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Terrible Transmission while Towing

20K views 100 replies 37 participants last post by  Pleease 
#1 ·
So , I have a 2019 RTL-E. 34K miles on it. “ “ “Transmission Too Hot” light came on 5x while towing a 2019 Forest River 19’ 3050lb. camper. Took into shop and Honda is having to replace my transmission now. So disappointed. I really love the truck. Rides smooth as butter and feels great. But they really blew it when it came to power. Apparently, there’s been many issues with this. Probably why the 2020 has a 8 speed transmission now. I also bet they got a bigger cooler too. Looks like I’m not gonna take chances anymore. May have to look at a Tundra or Ram.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Bummer. Is that 3050 lbs verified over public scales? Don’t suppose you were monitoring TFT when the message appeared? “Many” issues is kinda subjective.....is many compared to the number built? Again, bummer.
 
#9 ·
I have put it on scales when I first bought the camper to verify for giggles. Dry weight from manufacturers said 3050lbs, it came in at 3024lbs. Didn’t monitor TFT. But the service department had it for 8 hours doing diagnostics and talking with Honda engineers and now say they are replacing the whole transmission. It happened to me 7 months ago as well and took it in and apparently it was ok according to service department. 2020 went to a 8 speed transmission. Maybe they know they got some issues with gears. They should of gotten bigger transmission coolers as well. Not sure if they did. Seems in this forum, a few people had same issues. Also, my truck was one that had to get timing belt replaced as it was a defect from factory, cracked ! . Absolutely love the truck but Honda needs to step up their game and get into full-size trucks. They could really benefit. Looking at a Ram now. Seems the price and value is pretty good . As compared to the other models out there that are $10K more
 
#3 ·
Covered under warranty, right? No cost to you?
 
#20 ·
Oh yes. It is definitely covered.

Hum.


Forgot to ask how fast that 3050 lbs was being pulled. Get ready for that gasoline slurping sound with a full-size p/u, even when not towing. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, multiple times.

That Klak, klak, klak, klak sound and $200 LOF changes to tow 3050 lbs?.....no thanks. And they still stink. But if that’s what is needed, then that’s what’s needed. Doesn’t it cost at least $10K more to say klak, klak, klak diesel? Why do diesel p/u drivers leave them klak, klak, klak, klak, klaking while re-fueling? 🤷‍♂️The sign at the diesel pump says “Turn Off Motor”, just like the sign at the gasoline pump says.
not getting a diesel. I don’t tow everyday, once a month, maybe twice, but if the Ridgeline can’t tow a simple 60% of what it claims it can tow, I’m getting a HEMI

Yep, Honda has apparently not done a great job with all the transmissions and/or torque converter setup. Seems like there are a number that are let out the factory with problems. There are a lot of others that are apparently fine with no issues. It's definitely unfortunate to have such an issue, but hopefully you can get yours fixed and working well.

Having said that, if you plan to tow near max often, you might be better off with a bigger truck.

If you want something reliable I don't think you'll go wrong with a Tundra. However, you should check your mileage and gas prices and do a cost analysis with a diesel Ram if you do tow a lot. You might end up saving some money going diesel.
looking at a Ram with a HEMI V8 Not a diesel. And I can get one here for $40K 2020 big horn with 72 months 0% versus a 0.9 on my Honda.
 
#4 ·
Yep, Honda has apparently not done a great job with all the transmissions and/or torque converter setup. Seems like there are a number that are let out the factory with problems. There are a lot of others that are apparently fine with no issues. It's definitely unfortunate to have such an issue, but hopefully you can get yours fixed and working well.

Having said that, if you plan to tow near max often, you might be better off with a bigger truck.

If you want something reliable I don't think you'll go wrong with a Tundra. However, you should check your mileage and gas prices and do a cost analysis with a diesel Ram if you do tow a lot. You might end up saving some money going diesel.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Hum.


Forgot to ask how fast that 3050 lbs was being pulled. Get ready for that gasoline slurping sound with a full-size p/u, even when not towing. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, multiple times.

That Klak, klak, klak, klak sound and $200 LOF changes to tow 3050 lbs?.....no thanks. And they still stink. But if that’s what is needed, then that’s what’s needed. Doesn’t it cost at least $10K more to say klak, klak, klak diesel? Why do diesel p/u drivers leave them klak, klak, klak, klak, klaking while re-fueling? 🤷‍♂️The sign at the diesel pump says “Turn Off Motor”, just like the sign at the gasoline pump says.
 
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#64 ·
No one actually needs to turn off their motor. You can fill up on unleaded while the motor is running with no issues.
 
#10 ·
The 2020 is a 9 speed transmission. Some people like it and some people don't. IMO they would have been better off with the 8 speed, but that version doesn't fit in the current design.

As far as needing to get into full size trucks, I think they'd be better off tackling the low hanging fruit of things they could fix about the Ridgeline. It's a compelling vehicle and I would bet they could sell a lot more if they just fixed the simple stuff that almost everyone acknowledges needing attention. Most people that buy full size trucks probably don't really need a truck that big but get pushed that direction for one reason or another. I only bought my 2008 Tundra because my wife liked the looks better than the frontier and it was less than 1K difference in price even getting the 5.7L V8. I'm sure a lot of people end up in a bigger truck because of the value comparison.
 
#11 ·
When you sell half a million full-size trucks per year, you can pack more value into them and still get a return on investment, especially when you consider that it costs a manufacturer essentially the same to produce a mid-size truck as it does a full-size truck.

Honda would have to go body-on-frame to go much larger on vehicle size. They are not currently set up to do that, and likely would have a tough time recuperating costs to do so.
 
#13 ·
You are lucky that the dealership is replacing your transmission, though it is an inconvenience, you are better off than most who have to deal with it with no help from a dealership.
If you are handy, replace the stock transmission cooler with a larger one. @HRL383 and @Map are couple of guys who can help you point in the selection. At this point, the topic of transmission overheating for a new truck was debated to death with one outcome; it sucks and we have to deal with it (though it is just a few folks).

The 9spd ZF sourced transmission has its fair share of complaints in the Pilot and Odyssey clubs (just visit the OdyClub to hear the griping, just dont forget some popcorn). I am really interested to see what type of issues the 9spd will have in the '20+ MY units.
The 8spd is a DCT that is not suited for heavy duty application and has only seen very limited vehicle applications.
 
#14 ·
You are lucky that the dealership is replacing your transmission, though it is an inconvenience, you are better off than most who have to deal with it with no help from a dealership.
If you are handy, replace the stock transmission cooler with a larger one. @HRL383 and @Map are couple of guys who can help you point in the selection. At this point, the topic of transmission overheating for a new truck was debated to death with one outcome; it sucks and we have to deal with it (though it is just a few folks).

The 9spd ZF sourced transmission has its fair share of complaints in the Pilot and Odyssey clubs (just visit the OdyClub to hear the griping, just dont forget some popcorn). I am really interested to see what type of issues the 9spd will have in the '20+ MY units.
The 8spd is a DCT that is not suited for heavy duty application and has only seen very limited vehicle applications.
I believe they are talking about the ZF 8spd, used ubiquitously by FCA in many of their products. IIRC, it is somewhat similar to the ZF 9spd, but designed for longitudinal installations and does not use dog clutches, and can be built to handle much more power/torque. It has received
many accolades in its use in, say, the Ram full-size trucks, Dodge Durango and Jeep Cherokee.

It seems the jury is still out on some of these DCTs, like the Acura one you're talking about. I've heard user complaints of inconsistent shifts or poor programming in the DCT selecting the proper gear (mot necessarily the Acura DCT).

A few years ago I'd read that Acura was also working on an 11-spd TCT (triple clutch). :eek:

Edit: I believe the OP meant the ZF9 in the original post - easy to get all of these confused (ZF8, ZF9, DCT8, etc.).
 
#17 ·
@longboat , I may have missed the corollation as I do not keep up with other transmission models outside of Honda & Acura. I have seen articles on the 11spd triple clutch transmissions by Honda, but that was right around the time the current gen NSX was introduced. Not much came about the patent.

The 8DCT uses a torque converter for smooth low speed operation as an electric motor is used to smooth the low speed operation on the 7spd and 9spd DCTs. With the in-house 10spd autobox being a stout unit and able to be configured for AWD formats, I would imagine this could be the next evolution.

Though the DCT is usually equipped for snappier and quick engagement on high performance variants, they can sometimes be jerky and downright annoying as in the earlier production R35 GTRs.
 
#22 ·
I had a 2011 Grand Cherokee Overland with the big Hemi, and really loved the vehicle - strong, somewhat sporty for a 5k lb. beast, very luxurious. It was about 6 months old and had 5k miles when we bought it, and we kept it until January 2019.

It wasn't always a basket of roses though. After driving it maybe a few thousand miles I checked the oil for the heck of it while the gas pump was running, and OMG 2 quarts just got it to register on the dipstick! For the first couple of years the thing used oil at a frightening rate, but it wasn't leaking, and no blue smoke either. Chrysler said it was "within the norm" or whatever - wouldn't even consider doing anything about it - and I had constant buyer's remorse about it....made it kinda difficult to enjoy even such a cool machine. If it hadn't been under warranty I'd have been even more upset, but figured if it blows it might be covered. Kept thinking about selling it, but really didn't want to drop what I thought could be a time bomb on some unsuspecting buyer.

At some point a few years in, however, the oil consumption slowed to a pace of maybe a quart between oil changes. Dealer never could tell me why it had happened or why it stopped. Still think it was really weird, especially with an engine - the Hemi - that's been around since the virtual dawn of time.

I like the look of the Ram trucks - actually the G2 has a similar-looking back end - and their performance stats are impressive - wouldn't rule it out - but from my own experience I wouldn't necessarily bank on a perfect experience with the Hemi, even as awesome as it generally is.
 
#26 ·
Ya know, they say if it burns a quart every 1k miles, you never have to change the oil because you keep topping off with fresh! 😁

I wonder if the 5.7L and 6.4L Hemi engines have much in common with the Hemis of the 1950s/60s and early 70s?

The story of the original Hemi is that Chrysler made Don "Big Daddy" Garlits race the Hemi back in the 50s. Garlits had been having success with the old wedge engines and didn't want to change, but Chrysler made him change since they were sponsoring him and wanted publicity for their new engine. The engine performed similar to the wedge engines of the time. Garlits wanted back his old engine, so he advanced the timing on the Hemi to way beyond what any engine was capable of back then, as he was hoping to blow the engine so Chrysler would give him his old engine back. Well, with the advanced timing, the Hemi didn't blow up, but ran like a scalded dog and that convinced Garlits to keep it, and it was the engine that rocketed him into fame.
 
#23 ·
I've had my tranny changed out of my 2019 this past January due to it failing. Less than a year of ownership. No towing at that point. I finally used it to tow this past June and picked up a Kubota B1700 with a mower and rear blade. Was around 3500 lbs with the trailer, did not stop on scales to weigh. Picked it up in the mountains of WV and towed it back to where I live. The transmission did great. No issues with overheating or rough shifting. Outside temp was 91 that day and sunny. The only noticeable change was my MPG's dropping down to the mid teens for the return trip.
 
#24 ·
Good to hear. Towed my Kubota BX (2000 + trailer...maybe 3250) with my G1 on 50 miles of windy, hilly roads, including 3 miles of steep gravel, no problem at all. Need to bring it back for service....will see how my 2019 G2 does with it.
 
#72 ·
Try this reference:

What Makes HEMI Unique? HEMI has a super-efficient combustion chamber, making it markedly more powerful than other engines. Unlike a flat head piston on the engine you might find in your lawnmower, HEMI pistons usually have a dome-shaped head with open, angled valves and twin spark plugs per cylinder.Nov 27, 2018
404361

Autolist › guides › what-is-a-hemi-e...
What is a Hemi Engine? - Autolist
 
#29 · (Edited)
Domed cylinder heads (hemispherical combustion chambers) are nearly obsolete. Chrysler is still milking the "hemi" trademark, though. The design is limited to one intake and exhaust valve per cylinder and it's hard to control emissions. "Hemis" sound good because they're V8's and feel good because their large displacement allows for good low-end torque. Other than the shape of the combustion chamber (which has been used by many other automakers over the decades), there's nothing special about a "hemi". The carbureted, 1.6L, 4-cylinder engine in the 1981 Ford Escort was technically a "hemi" engine, too. It developed all of 65 horsepower and literally made a wheezing sound (my parents bought a new '83 Escort wagon with the 1.6L HO ("High Output" - 80 HP - hold on!) and I had an '86 with the 88 HP 1.9L (which actually felt fast to me at the time having previously owned a '65 Skylark with a two-speed automatic). :)
 
#37 ·
Agree with you on most of the hemi engines, particularly the newer ones. The 426 Hemi from 1964 - 1971 did have many upgraded parts, though, as it was essentially built for stock car racing. The early 426 Hemi engines sold to the public were racing engines, and then the following year they offered "street" Hemi engines that had less compression, less aggressive timing and different intake/exhaust, but still all of the internal racing goodies. They were expensive, so not a whole lot were sold.

I remember the Plymouth Sapporo / Dodge Conquest from the 70s also had a four-cylinder hemi, although it was entirely from Mitsubishi Japan.

Edit: Chrysler Australia even offered a hemi head for the venerable Slant Six engine. Those are highly sought in the aftermarket.
 
#39 ·
Anybody know what the combustion chambers look like in a Furd Boss 429 motor? Dayum!, that thang gotta hemi.



.....and I just took it off topic again, sorry.
 
#44 ·
if you looking into a Ram. They have their problems also. We had a 14 Hemi. Best riding vehicle I have ever owned! Front and rear air ride was awesome. Till the problems started. Many sensor issues, electrical issues. Wife said no more, get rid of it. We traded it for a 17 Ridgeline. Dealer sold the Ram right away. My e-mail was still associated with it. Ram dealer that the new buyer went to always contacted me about his service appts.. He was having the same issues I had. Finally got them to change the e-mail. The G2 has been way more reliable than the Ram was.
 
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