That much metal on the magnet after that many drain and fills doesn't look very comforting.

 

It's not comforting at all. The solid chunks are unnerving as well.

 

Interesting. Looks to me like his transmission is eating itself up. Probably excessive wear occurring in there.

Like we said, if you've got a good one you are good. If you have a bad one watch out! His is going to terminate at some point IMO.

 

There are three types of Honda owners with 6 speeds.
1. People like me who want to know what's going on inside their transmission and are using high quality fluids and analysis. (very low numbers of people do this)
2. People who see me and then change their fluid more often but still just keep driving it.
3. People who give a rats ass and just change it at the dealer when the numbers come up on the screen.

I'll never fall into Number 3. I do number 2 on the SRX we own as I've watched others on the group talk about transmission things and the dealer mechanic who recommended the add on external cooler and 30k fluid changes. In the past I've changed fluid for years as a number 2 watcher. This transmission is the first one I've sent things in for analysis and that's been because of the failures we've seen on here.

 

There are three types of Honda owners with 6 speeds.
1. People like me who want to know what's going on inside their transmission and are using high quality fluids and analysis. (very low numbers of people do this)
2. People who see me and then change their fluid more often but still just keep driving it.
3. People who give a rats ass and just change it at the dealer when the numbers come up on the screen.

I'll never fall into Number 3. I do number 2 on the SRX we own as I've watched others on the group talk about transmission things and the dealer mechanic who recommended the add on external cooler and 30k fluid changes. In the past I've changed fluid for years as a number 2 watcher. This transmission is the first one I've sent things in for analysis and that's been because of the failures we've seen on here.

I think you're on to something using a different brand fluid (IIRC it's you) even if you get some naysaying over it from some people here. I would say why not try it because it's almost certain most of the failures are with the OEM fluid. And I'm not saying the fluid has anything to do with it but why not see how it goes

 

If the fluid and/or VCM is to blame, how do we explain the majority of 6-speeds that are still going strong when VCM is left to operate as designed and the DW-1 is used only when code 3 appears on the Maintenance Minder (or less frequently as I've been reported by those who perform premature engine oil changes and always reset the MM before the oil life reaches 15% and are blissfully unaware that they have missed an ATF change)?

 

Maybe their transmission wasn’t built on a Monday or a Friday? Just guessing here!

 

My friend goes to church every Sunday?

 

Extends the life of your transmission
Doubles the change intervals
Reduces temps by 40 degrees

Problems solved

 

Reduces temps by 40 degrees

I need to drink some of that for myself!

 

Hey SEW ! You know me. Mine hasn't failed! I've done all kinds of testing on it so we know what it's current condition is too.

 

@Soichiro1906 Short of the known judder thing circa 90k that was resolved with a 3x DF, I had been following the MM. I did not have tranny issues until ~130k which presented as slightly harder shifting. Ultimately I faced the decision of trade it in while it was on it's own power (the vehicle would resolve the issue upon restart) or replace the tranny. My fluid analysis from the used fluid was fine, although it was low mileage due to recent changes.

I'm of the camp that if you got a good one, you got a good one... if not, it will fail extra early vs during a more expected failure age, which may be a tad low for these 6 speeds.

 

I'm of the camp that if you got a good one, you got a good one

I'm in lockstep with you on this. I think replacing the tranny was a reasonable choice (especially if you recently performed the timing belt/water pump service) and one that I hope serves you well for at least another 100K.

My buddy plans to run his into the ground so we'll see what happens.

 

Silkiechicken,
Living in a rural area and being extremely efficiency conscious, I view using the brake pedal akin to an emergency procedure. In addition, I virtually always have the RL in “Econ”. Maybe being toogentle is a problem.

 

Unfortunately, newer vehicles won't let you do that which is why you see older vehicles on Neutral Drop.

 

OMG there's a YouTube channel for everything.

The Mustang caught on fire hahaha! What a bunch of jackasses

 

I have about 120k on my 17. I RARELY tow but do drive a little aggressively. My father in law always asks me if I stole it when he's in the passenger seat. So far all is well with my tranny and it still shifts really well. I agree that zroger77 numbers are correct but i would double that 4% because of the owners who don't post about their trans problem.

 

zroger77 being the 4 years younger version of what we have.

 

I'm afraid that my 2019 Honda Ridgeline transmission is acting like the 2017 models that had several Service Bulletins executed. My Ridgeline with 43K miles surges under light acceleration. It is worse when econ mode is on. The tack jumps 100-200 rpm during the surging. It seems to happen most frequently when the truck has a small, easy, or steady acceleration load when the speed in under 50mph. It is more pronounced with light to steady acceleration from a stop or low speed and climbing a road incline up to approximately 34 mph and around 1500 RPM. It also does it around 40 to 45 mph holding a steady acceleration uphill on hilly terrain.

When I researched it online, I found a lot of similar complaints about 2017 ridgeline complaints which led to Honda Service Bulletins 17-025 and 17-025. It is important that I document the issue to ensure that necessary corrective action occurs within the warranty period.

The off and on surging has been ongoing for 3 months and is even noticeable by my wife in the passenger role who knows absolutely nothing about mechanical issues. Took it to the dealer and they test drove and confirmed torque converter judder. Their recommendation was ATF flush procedure for $517 and if judder remains, replace the torque converter. Seems pretty pricy but have limited options. Don't believe that Honda has really fixed their 2017 SB issue.

 

The off and on surging has been ongoing for 3 months and is even noticeable by my wife in the passenger role who knows absolutely nothing about mechanical issues. Took it to the dealer and they test drove and confirmed torque converter judder. Their recommendation was ATF flush procedure for $517 and if judder remains, replace the torque converter. Seems pretty pricy but have limited options. Don't believe that Honda has really fixed their 2017 SB issue.

The "ATF flush" procedure is just multiple drain and fills of the ATF (~ 4 times). It's very easy to do yourself (easier than a regular oil change) and you'll save yourself $100's.

It would also be worth taking an ATF sample when you do your first drain and send it for analysis. You'll get an idea of the amount of wear going on in your transmission. Only costs around $30 (depending on where you send it to) to do this. Others have reported their analysis results on this forum, so you'll have something to compare to.

 

DAMN! Now that is so very disappointing being a 2019. If I were in your shoes, and since the tranny needs to be removed anyways, I think I would just replace the whole unit?
Bill

 

There is a service Bulletin for 2017 only. Honda has not issued a SB for 2018 and 2019 yet. And since honda went from 6 speed to 9 speed drive in 2020, they are not likely to issue one. Thus, I have to pay. Not right for sure.

 

I'd call Honda and complain about this. If you have maintained the vehicle per Honda's instructions, then you should not have to pay for a procedure that attempts to correct a problem that you didn't cause. At 43K, you weren't due for the first transmission fluid change yet, so that's on Honda - not you.

 

I made the same argument with the head service manager to no avail. I plan to follow up with Honda corporate but not getting my hopes up.

 

so my question to you guys if you do the 3 drain and flush and problem goes away, is that not just a band aid and going to recur?

 

They also reprogram the computer to change shift patterns so maybe "Better than bandaid" or at least we hope so.

 

Well mine is lunging or shuddering, 51k on the meter, set to take it in to a dealership in the morning, my question is other than them wanting to do the flush is their any advantage to let them do it rather than do it myself? Is Honda going to step up to the plate in 10k miles when the trans takes the big dump? Is this flush thing going to cure Honda's mistake? I spoke with a honda guy that runs his own shop yesterday, he is on his third honda flush out just this week, he say's 2 flush's have been getting him results, he is not sold on the reprogramming, he thinks that once you do the flush and get it going right changing fluid every 15k miles should save the trans, what do yaw think? I just can not convince myself going to a dealership is the answer.

 

What I would like to know is why we are coming up on 70,000 miles now, we have over 10,000 miles of hard towing and we have seen temps topping out at 245 degrees, but even with this "abuse", we have experienced zero issues to date? Around 35,000 miles I did succumb to the hysteria of the time and performed a triple dump-n-fill, but several fluid analysis done in conjunction with these dump-n-fills were inconclusive at best. Even though there has been a number of obviously legitimate failures, I am beginning to wonder just how many of these other unsubstantiated issues being reported are actually legitimate, or are they simply a matter of induced mass hysteria, (like VCM fears?)
Bill

 

I switched the Trans oil to Full real synthetic from Amsoil. Personally I believe that will help it along with more frequent changes. The iron wear is down and that part of it as we've seen some results lately. Lots of gear on gear wear in this transmission. And the fluid doesn't protect it from wearing.

Personally I'd do the fluid change myself. But if you wanted it to be all Honda and it might be possible for them to stand up and help out as has been reported on here a few times, you might want to have it done at the dealer then. No guarantees on the Honda assist if it does fail but some have gotten the trans replaced for free or little cost. Your call.

 

At the mileage your truck is at I would let Honda do the service and have it documented in their system.
I had them do the TSB on mine and if it did come down to complete failure I would definitely use that as a bargaining chip for some help on the replacement.

My 2c for what it's worth

 

I did the three fluid change per TSB at Honda dealership at 43K. It has stabilized the surging for now. I wanted to establish the issue with Honda just in case. Notwithstanding, my 5 year warranty expires this month. My only hope is that Honda will own up to their defect transmission error. They knew that they had a problem. That's why they changed to a 9 speed transmission in 2020 models,

 

My only hope is that Honda will own up to their defect transmission error. They knew that they had a problem. That's why they changed to a 9 speed transmission in 2020 models,

We never experienced the 5-speed but I don't seem to hear very much about it having any issues, but yet Honda went with the 6-speed? So, isn't it being a bit presumptuous to say that Honda went to the 9-speed just because of the 6-speeds issues? I am thinking that it all had been in the planning long before the 6-speed was introduced!
Bill

 

Boy, talk about putting words into somebody's mouth. Manufacturers do not make decisions on the spur of the moment, things are long planned out in advance. So I'll say again I bet way back when that it was planned that the 6-speed would ultimately replace the 5-speed, and then the 9-speed would replace the 6-speed. This was determined long before the 6-speed was actually installed in the Ridgeline where going to the 9-speed had absolutely nothing to do with any issues with the 6-speed. Does that make sense now?
Bill

 

I have a 2019 RIDGELINE 2WD RTL with the 6 speed auto transmission. Had the transmission fluid drained at 30,000 miles and even tho I told the independent shop to use Genuine Honda ATF DW-1, they opted to use the “Honda approved” ‘GLOBAL MULTI VEHICLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID’ that they bought in 55 gal drums.

At 47,300 miles we went on a 2 hour trip. The truck started bucking and jumping, the dash started showing ‘hill stability assist’, ‘trailer stability assist’, and ‘power steering’ lights. The RPM’s fluctuated between 2000 and 5000 when the transmission was looking for the proper gear and the transmission shifted randomly with the accelerator position.

Pulled over to see if we had a tire problem since it sounded like a flat tire...none. Went on our way to destination. After being there for over 1-1/2 hours started the truck and all the lights on the dash went out and drove home without any more problems because of the lower temperature.

Took it to the Honda dealer the next morning and they told me that the fluid in the transmission was the cheapest fluid solD; they had enough stock of the ATF DW-1 so I had them change the fluid. They also put the fluid through a sieve and there were no pieces of the transmission in the fluid.

We have not had anymore problems even though the outside temperature has increased 15° to 20°. Needless to say, we no longer use this shop.