2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline Strawberry Milkshake of Death Prevention For Only 1 Dollar SMOD 

Sure would’ve helped if you had used some sort of pointer that you could have touched the parts you were changing or removing. Good info, though.

Today I proactively replaced the radiator in my "09 with 115k. It's a $200 insurance policy for a vehicle which can go 300,000 miles. I saved 4 or $500 by doing it myself. It's not a terrible job. Be organized and methodical and it will be done quicker than you would think.

Saw this video a few months ago, ignored it and today had this issue. You’ve earned my like, comment and subscription.

Dude, I’m about to buy a first gen Ridgeline and all of your videos are so helpful!

Good video.. I drove my 2008 Ridgeline to 289000 miles with the original radiator. No issue whatsoever, even towed a lot with it. Just kept changing the fluids per maintenance minder.

Just finished this fix. Thank you for the guidance. I just reused the clips that were already on the car. Would have been much faster if I just used the clamps you got.

I just did this SMOD MOD myself. Thank you Jack for the video. I googled, found and printed out that same document you had laying on the intake. It was very helpfull. Honda or whomever produced that document was nice enough to demonstrate the fluid flow directions. You're right about the plastic under guard or whatever being the biggest pita. Thank you again Jack. SMOD axiety be gone!

Bought a 2007 with 165K three years ago from the rust belt - western PA. First thing I did was order a radiator and a replacement line and all new hoses. For under $200 and a Saturday afternoon, I was good to go. SMOD might not be a crazy common disease, but it's got a high death rate.

I’m the original owner of a 2007 RTX with 170k miles and still on the original radiator. I live in Georgia and there’s not corrosion on my vehicle. I heard about SMOD sometime ago but didn’t make any mods to try to prevent it. I saw this video a couple of days ago and decided I needed to disconnect the tranny cooler from the radiator just in case so modded the lines per the video. So, wanted to say thanks for the video….

Bought my 2007 Ridgeline 2 years ago with 70k miles on it and I live in NJ. Plan on keeping till it dies. Thanks for all the useful info. Will definitely be doing this in the summer.

I was looking into this for a fellow Ridge owner, he has a 2014. Two years ago my '08 Ridge was a SMOD victim. The sad part for me was I knew about SMOD and was preparing to do a pro-active replacement in the next month! What I didn't realize (thought that internal coil was rather small) was there are two coils and the radiator-embedded unit really is superfluous. But I was lucky, I knew immediately what was wrong when I left my driveway and shifting wasn't normal. My tranny, after a lot of work, finding a good aftermarket radiator, multiple flushes, etc. is working fine... and I tow a 5K LB trailer! I really like the bypass option!

I wouldn't consider that transmission dead this is gonna sound crazy but happened to me years ago . The old man at the transmission shop in Thomasville nc had me drain the fluid and add kerosene and let it idle drained the fluid added transmission fluid and kerosene then he pumped all the fluid out by disconnecting the the line and let the car run Idle in drive on the lift . I drove that truck for 2 years .(I'm not recommending anyone try this). But it worked he said the coolant and water softens the clutches makes them slip . It probably took half the transmissions life but it lived and before someone comments automatic transmission have clutches too lol...

Almost every car on the planet has a transmission cooler integrated into the lower tank of the radiator, so all you needed to explain was the design weakness on the Ridgeline and the fix.

I had the shake (it's a nightmare) in a 2006 with 93k luckily there was no back feed into the trans, wish I had seen this video before. Now I discovered my 16 year old Ridgeline should have the timing belt replaced or risk a complete engine failure. Just got back from the dealer $1400+ for a timing belt kit installed (ouch). Thanks for posting!

Great video. Looking to pick up a 2006 as an extra car/truck and this will be on the todo list.

Seems like this might also help prevent overheating when going offroad. Went to Colorado in July and was taking a trail from 5000 to 11000 feet and trans overhead so I turned around. Hopefully this helps that.

Thanks for confirming my thoughts on this issue. I'll pass on taking any chances with the heat exchanger failing. I wanted to replace my original transmission rubber hoses and already have the battery and tray out since I'm doing extensive maintenance on my 2006 Ridgeline. I'm the third owner and knew the 2nd owner who bought it with 99k on the odometer in 2014. They had the timing belt done within days of buying it. So why risk it even with a new radiator as suggested by many? I'll do the by-pass along with fresh hoses and a transmission fluid change. Some of those on the Ridgeline Owners forum are dead set against doing the by-pass, I've been doing my own wrenching on a variety of cars since the early 1970's. I'm going to cap off the heat exchanger and periodically check it to see when it fails. I won't loose any coolant and I certainly won't be cursing the SMOD God's either.

I'm just did it on my 2007. Thank you for your help.

I think all cars should be changed over to a separate transmission intercooler an many of the failures would disappear. Example Nissan is one of them .Good info THANKYOU

I have an ‘08 with 98K miles and do my own work except (rat chewed wiring harness $450 to replace) and I did pay for Timing belt water pump at 60K. I will probably do that one myself now that I have a quick jack lift when I hit 120K. I never have heard of this but I don’t cruise forums for my Ridgeline as it’s been super great truck. I’ll do this mod when I do my transmission fluid change on my christmas break this year. I don’t live in a hot climate but I don’t want coolant and T fluid mixed. I’ll look at a new radiator from Rock Auto and consider just replacing it. I have noticed drip leaks from the bottom rad drain but not enough to lower the overflow level over time. I have changed all my hoses at 60K too so always been a stellar performing truck.

The First Gen Nissan Titan also have the exact same design issue. You have two ways to deal with this issue. Be safe and replace your radiator very 90,000-100,000 miles and be safe about it. Or do a by pass like what you did a lot of First Gen Nissan Titan owners also do By pass like this. Or try to remember to keep an eye on it and be sorry later when your engine fail or your transmission fail. Is your truck your choice but you been warn ⚠️...

Is there a diagram of the trans lines like the one you have in the video?

This certainly isn't a terrible idea if you live in a warm climate... Or even a moderate one. If you live in Northern Canada like me though, you kinda want the trans fluid to get warm. I don't disagree with you though. Subbing for more Ridgeline DIY though, for sure.

I’m going to look at an 06 tomorrow with 375k, 1 owner, original running gear. Transmission cooler line blew out of the radiator spilling all the trans fluid. I’m hoping to replace the radiator and add fluid and drive her home lol wish me luck 🍀

Dude - saved me from replacing my radiator = Thanks!

Very kind of you to share this information. Thank You!!

I can't see what you're doing. Still confused.

Not sure if you are in any of the Facebook Ridgeline groups, but I have shared this video countless times.

I have heard this but for Nissan's and actually the recommended fix was to install a transmission cooler or install a aftermarket radiator

Just had this happen to my 2007 Ridgeline..this should have been a recall.

Great video, I will have to mod my 07.... LOVE that chair - stool with wheels in the background at 11:51... lol

Car Manufacturers are rewarded by the Government for improving Gas Economy

Very good advice and you did everything that could be done. I am sure it will save you in the long run. Good job.

Wish I’d known about this fix. I ended up with the SMOD in my ‘06 Ridgeline about 2 years ago.

Hey Jack, writing this two years later…is the corrosion internal (as-in between radiator ‘housings’) or is the corrosion failure point only at the two fittings for inlet and outlet (which is what most people indicate). Because if the failure is at inlet/outlet could I just remove both and plug holes with JB Weld to prevent original cause of corrosion which was the washer thereby preventing need to ever replace radiator? OR is the ‘mixing of fluids’ happening somewhere else internally? Am I making sense? Thanx much

I haven’t had the milk shake on my 06 yet but I did have a cooler line fitting pop out of the radiator. I now have a 3 year old radiator/ cooler and probably won’t have to worry, but I might bypass it like you have, and fit a larger cooler to play it safe.

We saw 10 or 15 of these failures in our Honda shop through the years. Almost always a Ridgeline and usually it destroyed both the trans. and the engine.

Did they ever have a recall for this? Such a simple fix for something that can cause so much damage . Do you still have the ridge line? How is the hose holding up?

so another fix to this would be is to change the radiator every 80k miles or so? 2010 model with 54k miles shouldn't have this issue?

I just used the existing hose it is long enough and eliminates the tee all together.

Good deal- Spot on Bud.

Would this potential corrosion of hoses be an issue for Floridians where the weather is practically the same all year round (mostly hot, humid and rainy)?

Nice video. Would the air transmission cooler keep the fluid cool enough on very hot days in stop and go traffic, or in mountainous terrain? What would be the max temp of the tf leaving the trans before cooling. Tha ks.

Just did this and I am just slightly confused here towards the end. Does it matter which hose inlet on the external cooler are you attached to which inlet on the transmission? I’m sure it does but I kind of lost where you did it in the video. I have both of my hoses off of the transmission underneath so now I’m confused which one goes to which Spigot on the external cooler?

First gen 4Runners have same issue. Replace radiator, or plug off lines and install a separate cooler

This arrangement is on 90% of vehicles, the reason for the internal trans cooler in radiator is to warm up the fluid to drive. For vehicles with external coolers, they still did the same exact thing, I've owned several Chevy trucks and so on, all the same. Now as far as the radiator reliability that could be a different situation with Honda?

I live in west Texas would this have bad effects due too how hot it gets here or benefit? I'm thinking it would benefit doing this mod.

This just happened to me last night. (06' RTL with 160k ) Honda dealer fixing now $1400. Bought it 3 years ago ad NO major problems at all till this and had timing belt changed at dealer with new oil pump as leaking oil was found. ($1500) . Still love the truck as it fits all my needs and can carry 4'x8' sheets of plywood that old Ranger could not. However, I was told that the trans fluid was run thru the radiator for cooling trans fluid when you are stopped for a long while in HOT weather and NO air is flowing thru external trans cooler?

Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan all had the same exact failures.

Question: how does it look fluid if you bypass the cooler?

I live in a colder climate so I may change my radiator I can smell antifreeze on the outside so it has a pinhole somewhere transmission fluid looks good I flush every 30,000.

Can you not just simply disconnect A from the radiator and rout it up to B?

How is the long term with this? I just purchased an 07 with 140k and I want to make sure this thing is running great

Anyone try this in a cold weather climate? Wondering if sub zero temps would have a detrimental effect on the transmission.

i have problem with my Honda Ridgeline switch problem when I put the key inside the switch to start if I want to turn off the switch until I remove one of the battery terminal before the key come out

It seems you work just on the left side of the transmission lines. What about the right side of the cooler lines?

Couldn't you just use a male to male barb fitting. Pull to 2 lines off the radiator cooler and attach them to each other?

Great video. Wish you could have shown a little better detail of what you did. Some parts I was lost.

Was under the impression the engine coolant had a hand in cooling the tyranny fluid in the radiator, Wouldn’t it be best if the radiator was replaced?

After the modification, did you have to plug each end of the original tubes that you bypassed? I ask because if they corrode or break inside the radiator, won’t they leak radiator coolant out via the original cooler lines?

one question : If I live in Mexico , where the air temperature is almost always 86F and above , so how will ATF be cooled?

When you blew air out of the hose to get the tranny fluid out without it staying inside, did you blow air directly in the hose while connected just to get the excise fluid out? Do you have to perform this step ?

Would changing the transmission fluid every 20000 miles or so help prevent this problem? I have a 2006 Ridgeline with 90000 miles.

My daughter just bought a high-mileage (280K km) 2006. It has a new radiator. Can you tell me if this means the offending hoses and connector must have been replaced? If they replaced the rad because of SMOD, is there a way to know after it's happened? This Ridgeline did spend some time in a corrosive environment (Alberta), but the transmission seems to be working well right now. Thanks

Can I do this on a 2016 Honda accord touring v6?

Most cars have the transmission fluid running thru the radiator

Just bought a 2010 rigdeline 300 km on it , when does this malfunction usually occur ??? And should I do this preventative measures ???

Awesome video, Keep it up :)

Just got a 2014 107k mile sport yesterday and doing this asap

Does it also effects 2012 sport model, currently have 91,000 miles Did the timing belt, spark plugs, alternator and belts at 88,000 miles. I should have also replaced the radiator at the time of timing belt replaced but (dealer never recommended the this radiator issue) Please help thanks

A lot of transmission failures are caused by heat cooking the transmission Fluid

I just bought a 2006 and it was owned in the south where there isn't much corrosion found on vehicles. My truck has 82k miles. You still recommend doing this on mine?

I'm planning on buying a 2006 Ridgeline, I'm student so I could not afford it if it has poor MPG and, I'd like to know bout this issue but in spanish bcs I'm from MX, and I don't understand so well what ur talking about lol

Perhaps best to replace the radiator with subcooler bypassing will have other. Consquence throws computer off

Do you recommend doing it to a 2009 one? It would be the same process? Thanks!

Ok maybe I’m missing something but why not just join the inlet & outlet tubes at the junction together and cap off the radiator bottom tubes?

Hello , did this affect your engine temp or fuel mileage at all ?

Did this now getting a CEL for thermostat or something

Whats the grill that yu have on there ?

Did this work good over time?

ONE FOOT of Gates transmission hose here in Canada $8.50 so much for a cheap fix....lol I'm doing thd job tomorrow

My mechanic, who specializes in Japanese autos like Honda didn't seem to think this was a necessary procedure. I don't think he has seen this as an issue. I wonder if areas where the roads are salted in the Winter have a much greater problem with this problem....

Good info but hard to follow exactly what you did........

What model year is your Ridgeline?

I've never really liked strawberry milkshakes.

I have 220k miles on my 06.

how about a 2019 still an ishue?

This happened to me just a few days after seeing this video.

Those transmission cooler fittings will still corrode though, and when they start to leak your rad will need to be replaced anyways. Some aftermarket rads use brass fittings and do not suffer from SMOD, which is caused by a steel washer swelling against and stripping out an aluminum fitting.

2007 not mentioned, any difference?

I see what your attempting to do, but unless you switch to an aftermarket radiator, your only alleviating half the problem, and by taking the hose off, most likely accelerating the other half the problem.

Just an FYI... this design is part of a towing package. Once you bypass, you will lose towing capability.

I would just replace the radiator if it starts to look bad.

Don’t do this if you plan on towing heavy loads, boats, campers, RV’s that push the limit of the 5000lb towing capacity. You risk cooking your tranny fluid and shortening the life of your transmission.

This has nothing to do with fuel economy it has to do with getting the transmission to operating temperature as quickly as possible.. and it's the same case with your engine. Just about every car manufacturer with an automatic transmission has a radiator with two sections. Everything mechanical has an operating temperature they work better and last longer with less wear.. we achieve this by heating up the transmission fluid along with the coolant from the engine and then when it's too hot it's cool with the transmission air. cooler. Try getting your transmission to p perform well when it's - 20

This only occurs if you do not change your antifreeze every 50000 Miles.

Had a 2005 perfect pilot with 175k on it..one day bamn, pink milk. Had to scrap the beautiful car.

I dont think they thought of gas mileage at all when they designed this truck 😂😂 i get 14.5.

2 days ago I received the smod😢

Happened on my 2009 ... what idiot decided to put metal washer there is beyond me! Had to replace transmission