VTM-4 Light

[Bikemedic]

OK, I have done a search but have come up empty on my particular problem. The other day my VTM-4 light on the dash came on. It was intermintant, but now comes on within 5 min of starting up the Ridge. The check engine light also come on occationaly and reads code 0134. When the VTM-4 light is on I cant manualy engage the VTM-4 lock. If the light has not come on yet I can engage it and all four wheels engage. When the VTM-4 light is on I only get traction from the front wheels. As the mechanical system works (evidenced by both front and rear wheels working before the VTM-4 light coming on) it is a sensor problem. Where should I start other than a dealer.

Thanks

Greg

[Sparks]

My early model 06 Ridgeline with 53,000 miles developed exactly the same problem yesterday. It goes to the dealer tomorrow. What was the cause of the problem with yours and what was done to fix it? Has anyone else had this problem?

[chisoxjim]

Come on..., no one has any thoughts on this issue? Where is Honda Tech?

[MikeT]

Has the VTM-4 fluid been changed? If so, when and was it replaced with VTM-4 or transmission fluid?

[jz85]

This is what happened to my Ridgeline when the VTM-4 light came on....

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/f...ad.php?t=18409

[speedlever]

I didn't see a resolution in the other thread.

What was the final determination?

[Sparks]

The truck is at the dealer right now. They are pulling the fuel pump and filter to remove a sample of fuel from the tank to analyze. Honda suspects that it is a fuel related problem due to the symptoms and the codes that they found. The dealer said that they have had three other Honda vehicles with the same or similar symptoms in the past week. That may not seem like a lot but we are in a small market and it could be the start of a larger problem possibly related to the addition of the ethanol to their storage and delivery facilities. The filters at the pump may be good - but not perfect. The only station where I get fuel (Exxon) just added the label "Contains Ethanol" to the pumps. They said that all stations are required to add ethanol to gasoline by 12/31/2008. With the loss of 2 ~ 3 MPG I question the logic of the false economy of doing so but that is a subject for another thread! I have every receipt and a contiguous mileage log since the truck was new. Ninety-nine percent of the fuel was purchased at the same location near my home and I have the evidence to prove it. If it is a fuel related problem I know where it came from. I have a claim form from the store where the fuel has been purchased. I suspect that if they start getting a lot of complaints they will go into denial and I will be in for a fight. We'll see.

My symptoms have changed somewhat since this all started a few days ago. The VTM4 light does not come on immediately but sometimes will take several miles for it to come on. The engine is definitely running rough. It is very noticeable at idle. I did have some rear wheel spin yesterday while turning. That is something I have never noticed before. With the VTM4 out of commission I suspect it may have been caused by the rough running engine that the VTM4 would otherwise have controlled. The codes indicate an abnormally lean condition.

I will provide an update when I know more.

[chisoxjim]

sounds similar to the issue I had with a tank of bad fuel a couple of months ago. Similar symptoms, VTM-4 light coming on, check engine light on, rough running, and bogging down on acceleration.

cost me alot, and required 6 new fuel injectors.

here is the thread about my experience

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/f...ad.php?t=21382

good luck

[speedlever]

I don't know that I've ever run into a bad tank of fuel in my 41+ years of driving. Is the RL more sensitive to this than other vehicles?

Back in my college days, I had a '68 GTO that developed a rough running engine which took me a while to resolve. In desperation (after trying most everything else), I dumped something in the tank that absorbs water and that cured the problem. Drygas, methinks it was called.

Would something like that would be acceptable in a modern hi-tech engine like the RL's 3.5l V6?

[Sparks]

The fuel sample test came back that the fuel was not contaminated with visible debris. It did not determine if the fuel was otherwise bad for some reason other than visible particles. I suspect that the recent addition of ethanol to the stations tanks and pumps may have resulted in water being absorbed by the ethanol and reducing the fuel quality to the point that it is causing the problem. The representative from the fuel supplier said that they have not had any other complaints (of course). I spent $100 to have the fuel tested so it could be ruled out before replacing the fuel injectors under the Honda extended warranty. Hmmm... that isn't sitting quite right with me at the moment. I was asked to run the remaining 1/3 of a tank of fuel as low as possible and fill up at a different station to see if the problem goes away on it's own. Even if it does, how do I know that the injectors have not been damaged and are performing correctly after passing a tank of bad fuel?

The truck goes into the body shop on Monday for a week to repair the damage from having some venison in the grille a couple of weeks ago. I have lived in Pennsylvania for 40 years and I am not a hunter but I finally got my first deer! It could have been a LOT worse though. We were on I-80 doing 70 MPH when I spotted the deer crossing right in front of me. It was a huge buck. I hit it and it drove the whole passenger side headlight assembly back into the engine compartment, tore up the front bumper cover and bent the front fender. All in all, we were very lucky. No other vehicles became involved, no loss of control, no airbag deployment and relatively minor damage. I won't be able to provide any updates about the new fuel experiment until I get the truck back and have the opportunity to drive it for a while. All that will probably take a week or two. For the benefit of future readers of this thread with the same symptoms I will update my results then.