wheel HONDA RIDGELINE 2008 1.G Owners Manual

Your vehicle has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed f or use only on pavement. Higher ground
clearance has many advantages f or of f -highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough
terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier. Your vehicle also has a shorter
wheelbase, allowing it to respond quicker to the steering wheel than other sport utility vehicles with a longer
wheelbase.
In addition to these characteristics, your vehicle’s pickup bed area allows you to carry more cargo and has the dual-
action tailgate to handle the items easily.
These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher of f the ground, it has a high
center of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a
signif icantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is signif icantly
more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear
seat belts.
Overloading or improperly loading cargo could af f ect your handling and the vehicle’s stability, and could result in a
crash. Make sure the cargo is properly loaded and all items are secured in the pickup bed area.
For inf ormation on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read ‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page of this manual and thesection on page . Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of
control or an accident. 198
232
Of f -Highway Driving Guidelines
Important Handling Inf ormation
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2008 Ridgeline Online Reference Owner's Manual
Contents

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety .............................................................................................................................. iii Important Handling Information .................................................................................................................... iv
Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) .................................................................................................... 3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) .................................................... 5
Instruments and Controls
(indicators, gauges, dashboard, and steering column)
............................................ 57
Features (climate control
, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control and Homelink)
...................................... 123
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ..................................................................... 179
Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 197
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 237
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, fuses) ...................................... 275
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 301
Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ... 317
Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 321
Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)
1 00X31-SJC-6202

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To use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘H’’ logo.
Only on vehicles equipped with navigation system. Ref er to the navigation system manual.
If equipped.
1:
2:
3:
Your Vehicle at a Glance
4
VTM-4 LOCK
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT SEAT HEATERS
CRUISE CONTROLS
Vehicle with navigation system is shown. HORN
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS
(P.76) (P.78)
(P.79) RESET BUTTON
PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P.29)
HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P.79)
SELECT BUTTON
(P.70)
(P.70)
VOICE CONTROL
SWITCHES
MOONROOF SWITCH INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESSSHIFT LEVER
MULTI-CONTROL LEVER
(WINDSHIELD WIPERS/
WASHERS/TURN SIGNALS/
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS)
(P.75)
BED LIGHT SWITCH
HEADLIGHT CONTROL
DIAL
CRUISE BUTTON
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM OFF SWITCH (P.110)
(P.122)
(P.105)
INTERIOR LIGHT
CONTROL SWITCH
(P.120) (P.201)
(P.216)
(P.169) (P.165) (P.169) (P.206)
2
1
2 3
2
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The rest of this section gives more
detailed inf ormation about how you
can maximize your saf ety.
The most important things you need
to know about your airbags are:
They are designed to supplement
the seat belts.
Remember, however, that no saf ety
system can prevent all injuries or
deaths that can occur in a severe
crash, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy.Always wear
your seat belt properly, and sit
upright and as f ar back f rom the
steering wheel as possible while
allowing f ull control of the vehicle. A
f ront passenger should move their
seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible.
To do their job, airbags must
inf late with tremendous f orce. So
while airbags help save lives, they
can cause minor injuries or more
serious or even fatal injuries if
occupants are not properly
restrained or sitting properly.
In addition, your vehicle has side
curtain airbags to help protect the
heads of the driver, f ront passenger,
and passengers in the outer rear
seating positions during a moderate
to severe side impact or rollover (see
page f or more inf ormation on how
your side curtain airbags work).
28
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Airbags do not replace seat belts.
A irbags of f er no prot ect ion in rearimpact s, or minor f ront al or sidecollisions. What you should do:
Airbags can pose serious hazards.
10
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If you sit too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard, you can be
seriously injured by an inf lating f ront
airbag, or by striking the steering
wheel or dashboard.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that drivers
allow at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the center of the steering
wheel and the chest.Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a
comf ortable, upright position,
leaving ample space between your
chest and the airbag cover in the
center of the steering wheel.
Passengers with adjustable seat-
backs should also adjust their seat-
back to a comf ortable, upright
position.
If you cannot get f ar enough away
f rom the steering wheel and still
reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some
type of adaptive equipment may help.
Once your seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it back and f orth to make sure it
is locked into position. See page
f or how to adjust the f ront seats.
99
On RT, RTX, and Canadian LX models
Protecting A dults and Teens
Adjust the Seat-Backs
3.
12
Sitting too close to a front
airbag can result in serious
injury or death if the front
airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the
front airbags as possible.
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Your airbag system includes:Two SRS (supplemental restraint
system) f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).
Two side airbags, one f or the
driver and one f or a f ront
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).
Two side curtain airbags, one f or
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the ceiling,
above the side windows. The f ront
and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG’’ (see page ). 23
26
28
CONT INUED
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
A irbag System Components
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
21
(15)
(16)
(15)
(8)
(12)
(1)
(3)
(5)
(6)(4)
(14) (14)
(10)
(13)
(2)
(7)
(9)
(11)
(5)(4)
(7)
(6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor
(7) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors
(8) Front Impact Sensors
(9) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
(10) Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors (1) Driver’s Front Airbag
(2) Passenger’s Front Airbag
(3) Control Unit
(4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(5) Side Airbags
(11) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors/OPDS Sensors Control Unit
(12) SRS Indicator
(13) Side Curtain Airbags
(14) Side Impact Sensors (First)
(15) Side Impact Sensors (Second)
(16) Roll Rate Sensor
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This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .58
............................
Instrument Panel .59
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators .61
.............................................
Gauges .70
Controls Near the Steering
...........................................
Wheel .74
........................
Multi-Control Lever .75
...................
Headlight Control Dial .76
........
Instrument Panel Brightness .78
.................
Hazard Warning Button .79
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment .79
..................................................
Keys .80
........................
Immobilizer System .81
................................
Ignition Switch .82
......................................
Door Locks .83
..............
Childproof Door Locks .84
.
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking .84
.......................
Remote Transmitter .90
.......................
Dual-Action Tailgate .93
...............................
In-Bed Trunk .96
.................................................
Seats .99
..................................
Seat Heaters .105
............................
Power Windows .107
.......................................
Moonroof .110
...............................
Parking Brake .111
...........................................
Mirrors .112 .........
Interior Convenience Items .114
.........................
Center Console .115
.......
Console Compartments .115
.........................
Cargo Hooks .116
.....................
Beverage Holders .116
..................................
Glove Box .117
................................
Coat Hooks .117
....................
Sunglasses Holder .117
........
Accessory Power Sockets .118
...................................
Sun Visor .119
............................
Vanity Mirror .119
...............................
Interior Lights .120
.....................................
Bed Lights .122
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
57
TM
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To use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘H’’ logo.
If equipped.
1:
2:
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
74
SHIFT LEVER
CRUISE BUTTON CRUISE
CONTROLS
HORN
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT VTM-4 LOCK
Vehicle with navigation system is shown. BED LIGHT SWITCH
MULTI-CONTROL LEVER
(WINDSHIELD WIPERS/
WASHERS/TURN SIGNALS/
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS)
MOONROOF SWITCH
INTERIOR LIGHT
CONTROL SWITCH
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
HEADLIGHT CONTROL
DIAL RESET BUTTON
SELECT BUTTON
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS
(P.75)
(P.76) (P.78)
(P.70)
(P.70) PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P.29)
HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P.79)
SEAT HEATERS
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM OFF SWITCH (P.110)
(P.122)
(P.120)(P.105)
(P.79) (P.201)
(P.216)
(P.169)
(P.165) (P.169) (P.206)
1
2
2 2
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Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
Move the steering wheel so it
points toward your chest, not
toward your f ace. Make sure you
can see the instrument panel
gauges and indicators.
Push the lever on the lef t side of
the steering column all the way
down.
Pushthebuttontoturnonthe
hazard warning lights (f our-way
flashers). This causes all four
outside turn signals and both turn
indicators in the instrument panel to
f lash. Use the hazard warning lights
if you need to park in a dangerous
area near heavy traffic, or if your
vehicle is disabled. 3.
4.
1.
2.
Steering Wheel A djustment
Hazard Warning Button
Hazard Warning Button, Steering Wheel A djustment
Inst rument s and Cont rols
79
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.
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µµ
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The ignition switch has f our
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III). You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To turn the key, the shift lever must
be in Park, and you must push the
key in slightly.
If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may make it difficult
to turn the key. Firmly turn the
steering wheel to the lef t or right as
you turn the key.
You can
operate the audio system and the
accessory power sockets in this
position.
This is the normal key
position when driving. Several of the
indicators on the instrument panel
come on as a test when you turn the
ignition switch f rom the
ACCESSORY (I) to the ON (II)
position. Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to the ON (II) position when
you let go of the key.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or the
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
the driver’s door. Remove the key to
turn of f the beeper.
TheshiftlevermustbeinPark
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch.
LOCK (0)
A CCESSORY (I)
ON (II) ST A RT (III)
Ignition Switch
82
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