Good bye Ridgeline.....too many major problems

[zroger73]

Originally Posted by Bethard728

But their clutches still use friction disks that produce heat. I'm not disagreeing that D is not the proper gear....speed posted in writing that D3 will actually overheat the tranny. I just can't get my head around how shifting every 10 seconds for several hours straight can be good on things.

Most any shift on any transmission under any load will complete in less than a second. It only takes a few seconds at most to dissipate the heat generated from this shift. More heat is generated by the shearing action of the fluid in a torque converter than by the clutches during a gear change. Keep in mind these clutches are submerged in fluid with very specific lubricating, heat transferring, and friction properties - part of the reason certain fluids are required for specific transmission designs. Engineers must also select a balance between shift quality and life expectancy. Firm, quick shifts will result in longer clutch life, but will give you whiplash. Smooth, long shifts won't spill a glass of wine sitting on the dash, but will consume the clutches quickly.

May you rest knowing that the transmission is engineered and intended to shift the way it does for at least 60,000 miles. After all, Honda doesn't want to change out transmissions while they are under the factory warranty.

[Bethard728]

Originally Posted by zroger73

Most any shift on any transmission under any load will complete in less than a second. It only takes a few seconds at most to dissipate the heat generated from this shift. More heat is generated by the shearing action of the fluid in a torque converter than by the clutches during a gear change. Keep in mind these clutches are submerged in fluid with very specific lubricating, heat transferring, and friction properties - part of the reason certain fluids are required for specific transmission designs. Engineers must also select a balance between shift quality and life expectancy. Firm, quick shifts will result in longer clutch life, but will give you whiplash. Smooth, long shifts won't spill a glass of wine sitting on the dash, but will consume the clutches quickly.

May you rest knowing that the transmission is engineered and intended to shift the way it does for at least 60,000 miles. After all, Honda doesn't want to change out transmissions while they are under the factory warranty.

I hope it is intended to last more like 360,000 miles!!!! I'm at 157k now and intend to keep the old girl well into the 200's.

[Bethard728]

Originally Posted by zroger73

Most any shift on any transmission under any load will complete in less than a second. It only takes a few seconds at most to dissipate the heat generated from this shift. More heat is generated by the shearing action of the fluid in a torque converter than by the clutches during a gear change. Keep in mind these clutches are submerged in fluid with very specific lubricating, heat transferring, and friction properties - part of the reason certain fluids are required for specific transmission designs. Engineers must also select a balance between shift quality and life expectancy. Firm, quick shifts will result in longer clutch life, but will give you whiplash. Smooth, long shifts won't spill a glass of wine sitting on the dash, but will consume the clutches quickly.

May you rest knowing that the transmission is engineered and intended to shift the way it does for at least 60,000 miles. After all, Honda doesn't want to change out transmissions while they are under the factory warranty.

Hey!!!! What are you doing with wine in your truck? Don't you know that's illegal

[zroger73]

Originally Posted by Bethard728

Hey!!!! What are you doing with wine in your truck? Don't you know that's illegal

Don't worry - it's an unopened glass.

Regarding the life expectancy, look at it this way... Honda designed the transmission to work the way it does. The instructions tell you to leave it in "D" and the vehicle can tow up to 5,000 lbs. There are no defined limits to towing frequency, so Honda must feel pretty confident that the transmission will survive at least 60,000 miles while constantly towing 5,000 lbs. provided you perform maintenance per the Maintenance Minder. Statistically speaking, there are members here with well over 200K miles without transmission failure. There are relatively few that have had early failures. If this transmission (or any other part of the Ridgeline) had a known, common defect, it would show up consistently. I'd be more concerned with my rear seat pulleys or front bumper gap than my transmission.

[TeamRidgeline]

196xxx miles, many many 10s of thousands towing 4500# in D usually at least 5 mph over the speed limit and a good part of that mileage out west thru the SIerra Nevada and Rockie mountain ranges. Only issues were both original cat converters dying around the first 100k. Just replaced a radiator fan assembly because the motor bearings were worn and the wobbling fan was causing vibration when it turned on/off. Otherwise maintenance only, though using accelerated drive train fluid service intervals due to towing. If that's not reliable then what is?

[Fett]

Been a while since I posted. I tow a pop up camper that roughly weighs in at around 3400lbs(with camping equipment packed inside) maybe once or twice every 90 days. I also bring 10 gallons of fuel and a small generator aswel as half a bed load of mixed pine for firewood. I always tow in D. Going up the mountains here in Arizona @ 70MPH soon as I hit the hills it slows down a few MPH then it shifts down and keeps in whatever gear it shifted down into until the hill levels out. Sometimes it stays in 2nd gear at around 5200rpm and i love it. just hit 71k miles this week.

Btw posts like this make me laugh, someone bashes and people asking questions and ya never hear from them again. lol