New owner, getting my hands dirty

6817 Views 48 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Untold, Mar 30, 2015

Untold

Discussion Starter · Jan 24, 2015

Hi all. I picked up a 2007 RTX last month. 70k miles. So far, I have replaced the transfer case gear oil, VTM4 fluid, and have done 2x drain and fills with DW1. I plan to do it one more time soon, it's already made a difference, I'm thinking it still had the old type of fluid in there.

The other day I installed a USA Spec ipod unit and aux input.

And today I ordered a Spectra radiator from Amazon today to get that out of the way for peace of mind (New England). I also did the Idle Learn Procedure, just to see if it makes a difference.

I also removed the OEM tonneau cover (damn it's heavy!), and am deciding whether to keep it or sell it and get a soft cover that gives me easier access to the full bed.

Anyways, hi. Already learning a lot digging through this forum.

Here's a pic of the RL with the Frontier that it replaced.

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1 - 20 of 49 Posts

rollinhonda

· #2 · Jan 24, 2015

Congrats on your new truck and welcome! Sounds like you are doing all the 'Right Stuff' to protect your investment. Way to go!!

Dnick

· #3 · Jan 24, 2015

You are definitely going to enjoy the upgrade.

Untold

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 25, 2015

I'm 6'5" and barely fit in the Frontier. The Ridgeline fits me so much better. It feels so roomy I'm thinking of ditching my apartment and living in it.

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coolbob

· #5 · Jan 25, 2015

Congrats on your RL and welcome to the ROC!

tmy3329

· #6 · Jan 25, 2015

Congrats on your purchase & Welcome to the ROC!

Slider

· #7 · Jan 25, 2015

Looks good. Keep that cover, replace the bolts with two clips and the cover will go off and on in no time. It will also fit in the back seat area or along the side if you need to haul something unexpectedly. Had mine since new. Still works great.

Untold

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 25, 2015

Thanks for the tip, I didn't think it would fit in the back seat. I actually saw a post about those clips for the tonneau cover and already picked some up, but that was after I had already hauled the cover inside the apartment and I haven't been motivated enough to bring it back out.

coolbob

· #9 · Jan 25, 2015 (Edited)

Take a look at a BakFlip or similar cover, so much more versatile than OEM in my opinion.

Yesterday my wife and I visited a 450,000 sq-ft furniture store and stumbled on an amazing deal on a red leather Ashley chair ($220 out the door because it was discontinued model and last one in stock). The furniture store is about 65-miles from home. If I had the OEM cover, I would have had four options. 1)Remove the cover before leaving for the store in anticipation of buying something that would fit in the truck. 2)Pay for delivery of the chair and take off work to meet delivery guys. 3)Remove OEM cover, take chair home and return to reclaim the OEM cover. 4)Go home, drop off OEM cover, return to store for chair and bring it home.

Since I had a BakFlip, I backed the RL into the warehouse, spent about 10-minutes showing the staff the double-action tailgate and truck and then flipped the BakFlip up against the rear window of the truck. They wrapped the chair in plastic and taped it, then put it in the bed with the back of the chair up tight against the folded BakFlip. I hooked a couple of adjustable bungie cords I keep in the truck around the chair and attached them to the front tie downs on the floor. Closed the tailgate and we were off in under 5-minutes.

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wrenrj1

· #10 · Jan 26, 2015

Welcome! I have a 2007 RTX with about 75K as well, AND the USA SPEC iPod adaptor. I put an Aux Input plug in one of the switch plates between the 12v outlets. Let me know if you want pics.

Slider

· #11 · Jan 26, 2015

coolbob said:
Take a look at a BakFlip or similar cover, so much more versatile than OEM in my opinion.

Yesterday my wife and I visited a 450,000 sq-ft furniture store and stumbled on an amazing deal on a red leather Ashley chair ($220 out the door because it was discontinued model and last one in stock). The furniture store is about 65-miles from home. If I had the OEM cover, I would have had four options. 1)Remove the cover before leaving for the store in anticipation of buying something that would fit in the truck. 2)Pay for delivery of the chair and take off work to meet delivery guys. 3)Remove OEM cover, take chair home and return to reclaim the OEM cover. 4)Go home, drop off OEM cover, return to store for chair and bring it home.

That's ridiculous. I use one clip to hold mine on. I pull the clip, fold it up and lift it to the side of the bed or put it in the back seat. Then when I get home I put it back on and stand on it if I have to put something in the overhead garage storage. It also looks good and fits better than any other.

Slider

· #12 · Jan 26, 2015

One of these will hold it on:

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1...ed-Round-Head-Wire-Lock-Pin-807468/204276210/

Untold

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 26, 2015

wrenrj1 said:
Welcome! I have a 2007 RTX with about 75K as well, AND the USA SPEC iPod adaptor. I put an Aux Input plug in one of the switch plates between the 12v outlets. Let me know if you want pics.

I was considering the same location, but ended up putting it up by the storage tray above the glove box. This way, I have my old 30gb ipod plugged in all the time in the little flip-open tray under the radio. And if I have a passenger, they can use the aux input and I can just flip to pre-set 6 to stream their audio. Great when my girlfriend and I are on a long drive and want to switch back and forth between our ipods.

Untold

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 23, 2015

Got around to replacing my radiator. 20 degrees outside, and in a parking lot (I only have street parking).
Not that bad. I had no choice but to be successful or else I wouldn't be able to get home.
Unclipping the lower wiring harness for the fan was annoying, and I really could have used the proper tool for dealing with those hose clamp things. If it weren't for those, it would have been an hour and a half job. As it were, it took 3 hours.
Drained and filled the tranny fluid as well.
Before the Ridgeline, I had never so much as changed the oil in a car. I have worked on motorcycles for the past couple of years, but without this forum I would never have the confidence to tackle this on my own.

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Dnick

· #15 · Feb 23, 2015

Untold said:
Got around to replacing my radiator. 20 degrees outside, and in a parking lot (I only have street parking).
Not that bad. I had no choice but to be successful or else I wouldn't be able to get home.
Unclipping the lower wiring harness for the fan was annoying, and I really could have used the proper tool for dealing with those hose clamp things. If it weren't for those, it would have been an hour and a half job. As it were, it took 3 hours.
Drained and filled the tranny fluid as well.
Before the Ridgeline, I had never so much as changed the oil in a car. I have worked on motorcycles for the past couple of years, but without this forum I would never have the confidence to tackle this on my own.

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Please excuse the implication, but since you said you've never even changed oil in a car & have worked mostly on motorcycles, I just want to offer this precaution: Make SURE you drain & filled the correct units under the car when you do the VTM-4 fluid & the transfer case (these are NOT the transmission). You should do those also if you are doing the tranny fluid, I believe (check for d&f intervals).
Just wanted to be sure you get the right fluids in the right places. Glad you are enjoying getting your hands dirty. It can be satisfying to DIY.

Untold

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 23, 2015

Yup, I did thorough research before doing the transfer case and VTM, read every thread and watched every video. Used all Honda fluids except for the transfer case gear oil (Royal Purple). This was my 3rd D&F for the transmission, ensuring that I've got all DW-1 in there, not sure what the PO was running.

northernlights

· #17 · Feb 23, 2015

Wow a hard ass rookie, I like it. Good for you 99% wouldn't attempt that in a parking lot. Don't know how you got all the parts together in such a short time to do the job but who am I to say. RL on :act035: 3 hours aint bad for all you did under the conditions.

Dnick

· #18 · Feb 23, 2015

northernlights said:
Wow a hard ass rookie, I like it. Good for you 99% wouldn't attempt that in a parking lot. Don't know how you got all the parts together in such a short time to do the job but who am I to say. RL on :act035: 3 hours aint bad for all you did under the conditions.

I'm guessing "those conditions" helped motivate a speedy completion! Brrrrr...

Not like sippin' a beer on a summer's day while you dink away at RL maintenance chores. :act024:

Untold

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 23, 2015

Ha. It's true, I was very focused on the work. And I had done enough research to know exactly what i needed to do, so there wasn't much sitting and pondering. I was more concerned with getting in trouble for doing it in the lot so I wanted to be as quick as possible.
I was hoping to do it yesterday when it was a balmy 35 degrees, but the parts counter at Honda wasn't open so I couldn't get the coolant and ATF.

Untold

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 23, 2015

2

My old fittings. The radiator looks more like the Spectra than the pics I've seen of OEM. Maybe the radiator was replaced in the past? Either way I'm glad I did it.

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