2006 Honda Ridgeline Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving approximately driving 50 mph the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled. After stopping to inspect under the hood the contact discovered transmission and radiator fluid spraying and leaking within the engine compartment. The contact sustained burns to the left arm from the hot fluids while inspecting under the hood. The injuries did not require medical treatment. The vehicle was towed away and later examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure occurred due to the failed transmission lines that were located inside the radiator which caused the radiator and transmission to overheat. The contact was informed that both the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 147,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA RIDGELINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY REDUCED IN SPEED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT METAL FITTING AROUND THE RADIATOR HAD CORRODED AND FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ *JS

TRUCK FAILED TO START AFTER WORK, AFTER SEVERAL TRIES THE TRUCK STARTED BUT WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY. WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT SURGED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN RAN NORMAL. I CHECKED THE ENGINE WHEN I GOT HOME TO FIND COOLANT ON THE DIPSTICK AND VERY LOW ON COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A HONDA DEALER WHO INSPECTED IT AND TOLD ME WHAT I ALREADY KNEW AND SAID THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE, THEY HAVE NOT TOLD ME WHAT THE CAUSE IS. AFTER A VERY BRIEF SEARCH ON THE WEB I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL YEAR TRUCK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. GOING TO DEALER TODAY TO TALK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND DISCUSS MY OPTIONS AND ASK FOR HELP FROM HONDA ON THIS MATTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA RIDGELINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SENSOR, VTM SENSOR, ESC SENSOR, AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED. THE FAILURE WORSENED AND ALL FOUR SENSORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IN ADDITION, THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO RESET THE CODE. WHEN THE THREE FAILURE CODES CAME BACK, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE THREE BANKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V700000 (AIR BAGS), 14V353000 (AIR BAGS), AND 14V351000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

WE PURCHASED OUR 2006 RIDGELINE BACK IN 2009 WITH APPROX 46K MILES ON IT. AT THAT TIME, WE PURCHASED THE HAC (HONDA AUTO CARE) WARR & CONT TO DRIVE FOR YRS WITH LIMITED PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE VEH. AROUND 82K ON THE RIDGELINE (2 YRS AGO), I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THAT PROMPTED ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THEY ADVISED ME THAT IT WOULD BE COV UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT THE WARRANTY WAS EXP IN 2 WEEKS (2 WEEKS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 7 YRS AND 100K)?. I INQUIRED ON THE TERMS & EXPLAINED THAT WAS NOT HOW IT WAS POSITIONED TO ME. ROUGHLY 2100.00 FOR A LITTLE OVER 2 1/2 YRS IS NOT WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING. KNOWING THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRING, I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPT FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND TO HAVE THEM REVIEW THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TOP TO BOTTOM (NOTHING DISCOVERED AT THAT TIME). WHERE THE PROBLEM CREATES: LAST WKD, HIT 101K & THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS W/ THE VTM-4 LIGHT. I KNOW THERE ARE USUAL CODES FOR REG MAINT, BUT SEEING HOW I HAVE HAD VEHICLES TRIGGER LIGHTS AT 100K FOR REGULAR SERVICING THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE MANUAL, I THEN CONTACTED MY SERVICE CTR TO INQUIRE. HE REVIEWED THE 105K SERVICE WITH ME & STARTED HE WOULD GET BACK TO ME ON ANY CODES. LATER THAT DAY I RECEIVED A CALL STATING THAT THE #4 CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING & THE PLUG ON #4 WAS CAKED WITH BAKED ON OIL. HE RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE PLUGS FIRST BEFORE GOING INTO THE REST OF THE 105K SERVICE. 2 DAYS LATER, THE CHK ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING & VTM-4 LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. HE LATER CALLS ME TO STATE THE HEAD MAY HAVE A CRACK & EXPLAINS POSS DAMAGE OR STALL. WHAT IF IT STALLS ON THE FREEWAY? WHAT IF THE CAT CLOGS (ANOTHER 600 BY THE WAY) AND MY CAR JUST STOPS WHILE DRIVING THOUGH A INTERSECTION? I READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING & AM SHOCKED HONDA DOESN'T RESPOND TO ANY. I CANT PAY 3K - CALLED DEALER & OPENED CASE WITH HONDA MAIN CSR# 800-999-1009-NO RESPONSE. *TR

THE A/C CONDENSER FAN GET LOOSE AND ITS BLADE WERE MOVING UNPROPERLY MAKING A LARGE HOLE IN THE RADIATOR. SUDDENLY THE RADIATOR LOST ALL WATER CAUSING THAT ENGINE MOTOR BRAKE THE SEALS, PISTON AND OTHER PARTS BECAUSE THE HIGH TEMPERATURE. SINCE THE WATER LEAKING WAS FAST, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR THAT SHOWS HIGH TEMPERATURE AT DASH CONTROL PANEL EASE NOT CATCH UNTIL THE BIG DAMAGE OF THE ENGINE HAPPENED. THE MECHANIC TECHNICIAN STATES THAT FAIL OF THIS FAN IS COMMON ON HONDA VEHICLE. THE BIG DAMAGE TO MAY PARTS OF ENGINE HAPPENED BECAUSE SUCH A/C CONDENSER FAN FAILED WITHOUT ANY ADVISE AND IS COMMON IN HONDA, BUT NO RECALL OR WARNING HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY HONDA DEALERS OR FACTORY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA RIDGELINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

2006 HONDA RIDGELINE WITH 140,000 MILES. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. DRIVING HOME ON 9/18/13 ON HIGHWAY, CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 65 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO LURCH FORWARD A FEW TIMES. GOT OFF AT NEXT EXIT AND REVS BEGAN TO RISE AS IF IN NEUTRAL. STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED FOR TOW TRUCK. NOTICED TEMP METER WAS HIGH, BUT WENT BACK DOWN TO NORMAL WITHIN 15 MINUTES. "STRAWBERRY MILK SHAKE" TYPE LIQUID THEN POURED ONTO PAVEMENT. TRUCK TOWED TO INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION. THE STATION CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLER, WHICH RESIDES WITHIN THE RADIATOR. APPARENTLY THE METAL CONNECTOR THAT SEPARATES THE TWO (CHEMICALLY INCOMPATIBLE) COOLANTS CORRODED, THE FLUIDS MIXED CAUSING THE TEMP TO RISE AND BOIL OVER, THE MIXTURE OF COOLANTS APPARENTLY DESTROYS BOTH THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. SERVICE TECH'S HAVE RARELY SEEN THIS BEFORE ON OLDER TOYOTA 4RUNNERS, BUT NOT HONDA'S. HOWEVER AFTER SOME RESEARCH, THERE ARE DOZENS SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED ON THE VARIOUS HONDA FORUMS WHICH INDICATE HONDA'S AWARENESS AND REFUSAL TO ISSUE A RECALL OR ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT RESULTS (LIKE MY $5,765 REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION, NEW RADIATOR, HOSE FLUSHES, ETC.). THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF IN A SAFE PLACE, BUT INJURIES CAN SURELY RESULT FROM THIS PREVENTABLE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM HONDA, WHICH BEGINS WITH PAYING FOR A DIAGNOSIS (2ND OPINION) FROM AN AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER. THEY "WARNED" ME THAT THEY CANNOT CONSIDER HELPING ME UNLESS THE DEALER CONCLUDES THERE IS A CLEAR MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA RIDGELINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOSE THAT CONNECTED FROM THE RADIATOR TO THE ENGINE BECAME DISCONNECTED, CAUSING OIL TO DRAIN FROM THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COULD BE STARTED BUT COULD NOT BE MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

WE LOVE OUR HONDA'S (3 OTHER), I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT MY PURCHASE OF A RIDGELINE FROM A LA DEALERSHIP IN DEC 2006. MY NEPHEW PURCHASED IT FROM HONDA FINANCE DIRECTLY AND SHIPPED IT TO UTAH FOR ME AND I HAVE METICULOUSLY CARED FOR AND LOVED MY RIDGELINE! IN DECEMBER AT 93,460 MILES MY TRUCK LOST ITS PERFECT HARMONY ... IT BEGAN PUTTING OUT WHITE/BLUE SMOKE. I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE THE ACCELERATOR TOOK OFF AND I HAD TO SHIFT DOWN AND BRAKE REAL HARD TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE SPEED. I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-15 THROUGH SALT LAKE COUNTY AT THE TIME, SPEED AROUND 65 MPH. VERY SCARY! SOON AFTER THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I IDLED IT FLASHED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOMENT THAT THE CYLINDER "BLEW OUT". I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY #4 SPARK PLUG WAS "GUMMED" UP AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED MILEAGE I SHOULD DO A FULL VALVE REPLACEMENT. $785 LATER, THE SMOKE EXHAUST WAS THE SAME AND 3 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY "SCOPED" THE CYLINDERS AND FOUND #4 HAD "POUCK" MARKS AND HAD LOST COMPRESSION. I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I CALLED 5 AUTO SHOPS IN MY GENERAL AREA AND FOUND THAT 2 OF THEM HAD SEEN THE SAME ISSUE WITH A 2006 RIDGELNE AND A 2007 PILOT. BOTH MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THE OWNERS HAD TAKEN THEM TO HONDA DEALERSHIPS & HONDA HAD REPLACED THEIR ENGINES, THEY "WERE UNDER 100,000 MILES". I DID SO, $97 LATER I WAS TOLD THAT "NO. HONDA HAD DEEMED MY SITUATION NOT WORTHY OF A WARRANTY." WHAT?! I CAN'T EVEN TRADE IT IN TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE WITHOUT THE $5K REDUCTION IN VALUE! I HAVE A HISTORY OF TIMELY AND METICULOUS CARE WITH MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP AND A MECHANIC SHOP, THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED FROM HONDA! YOU MUST HAVE AN ISSUE IF IN MY LITTLE SUBURB 2 OTHERS HAVE HAD #4 CYLINDERS GO BAD JUST BEFORE 100,000 MILES. *TR

I WAS LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT SO I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED. I FIGURED THAT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS AT THE DEALER I SHOULD GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF LOOKED AT. TURNS OUT MY RADIATOR HAD BLOWN AND THE VALVES IN MY ENGINE WERE TOO TIGHT AND THEY NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. IT COST ME 800 FOR THE RADIATOR PLUS 400 FOR THE VALVES AND I'VE NOTICED A HUGE GAIN IN MY GAS MILEAGE. *TR

ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 9TH, 2010, I STARTED MY 2006 RIDGELINE TO AND TURNED THE HEAT ON HIGH TO WARM IT UP BEFORE LEAVING MY HOME. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE, THE ENTIRE CAB WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. MY HUSBAND LOCATED THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE, COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE FOUND WIRES STICKING OUT AND DETERMINED THAT THEY WERE BURNT AND THAT WE NEEDED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OUR LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP AND PARTIALLY REPAIRED. THE COST WAS $451.71. STILL, THE HIGH LOW FAN SWITCH / KNOB DOES NOT ALWAYS RESPOND. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN THE CONTROL SWITCH IS IN THE "FAN HIGH" POSITION, THE FAN WILL CUT OFF. THE DEALER ADVISED IT WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $400.00 FOR THE NEW SWITCH, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. *TR

HONDA RIDGELINE 2006 AIR CONDITIONING LINES ARE LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO AN ENGINE BRACKET. OVER TIME (3YRS) THE ALUMINUM PIPE WEARS OUT CAUSING THE FREON TO LEAK OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND THE COMPRESSOR TO STOP WORKING. PARTS # 24 & 25 HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 400 USD. THE NEW PART SEEM TO BE MADE OF A BENDABLE MATERIAL INSTEAD OF THE RIGID ORIGINAL AND CAN BE BENT OUT OF THE WAY OF THE BRACKET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA RIGDELINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE AT ENGINE START UP. TURNED OFF ENGINE CHECKED OIL LEVEL, DISCOVERED IT WAS ABOUT A QUART LOW. LAST OIL CHANGE ABOUT 3,500 MILES PRIOR TO EVENT. TOPPED OFF OIL DROVE ABOUT 25 MILES MODERATE TO LIGHT SMOKING FROM EXHAUST. DROPPED OFF AT HONDA DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE ON 27 DEC 07. DEALER DETERMINED CAUSE TO BE BLOWN HEAD GASKET, REQUIRING NEW CYLINDER HEAD ESTIMATED REPAIRS DUE TO BE COMPLETE ABOUT 3 JAN 08. CALL FROM DEALER INQUIRING ABOUT OIL CHANGE RECORDS ON 3 JAN INFO PROVIDED, TRUCK NOT READY. CALLED DEALER ON 4 JAN FOR STATUS AND INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE IS REQUIRED AFTER GUIDANCE FROM REGIONAL SERVICE REP. NEW COMPLETION DATE ABOUT 9 JAN. CALLED DEALER 11 JAN TO CHECK ON STATUS, NEW ENGINE INSTALLED STILL SMOKING, TROUBLE SHOOTING IN PROGRESS. NEW CYLINDER HEAD REQUIRED FOR NEW ENGINE COMPLETION DUE 17 JAN 08. WORK COMPLETED ON 17 JAN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA RIDGELINE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED TWO MINUTES LATER, THE POWERTRAIN LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL . THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,500. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB

HONDA RIDGELINE 2006 HAS CONSIDERABLE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM UNDER 10 MPH, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT OF CONVENIENCE STORE ROLLING AT ABOUT 5 MPH AND THEN TRIED TO ACCELERATE OUT INTO FASTER MOVING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HESITATED FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS WHICH PUT ME IN A POSITION WHERE CARS ON THE ROADWAY I WAS ENTERING HAD TO BRAKE. HESITATION IS CONSTANT AND CONSISTENT SINCE PURCHASE OF THE TRUCK. NOW I CURRENTLY HAVE 2000 MILES ON VEHICLE. CALLED HONDA AND THEY SAY IT'S NORMAL FOR THE SYSTEM OF "DRIVE BY WIRE". I HAVE ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER WITH SAME VEHICLE, HE HAS NO HESITATION. HONDA REFUSES TO FIX OR AT LEAST LOOK INTO MY PROBLEM AS THEY CONTINUE TO SAY IT'S NORMAL. *JB

WE GOT OUR RIDGELINE ON MARCH 12 A FEW DAYS THAT THEY HAD BEEN OUT, ONLY THE SECOND THAT THE DUVAL HONDA HAD SOLD. AND WE HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT LOVE THAT TRUCK. ON FRIDAY 11/25/05 ON MY WAY TO WORK, I AHD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 5-8 MINTUES AND THEN I SMELT SOMETHING A LITTLE STRANGE.........COMING OUT OF THE AC VENT. I TURNED THE HEATER OFF......THE SMELL OF SMOKE STARTED TO GET HEAVIER AND HEAVIER. I LOOKED INTO THE VENT AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE AND FIRE BILLOWING INSIDE.....NOT SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM...I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, CALLED FIRE/RESCUE, AND BEGAN TO GET MOST OF THE BELONGINGS THAT I COULD. THE TRUCK WAS FULLY INVOLVED BY TIME FIRE/RESCUE ARRIVED ON SCENE. I MUST SAY THAT, BACK IN SEPTMBER I NOTICED THAT THE RADIO WHICH IS STILL STOCK WAS WIRED INCORRECTLY, I MENTIONED IT THE LAST TIME THAT I TOOK THE BABY IN FOR SERVICING. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE DASH OUT AND HAVE IT RE-WIRED THE CORRECT WAY. AND THAT IT WOULD BE AN ALL DAY AFFAIR, I HAVENT HAD THE TIME TO HAVE THAT DONE, AND MY DEALER DOESNT OFFER LOANER CARS. AM I SAYING THAT THIS IS THE REASON THAT THIS HAPPENED? I AM NOT SURE. AS ANYONE HAD ANYTHING SIMULAR?? *NM

FIRE IN ENGINE BAY OF NEW HONDA RIDGELINE, DEBRIS CAUGHT BETWEEN EXHAUST AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MAJOR DAMAGE. BOUGHT 2ND. RIDGELINE. 2 MINOR EPISODES OF BURNING SMELL WHILE USING ON DIRT ROADS. THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE! *JB