying.
That was my thought too.

The truck is predominantly FWD so rear wheels spinning shows that the "on demand 4wd":rolleyes: system is working because the rear diff clutches have been engaged. nestor is confused if he/she believes that the driver has control over the 2wd versus 4wd mode. The only control the driver has is whether or not to lock the rear diff and/or disable the traction control. VSA must have been turned off which allowed the wheels to spin.

:rolleyes:

Or maybe trolls have climbed into the transfer case and have striped the gears?:confused:;)

Hahahahaha........

!!

!!

All these one post wonders lately. 4 minutes apart, too. Perhaps these people are indeed Ridgeline owners who lurk and wait for their particular problem to pop up so they can say, "That happened to me, too." Sorry one post wonders, if you are legit Ridgeline owners. I just find it hard to believe -- two first time posters in a row? Perhaps you two friends can post your build date and the last 5 digits of your VIN number. Maybe this is a problem -- if so, I apologize. In any case, it's good that the "old guard" ROC members can post replies and show their expertise on here. Does keep the board interesting.

Does Honda have a TSB for this? Or should they just buy a case of Troll_be_gone ?:D

id be carefull jumping to judgement about who is a troll, and who isnt.

Some of our senior members like to believe & seem to fall for these kind of posts over and over. , and comdemn any member who does not immediately believe, and offer sympathy for every post/compaint on here.

see body wrinkles, etc, etc....

Does Honda have a TSB for this? Or should they just buy a case of Troll_be_gone

That would be a TBG.:D

...see body wrinkles, etc, etc....
Doh... :eek:

I had to get that little shot in..

Thanks Bill B. for the detailed information... It explains alot. As to how I found the post, I typed "honda ridgeline On-demand" in dogpile and this is what I found... http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8278 (I am glad I did)

The truck is predominantly FWD so rear wheels spinning shows that the "on demand 4wd":rolleyes: system is working because the rear diff clutches have been engaged.

Unless he's just starting out in which case the read diff clutches would be engaged, too.

If it is a understeer condition that is due to much power being applied to the wheels...

"that is due to too much power"

Next, lets have a lesson in physics: simple beam theory. When a large trailer is loaded on the back of a vehicle, the rear axle load increases. The reduction in tractive capability combined with a low mu surface will result in wheel slip.

Rear axle load increases, front axle load may decrease. It's the front wheels that will start to slip/spin.

If you have applied 20 inch wheels you should be towing – you have killed the available torque at the axle.

"If you have applied 20 inch wheels you should not be towing..."

Just because the rear axle is not slipping, does not mean the VTM-4 system is not functioning.

"Just because the rear axle is slippinig, does not..."

One other item of note. If the diff is locked, torque to the rear wheels will gradually be reduced when the speed exceeds 6mph and if the chart in the service manual is correct, rear torque is reduced to zero when you exceed 15mph with the lock engaged.