Caution Installing Honda Trailer Hitch Harness

[Webwader]

From the Honda Service News bulletin, courtesy of csimo.
VTM-4 Fuse Blows After Trailer Hitch Installation

If you’re installing the accessory trailer hitch on a ’06 Ridgeline, make sure you follow the installation instructions to the letter. In particular,don’t ignore step 2, which tells you to disconnect the negative battery cable.If you install the kit relay into the vehicle relay block with the battery still connected, you could cause a short in the VTM-4 circuit and blow the No. 4 (20A) VTM-4 fuse. That could prove a costly mistake. Fuse replacement and any resultant troubleshooting from that oversight aren’t covered by warranty.

Thanks for providing this info, csimo.

[Truckin']

Wow, that's kinda scary. I'm glad we followed those instructions. It seems like I read about someone who did not disconnect the battery but I don't remember anything bad happening.

I'll add one more caution that will help in the area of comfort, if it can be named that. Before you disconnect the battery, be sure that you push the driver's side power seat all the way back. It takes a contortionist's ability to wiggle in there and reach up under the dash for the wiring bundle. Give yourself as much room as possible.

[Webwader]

From the Honda Service News, provided by csimo.

Back-Up Lamp Circuit Can’t Handle Additional Load
The 7P trailer connector for the ’06 Ridgeline doesn’t support back-up lights, even though the connector schematic that’s molded into the connector cover says Back-Up Lamp. Don’t add extra back-up lights or accessories to this circuit; the wiring and switches can’t handle the
additional load.

[ProHonda]

Originally Posted by Webwader

From the Honda Service News, provided by csimo.

Back-Up Lamp Circuit Can’t Handle Additional Load
The 7P trailer connector for the ’06 Ridgeline doesn’t support back-up lights, even though the connector schematic that’s molded into the connector cover says Back-Up Lamp. Don’t add extra back-up lights or accessories to this circuit; the wiring and switches can’t handle the
additional load.

Sounds like hogwash to me, you never, ever run power thru any switch. The switch should turn the relay on. SO IF wired properly there should be any issues.

[WyoRL]

Originally Posted by Webwader

From the Honda Service News bulletin, courtesy of csimo.
VTM-4 Fuse Blows After Trailer Hitch Installation

If you’re installing the accessory trailer hitch on a ’06 Ridgeline, make sure you follow the installation instructions to the letter. In particular,don’t ignore step 2, which tells you to disconnect the negative battery cable.If you install the kit relay into the vehicle relay block with the battery still connected, you could cause a short in the VTM-4 circuit and blow the No. 4 (20A) VTM-4 fuse. That could prove a costly mistake. Fuse replacement and any resultant troubleshooting from that oversight aren’t covered by warranty.

Thanks for providing this info, csimo.

So how would you know if this fuse was blown? My dealer installed my hitch but just in case....

[WhiteRTLnav]

So, I have the Honda hitch, but not the harness.... So if I install the harness, am I to assume that my trailer will not have backup lights through the Honda harness? That's kinda what I am gathering from these posts. If that's the case, then Honda REALLY screwed up on this.

[Webwader]

If your RL was built before 8/24/05, then you will not have backup light capabilty. Honda corrected the problem on that date.

[BillB]

If you were built before 8/24, Honda should be retro-fixing this. I can see them explaining the all doors dont unlock by saying it is a safety feature not to unlock, but how are they going to explain designing something that is more un-safe in the back up lights of a trailer?

[ridged]

Originally Posted by BillB

If you were built before 8/24, Honda should be retro-fixing this. I can see them explaining the all doors dont unlock by saying it is a safety feature not to unlock, but how are they going to explain designing something that is more un-safe in the back up lights of a trailer?

When I spoke to a Honda customer service rep last week, they had no plans to retrofit earlier models. They recommended to pay U-Haul to add the seventh wire. What a great way to win customer loyalty!

[Webwader]

I fail to understand their answer either. Why are we not entitled to the same functionality of someone that purchased a RL after 8/24? We both have 2006 models, we both paid the same money, and we were both subjected to the same advertising that said that Honda provided a 4-pin and a 7-pin connector with the towing package. I don't remember seeing a 6-pin connector mentioned anywhere.