Seriously, in the NorthEast we had a blizzard this past week. Working for the utility I have driven in many storms but none ever as bad as this one and I honestly can say I've never felt safer. Unplowed highways with 4-6" of snow on them and the RL cruised through at 50 w/ no problem.... how the heck your friend managed to get stuck is beyond my imagination....

 

Your brother's neighbor needs to become better educated about his Ridge. Direct him to the ROC and let him feast on the collective wisdom.

VTM-4 LOCK begins reducing from its max effectiveness to nothing between 6 and 18 mph. If he tried to manually engage VTM-4 lock with the transmission selector in Drive, then lock will not engage. VTM-4 action (a different mode) is continuous when driving.

Here are some excerpts from a link that explains it all:

2. Slip Control Logic
The second engagement mode uses wheel slippage control logic. If the difference in rotational speed between front and rear wheels rises because of a slippery surface or poor traction at the front of the vehicle, that condition is detected by wheel-speed sensors which are monitored by VTM-4's ECU. In response, the ECU commands an increasing amount of torque for the rear wheels. Torque is proportional to both slip rate and the rate at which the slip rate is increasing. This operation is similar to conventional slip-based all-wheel-drive systems already on the market.

Lock Mode
The VTM-4 Lock mode can be activated only at speeds less than 18 mph in 1st, 2nd, or Reverse Gear positions. Note, when the transmission shift lever is placed in 2nd gear, it forces the vehicle into a 2nd gear start condition. This is only desirable on slippery surfaces such as ice or packed snow. To apply the maximum torque to the wheels for climbing a grade or to become un-stuck, you should always use the 1st gear position. Lugging the engine with the transmission in 2nd gear from a stop, may overheat the transmission and limit your ability to climb a steep hill or overcome a difficult traction condition.

 

Your brother's neighbor needs to become better educated about his Ridge. Direct him to the ROC and let him feast on the collective wisdom.

Bingo! The ROC will set him free.....lol

 

Hi Stackedape-

I really don't know! I didn't get this story first hand, though I will talk to the guy. Seems like this guy's hobby is working on cars. Does this mean you know everything about all vehicles and how to drive them?

I had picked up a friend on Sunday morning. He said that he was watching people trying to get up this incline and everyone had problems. Of course, I told him I HAD to see how my new baby would handle it! I went up it like I was driving on dry pavement! I didn't floor it, just slow and steady acceleration. When we got to Liberty State Park, I parked in a parking lot that had not been plowed yet; NO PROBLEMS going in or out of it!!

 

Seems like this guy's hobby is working on cars. Does this mean you know everything about all vehicles and how to drive them?

I think that this is a good speculation about the problem here.

If he thinks that a locked axle unlocking itself as speed increases is a bad thing, I'd hate to see what he's done to any previous vehicles that had this feature. As speedlever explained, as you drive there are rotational differences between the wheels and driving far with a locked axle can introduce pressure between the mechanical components of the drive system. With conventional 4WD systems, there is little or no protection from this other than presumed slippage on a loose road surface. With the Ridgline, the speed-induced disengagement provides more protection against the driver's mistake.

It sounds like your brother's neighbour failed to get out of the ditch for the same reason he got into it: he does not know how to drive in a low-traction situation, and he expects his truck's 4WD system to perform magic. There are places to go to see magic shows, but I hope that someone else will volunteer to drive him there if it's snowing.

 

Please let me know if the Ridgeline is a 4x4 or not. (I do remember reading all wheel drive somewhere, too.) The neighbor thinks that there's nothing over the 18 mph.

Simple answer: The Ridgeline is an all wheel drive vehicle that uses 4x4 when necessary. The 4x4 will work at any speed. The VTM-4 lock is seperate, and when activated helps the vehicle get out of bad situations. As said above, it works from 0 to 18 MPH. It ceases to work over 18 MPH to prevent damage.

 

Just to clarify, only VTM-4 lock ceases to operate above 18 mph. Otherwise, AWD is fully functional at any speed as determined by the VTM-4 system electronic control unit (ECU).

 

Hi Guys-
Thanks for the info and advice. I agree with you all. Hopefully, I'll be able to get him onto the forum. It will help him a great deal; if he has an open mind. I hope so- for his sake.

I'll keep you posted.

 

Hey Everyone,

This is my first post and I'm a little concerned. I bought my 2007 Ridge new and up until last week I couldn't say anything more about how this is one outstanding vehicle! I live on the Jersey Shore and we received a little over 24" of snow on the weekend before Christmas. My Ridge has 34,000 miles and is serviced regularly and has never been abused. My ridge could not move thru the snow!! It kept losing RPM's and almost died as I tried pushing thru the snow. Everytime I backed up thru my original tracks so I could gain speed to blast thru the snow my truck would eventually die to an almost stall. It was sickening. My buddy finally had to plow me out with his beat up dodge SUV that he put a plow on. Not only could he get thru the snow, he was actually plowing and pushing great piles of snow out of the way. What the heck is this all about?

Desperate to find out the answer. Photos of my Ridge to follow:

paz

 

Next time turn off VSA and you'll be pulling the old Dodge out.

 

Sounds like snow was building up underneath the chassis and you were trying to blast through it with the VSA on. Turn it off next time. The wheels will spin and the engine will not bog, but you may still get stuck in 24" of snow.

 

People! Turn of stability control when going through deep snow! That keeps the wheels driving forward instead of sensing slippage. Use VTM as well, but watch your speed to keep it engaged. The last two snows here in Nebraska have been 10-12 inches plus the blizzard that comes behind making drifts over 3 feet in the neighborhood. I went through a spot where a Dodge 2500 4X4 was stuck hours before (because I had to, not that I wanted to).

Stability control has saved my ars, but getting out of the neighborhood it's a hinderance when you need forward momentum.

 

Did you not read the above posts ??? Or the owners manual??? Turn off VSA and you will be fine.

 

It's considered 'part of the vehicle' for a reason.......

:act018:

 

right on part of vehicle


GreenPlanet are you a troll?

Originally Posted by GreenPlanet
Help! I just traded in my 2007 Ridgeline RTL for a new 2011 RTL. The 2011 SUCKS! I put 47,000 miles on my 2007 and I loved it! Honda cheapened the 2011 by cutting too many corners. I put 60 miles on my new truck so far and I feel as though I'm going to have a heart attack. The stereo doesn't come close to the premium sound system of the 2007, The new truck's wind noise hurts your ears to the point I was getting nauseous; even my wife wanted out.

I had a feeling something was wrong before I even sat in my new truck. I cleared the remaining items out of my 2007's trunk at the dealer to put into the new truck and when I opened the tailgate I paused; the tailgate was lighter and felt cheap.

What the heck do I do now? Does anyone have any advice? Please don't say the I should have bought a ford or a chevy.

Thanks, I feel cheated

 

You fellers know you're posting to a year old thread?

 

Yes, but I've got nothing better to do as the is no new RL Matchbox out as of yet t comment on.:act030:

 

and your point is...lol

 

I forget!

:act024:

 

I have an '06 Ridgeline and that thing is a beast! I've had plenty of trucks with my last one being a Chevrolet 2500 HD 4 door 4 wheel drive with a 6.0 gasoline burner (big macho truck!!) And I've never driven anything this good in the snow and ice. I live in Georgia so snow and ice down here makes people loose their minds! I have to be able to get to work no matter what and I don't worry when I have my Ridgeline.

 

Good show! Keep out in front of those doomed to get stuck and you'll be in the clear.

Welcome to the ROC.

 

Oh my, a double resurrection of a thread.

 

Second coming?

 

What will we all do when Honda comes up with the 2nd gen Ridge? We can go back to 05 now and say this is the way they built it. One of these days, we will have to ask which generation are you driving?

 

Drove through the same storm in North NJ from NYC 25 miles to home 40-50 on unplowed highways and side streets no problem!