[acole92]

I have a 2008 Ridgeline RTL with 16,500 miles on it. I started it up this morning to go to school and the VSA, /!\ and Engine lights were illuminated. I turned off the ignition and restarted, the same lights stayed on. The VSA off button doesn't work, and I can't run the engine past 3000RPMs.

My theory: there is a malfunction in the traction control system that makes the car 'think' that i'm loosing traction.

I called the dealer and they said they could look at it on Monday (today is Friday) which is too far away for me.

The only other idea that I have is some chip in the drive-by-wire system is busted and I need to have a new part installed. I couldn't find any TSB's related to this issue.

Edit: If I don't reverse before putting the shifter in drive, the engine light goes off

 

[lorunner1213]

usually the VSA light will come on with the CEL when there is an issue with the CEL side of the system. For instance if the car had an EGR problem the check engine light would come on and set a code. And the VSA would come on with a related code.

When was the last time you changed or checked the oil?

 

[NJ RTL]

I have a 2008 Ridgeline RTL with 16,500 miles on it. I started it up this morning to go to school and the VSA, /!\ and Engine lights were illuminated. I turned off the ignition and restarted, the same lights stayed on. The VSA off button doesn't work, and I can't run the engine past 3000RPMs.

My theory: there is a malfunction in the traction control system that makes the car 'think' that i'm loosing traction.

I called the dealer and they said they could look at it on Monday (today is Friday) which is too far away for me.

The only other idea that I have is some chip in the drive-by-wire system is busted and I need to have a new part installed. I couldn't find any TSB's related to this issue.

Edit: If I don't reverse before putting the shifter in drive, the engine light goes off

Check the plug on your drive by wire system. Mine was loose and the truck went in to limp mode.

 

[acole92]

usually the VSA light will come on with the CEL when there is an issue with the CEL side of the system. For instance if the car had an EGR problem the check engine light would come on and set a code. And the VSA would come on with a related code.

When was the last time you changed or checked the oil?

The oil life reads 80% so that's probably not an issue.



NJ RTX: I popped the hood, checked all the cables, and everything is snug. I started it after inspection and the VSA and /!\ light had went off, but the engine light still remains on.

 

[NJ RTL]

Give it a day or so and your CEL will probably go off.

 

[lorunner1213]

The oil life reads 80%

I mean actually pulling the dipstick and seeing what the level is.

You can probably run over to an autozone and have them pull the CEL code if you dont want to wait for the dealer.

 

[acole92]

I took it down to Autozone, and on the way there the engine light went off. They couldn't find any codes or anything wrong with it, to make matters worse. I'm not quite sure if I should just forget about it, or have it serviced on Monday.

Although now I hear a high-pitched whining/squealing noise coming from underneath the car when the engine is running. It's not very loud.. Fuel pump maybe?

 

[lorunner1213]

Hmmmm definately something weird going on. If the check engine light was on there should have been a code stored in the computer somewhere.

 

[gfreek]

I would get it checked out anyways, dealer should be able to pull the code from the memory. Also it will be on dealer record, should it happen again.

 

[acole92]

It's going in tomorrow morning. Will keep everyone posted.
We also have a Lincoln MKZ and that makes the same whistling sound too..so it's probably not an issue

 

[acole92]

I took it in, they pulled the CEL code. Told me it was a problem with a sensor in the wheel bearing. They said it wasn't a hazard to the safety of it, so it's going in again next week to have a new sensor installed. Has anyone else seen anything like this before?

 

[rakapur]

get it checked out, on mine i had the VSA /!\ and ABS light on it was the brake switch

 

[acole92]

They said they couldn't do any service on it without a CEL code still showing..Which there's not. Any suggestions?

 

[Steel Blue RTX]

I had the same problem with my 07 RTX, it turned out to be the EGR valve. Hope this helps.

 

[acole92]

Is that posted on the TSB? It seems like Honda won't do anything about it unless it's hazardous to drive, or it's in a TSB..

 

[Skeeter7424]

Let me clear a couple things up for you, since this subject has gone kinda sideways as I sit here and rear this post...

If Autozone couldn't pull a code, their code checker is a piece of junk, or won't pull VSA codes. Some code readers will not (similarly, SRS lights can only be read by VERY sophisticated and expensive readers, or a Honda computer...) I wouldn't worry too much about the Autozone thing.

If you had a code, and then it went off, then the truck went through its specific "clearing criteria" for whatever the code was. Some are two drive cycles (Hot and then FULLY cold twice), some are one drive cycle, some (here's where the VSA thing comes in) are a specific speed for a specific amount of time. Almost all of the codes are different.

Now if they said the code that was stored was for a wheel speed sensor (which is what I gathered from your posts), and then the computer went through its "clearing criteria" for that code, then there was most likely a short term problem with that specific sensor. If it was in fact the wheel speed sensor, it may have picked up some metal debris on the magnet part, and got a funky reading, causing the light, then it somehow cleaned itself off, got normal readings for a correct amount of time, and realized there was no problem, causing the light to go off. The dealership will MOST times not replace a component for a history code, without a current code. If Honda calls the replaced part in for inspection, and then they find that nothing is wrong with said part, they may debit the cost of the part and labor back to the dealership.

I hope this clears some of your concerns up, if there is anything else I can help with, please feel free to ask...

...Skeeter...

 

[2Hondas]

Where is the wheel speed sensor, on the calipers?

 

[25 Year Honda Owner]

My VSA light was coming on a while back, no other problems. Dealer had to repalce the VSA module!!

 

[danielocean03]

My ABS, and (VSA) /!\ lights all illuminated while cruising through car dealership lots last night with my wife looking at cars. I stopped the truck, turned it off and re-started it, all of the lights were then off and haven't reappeared since. I've currently got 9600-9700mi on mine.

 

[Joseph A Torres]

u are the dude !!