Honda Ridgeline Owners Club Forums banner

Have you looked for the hesitation and felt it?

21 - 40 of 225 Posts
Does it happen full tank, 1/4 tank, almost empty tank?

Right and left turns or only right?

Get yourself a cheap-o OBDII tool/app for your phone and check your fuel pressure when this happens. That's my guess if your traction control is off and your tank is less than half full.
 
Thanks Hawkfan, I believe you just justified my VCMuzzler II purchase. While I don't see this hesitation behavior anywhere near as frequently as GTRdone does, I literally detest hesitation. It brings me right back to 1973 when all the smog stuff first went on and every new car drove like a piece of crap. So I've run into the hesitation two or three times. The dealer punted on it. I don't have the VCMuzzler yet. I'd like to try to figure out how I can make this hesitation happen at will. I'll try the coasting method that was mentioned and also right turns (that might indicate temporary fuel starvation, by the way). If I can initiate this unwanted symptom at will without the VCMuzzler II, and then am unable to do so with the VCMuzzler II in place, well, then, I'll likely be among the converted.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shineaholic
@Hawkfan

I have also seen this problem on an new Odyssey (2012 Touring Canadian = Elite USA). This was addressed by TSB 12-064 which modified the shift point programming.

That is interesting. Wasn't one of the supposed reasons for the delay of the RL due to shift point programming? Maybe either some were not done or reprogramming them created this issue? If that is the case, it should be fixable....
 
Just remembered that on one occasion when I ran into a hesitation issue, the truck was moving uphill. That's another possible symptom that might indicate fuel starvation. I don't have an OBD2, but I'd love to know what my fuel pressure was at that point. I also would love to know when the VCM is going on and off.

If anyone has a recommendation for me about what OBD2 hardware to buy that would show me both of these events I'd be very grateful. If its germane, my smartphone is an iPhone, unfortunately, and I don't have access to an Android phone. My dilemma in buying this equipment is that the $20 Wi-Fi relay OBD2 connectors don't talk about real-time data, and very often only give a basic list of sensors that they support — none of which to me seems to relevant to the VCM. I've looked at more expensive tools that are designed to be standalone, which definitely parse real-time data, including the data stream from the PCM, which might get me to the VCM. But I'm just not sure. Anyone know about this stuff?

I can post a list of two or three standalone scan tools that I've looked at. One of them claims Honda specific functionality — I believe it's called Auto Phix.
 
I doubt that it is fuel starvation, as there should be sufficient fuel in the filter and line, unless fuel pressure is unusually low to start with.

I use an OBDII bluetooth adapter that I got from Amazon for $13, along with the Torque app (don't know if that is available for iOS yet). It gives fuel pressure, fuel flow rate, and a whole bunch of other stuff. If iOS doesn't have anything similar, it might be worth picking up a cheap android tablet (the HiSense Sero Pro 7 should be pretty cheap now, and was supposed to be similar to my top-rated 2013 Nexus 7 when I got it 3 years ago).

Speaking of going around corners, my old Dodge Charger with 400c.i. big block, when low on oil, would flash a low-oil warning light when turning right. This was because the oil pickup was on the right rear of the crankcase, so that the engine wouldn't starve for oil while going CCW on the NASCAR tracks!
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
OK... back from the dealership. As i was leaving my house and as i pulled into the dealership, i was able to duplicate the problem. this problem happens about 50% of the time no matter what amount of fuel is in my tank. I went to the dealership and I was only able to drive an RTL AWD, the unit was a dealer swap and had 265 miles on it. I drove it for a good ten minutes and at no point in time did it ever hesitate.

The salesman drove my vehicle and i was in the passenger seat. He was able to duplicate the problem pulling right out of the dealership parking lot.

While i had my hands on another ridgeline, I decided to check the drivers door. My vehicle has a door close issue where it's harder than necessary to close the door. This was not a problem on the RTL AWD. now this isn't to say every AWD will not have problems, but the one i tester worked fine. While they were looking at the vehicle in service, I spoke with a service advisor who has been there for many many years. He claimed the odysseys were having the same issue and honda is aware of both and working on a fix and that it would take some time. I'm not sure how true this is but lets hope and see if he's right. He didn't blame cylinder activation but instead said it has to do with the transmission downshifting each gear as you slow down. I told him the transmission should be in the correct gear when rolling between 5-10 MPH. Furthermore my defense was that when you apply throttle, the engine does nothing, then abruptly accelerates. On the RTL AWD I was able to mash the throttle and every time you could immediately hear the engine rev, even when the tranny was sluggish to decide what gear to be in. Throttle response was not an issue in the AWD compared to my 2WD. Again, this doesn't mean AWD is superior, but who knows. The service advisor said the vehicle adapts to my driving and learns its shift points from it. I'm not sure how much of that is true either. Bottom line, I was able to duplicate the problem several times and Honda is aware. Between that and reading this forum and now having others experiencing the same issue hopefully this will be addressed.

On a side note, when I mentioned the door closing hard, before I could finish he went off to say honda cars have 3 door seals per door, they are thicker, and are supposed to be hard to close so you know you have a good seal. I cut him short and told him the two rubber grommets were adjusted the same on the RTL and the RTL AWD and the AWD door closed fine with two fingers. I did notice the door strike plate was 1/8 higher than the AWD. Service adjusted it and still could not get it to close properly. I noticed the rubber seal was not sitting flush and some of it was folded over in the corner. I figured this would fix it but it didn't. I'll tinker with it some more on my own and post my discoveries. Best thing we can do for the hesitation issue is hurry up and wait :(
 
OK, so you do have a FWD RL. I wonder if that's the difference, but I still can't imagine what would cause that hesitation. I call BS on the learning process. The AWD RL proves it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shineaholic
Just remembered that on one occasion when I ran into a hesitation issue, the truck was moving uphill. That's another possible symptom that might indicate fuel starvation. I don't have an OBD2, but I'd love to know what my fuel pressure was at that point. I also would love to know when the VCM is going on and off.

If anyone has a recommendation for me about what OBD2 hardware to buy that would show me both of these events I'd be very grateful. If its germane, my smartphone is an iPhone, unfortunately, and I don't have access to an Android phone. My dilemma in buying this equipment is that the $20 Wi-Fi relay OBD2 connectors don't talk about real-time data, and very often only give a basic list of sensors that they support — none of which to me seems to relevant to the VCM. I've looked at more expensive tools that are designed to be standalone, which definitely parse real-time data, including the data stream from the PCM, which might get me to the VCM. But I'm just not sure. Anyone know about this stuff?
I have an older: UltraGauge OBDII Scan tool & Information Center

They have a wireless version for iOS as well. 87+ "gauges" supported. I would call their tech folks and ask them specifically about 2017 Honda "gauges" as it does vary by vehicle.
 
Just to be sure I am clear on this:

1) It only does it after a turn or does it do it after a straight line "almost stop" such as a light changing just as you get to it?

2) It never does it after a complete stop.

Just want to know when to look for it.

Thanks
 
CCDAstro: Three people have experienced this and we've each described it differently. I don't whether we're making assumptions based on random context or whether the context is key. The universal experiences:

1. Engine hesitates for 1 to 2 seconds, meaning that you put your foot down on the gas and there is a delay before you get a response from the engine.

2. All of us were decelerating towards a stop, but then were able to accelerate, and that's when the hesitation happened.

I have only had this happen three times; I can only remember the context of one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jayman_00001
Emissions related tune? Extra lean on decel and not quick enough to go back to richer map when asked? Similar to a carb car with an undersized accelerator pump.

Try doing it without turning. Coast to a stop, but before you come to a complete stop, floor it. How quickly does it respond?
 
Amazing what happens when a new vehicle hits the market to the real world people. This is already much worse then the Gen 1 within a couple weeks. Are we all getting much more picky and expect that perfect vehicle, or is it where its made and by whom.
 
I have an older: UltraGauge OBDII Scan tool & Information Center

They have a wireless version for iOS as well. 87+ "gauges" supported. I would call their tech folks and ask them specifically about 2017 Honda "gauges" as it does vary by vehicle.
Thanks for this info. They do offer a ton of gauges. Also first company I've found that has a bluetooth solutiion for Apple products. Their hardware supports Android and iOS simultaneously. Looks like a great lead. Appreciate it.cWill call them.
 
Discussion starter · #38 ·
Right as I pulled into the dealership today, i slowed down to approx 5 mph, made the turn in and then nailed the throttle - there was a 2 second delay. when i mashed the throttle note that the engine did not rev at all during this hesitation. Now with that said, if you hit the throttle in a straight line the engine will rev immediately. Every time i tried to make the engine hesitate in a straight line i'd always end up waiting on the transmission to shift which takes about .5 - 1 second (normal). The hesitation is only when I have committed to a turn and then apply moderate throttle input.... the vehicle takes a nose dive... not a very good feeling if you happened to misjudge a cars speed coming at you, you'll put it to the floor and it does nothing. hope this helps.
 
The '06 RL had a similar problem. Tranny would downshift then forget to upshift at highway speeds, hesitation caused by a downshift while making 90 degree turns as in an inner-city intersection and a lag when trying to accelerate into oncoming traffic from an on-ramp after slowing down. This was quite scary when it happened to me. Sounds what new GenII owners are experiencing now. In the '06, the problems were cleared up with a single software upgrade on the tranny.
 
This may be a normal Honda engine thing in some cars. My Gen 1 does this at times if you step on it it there is sometimes a delay and sometimes just no power at all. Maybe not on the turn but shortly after that I have noticed this. I never liked it but accepted it. Also had a mechanic look at it and said it might have to do with the transmission and throttle delay. Nothing that is detrimental to the systems in place. The transmission checked out fine.
 
21 - 40 of 225 Posts