Tell me how the drivetrain works on a Ridgeline.

I've been driving a Ridgeline for the past couple weeks. And although I won't judge the whole breed by this 295,000 mile example, it is teh suck.

The biggest problem (out of many) for me is the huge amount of torque steer. This can't be normal. The VTM 4 light stays lit on the dash. Are they full time AWD? If there is a way to turn it off I haven't found it. Pushing the VTM 4 lock button does nothing.

Are these things more biased to FWD?

When leaving a stop light I try to gently accelerate. Nothing happens, I give it a little more and nothing happens. I gently give it a little more and the front tires spin and the wheel just about jerks out of my hand. It's driving me crazy.

The Ridgeline is a FWD vehicule that sends power to the rear wheels when it detects wheelspin. The system should be fast enough for you not to feel any torque-steer. Me thinks there is a problem here.

the fact that the light is staying on says there is a problem. GRM loved their Ridgeline.. they mentioned nothing of the issues you are having

That's a problem. That light in anything except 1st or 2nd gear (not "D") and under like 15 mph means the AWD system is broken. It isn't sending power to the rear wheels under acceleration like it should, hence the torque steer.

If you're interested in how it actually engages and disengages, let me explain. The rear driveshaft spins all the time, and the torque split is controlled by how much the rear differential "grabs" the rear driveshaft, which is accomplished through an electromagnetic clutch that is controlled by a computer.

And it, like many modern AWD vehicles, doesn't just detect wheel spin. It also anticipates situations where a wheel might spin (like heavy acceleration) and proactively sends torque to the rear wheels.

VTM-4 lock, btw, essentially shuts off the smart computer anticipation/compensation thing and locks it at a preset torque split (I want to say 20/80 rear/front, but don't quote me on that). So engaging that mode can actually hurt off-road, unless the computer is doing it wrong.

But anyway, the takeaway message is that I love my manual front hubs and giant lever labeled "2H, 4H, 4L"

The transaxle sends power to the driveshaft full-time with no "center diff", just a power take off. You can drive it with the driveshaft removed and it'd just be an Odyssey with a bed.

The rear differential contains clutches that the computer controls. (Apparently the Saturn VUE uses a simple liscous coupler for the same effect) You shouldn't ever feel torque steer. What I suspect you're feeling is that the diff actuation is stuck and you're feeling the effects of trying to drive a 4x4 on the street.

It's probably because of 295,000 miles and one fluid exchange on the drivetrain bits. The VTM light being on indicates there is an issue and you are feeling it through the torque steer.

DirtyBird222 wrote: It's probably because of 295,000 miles and one fluid exchange on the drivetrain bits. The VTM light being on indicates there is an issue and you are feeling it through the torque steer.

Maybe not even one. It's a company vehicle and the only maintenance I've seen it receive is regular oil changes, and tires.

Thanks for the knowledge though. I'll tell the boss about the drivetrain problem. I doubt the company will stick any money in it given it's mileage. Likely just send it to auction. It's funny, he wanted me to drive it to see if I could hear a rattle that was driving him crazy. Didn't mention any other issues just the rattle.

Definitely a problem. I drove one last month, no torque steer, no issues.

Tom Suddard wrote: But anyway, the takeaway message is that I love my manual front hubs and giant lever labeled "2H, 4H, 4L"

When you've had to suddenly switch to 4WD because the snowplow turned around at the county line and the temperature is in the double digits with a minus sign in front of it, you'd be thankful for an on-the-fly pushbutton system.

Same goes for 4L and being stuck in a ditch.

I love my Ridgeline. Of everything I've ever daily driven, it's my favourite vehicle to drive. I traded a 5-spd. IS300 for it. I haven't missed the Lexus for 1 second.

I get mild torque steer occasionally, but generally it's fine. The rear kicks in fast enough to eliminate any of that. It also drifts like mad in the snow when I turn the VSA off. In a word. FUN.

Sounds like yours has some issues.

As with anything FWD or mainly FWD, make sure the front end is tight.

Grm says they use 5w30 in the truck yet picture someone clearly using 10w30. Damn I wish I had that issue at home.

Alan Cesar wrote:

Tom Suddard wrote: But anyway, the takeaway message is that I love my manual front hubs and giant lever labeled "2H, 4H, 4L"

When you've had to suddenly switch to 4WD because the snowplow turned around at the county line and the temperature is in the double digits with a minus sign in front of it, you'd be thankful for an on-the-fly pushbutton system. Same goes for 4L and being stuck in a ditch.

I don't lock my hubs exactly when I need 4wd. If I anticipate issues (snow/ditches lol) they are locked up before I climb in the truck and in 2h until I decide it's time for 4wd.

Yes, this. I don't mean to derail the thread but I'm always in the appropriate drive before an obstacle.

Onetrillionrpm wrote: Grm says they use 5w30 in the truck yet picture someone clearly using 10w30. Damn I wish I had that issue at home.

When that happens, go with reality (picture). We do occasionally make typographic errors, and these are most likely to crop up in captions, which are filled in last in the process. It has something to do with our magazine being FILLED WITH TYPE and us being human. Glad to provide teh lawlz for you.

To the OP: Yep, you got a problem. Our Ridgeline's steering is very benign.

Margie