ECO mode HONDA RIDGELINE 2021 (in English) Manual Online

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uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
Driving
Towing generally requires a vari ety of supplemental equipment.
To ensure the best quality, we recommend that you purchase Honda equipment
whenever possible.
Your vehicle has a class 3 trailer hitch as standard equipment. The jumper harness
and trailer brake fuse are stored in the glove box.
2 Trailer brakes P. 376
Open the lid of the socket (located next to the
trailer hitch) to expo se the 7-pin trailer
connector.
■Hitches
Read the trailer manufacturer ’s instructions, and select the appropriate draw bar for
the height of the trailer you will be towing.
■Towing Equipment and Accessories
Models with AWD1 Towing Equipment and Accessories
Make sure that all equipmen t is properly installed and
maintained, and that it meets federal, state, province/
territory, and lo cal regulations.
Consult your trai ler maker for prope r installation and
setup of the equipment.
Improper installation and setup can affect the
handling, stability, and br aking performance of your
vehicle.
Consult your traile r sales or rental agency if any other
items are recommended or required for your towing
situation.
The lighting and wiring of tra ilers can vary by type
and brand. If a connector is required, it should only
be installed by a qua lified technician.
Trailer packages and products:
•Ball mount, hitch plug, hitch pin etc.•Wiring harness kit
•Trailer hitch kit (jum per harness included)
Are available at a dealer.
7-Pin trailer connector
Lid Trailer hitch

uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Behind a Motorhome
382
Driving
• Monitor your temperature gauge. If it nears the mark, turn off the climate
control system and reduce speed. Pull to the side of the road safely to cool down
the engine if necessary.
• Shift to the
(S position if the transmission shifts frequently.
When retrieving a boat from the water, we recommend using the sequential mode
(S to utilize the transmissions lower gears.
Towing Behind a Motorhome
Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refe r to the emergency towing information.
2Emergency Towing P. 568
■Driving in Hilly Terrain
■Retrieving a Boat
1Driving in Hilly Terrain
If the automatic transmission fluid temperature
exceeds the specified limit, the transmission will also
automatically up shift, even in the sequential mode.
H

uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
388
Driving
■To start the engine
When started remotely, the engine automati cally shuts off after 10 minutes of idling
and/or the brake pedal and ENGINE START/STOP button have not been pressed
simultaneously.
To extend the run time for another 10 minutes during the first run, press the
button, then press and hold the button. u Some exterior lights flash six times if a 10-minute extension request was
transmitted successfully.1Remote Engine Start
The engine may not start by the remote engine start
if:
•You have disabled a remo te engine start setting
using the audio/information screen.
•You do not press and hold the button
within 5 seconds after the button is pressed.
•The power mode is not in VEHICLE OFF.•The transmission is in a position other than ( P.
•The hood is open, or any door or the trunk is
unlocked.
•You have already used the remote twice to start
the engine.
•Another registered smart entry remote is in the
vehicle.
•There is any antenna failure.
•The door is unlocked with the built-in key.•The engine oil pressure is low.
•The engine coolant temper ature is extremely high.
•The security system alarm is not set.
Press the button, then press and hold
the button.
Some exterior lights flash once.
LED: Blinks when any button is pressed. Go within the range,
and try again.
Some exterior lights flash six
times if the engine starts
successfully. Exterior lights will not flash if
the engine does not start.

uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
390
Driving
1Remote Engine Start
While the engine is running, the vehicle will
automatically preconditi on inside the vehicle.
When it is warm outside:
•The climate control system is activated in
recirculation mode.
•The seat ventilation* is activated.
When it is cold outside:
•The defroster is activated at a moderately warm
temperature.
•The rear defogger and door mirror heaters* are
activated.
•The seat heaters* and heated steering wheel* are
activated. 2Heated Steering Wheel
* P. 187
2 Front Seat Heaters* P. 188
2 Front Seat Heaters / Ventilators* P. 189
2 Rear Seat Heaters* P. 190
* Not available on all models

392
uuWhen Driving uPrecautions While Driving
Driving
Precautions While Driving
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
To prevent rollovers or loss of control:
• Take corners at slower speeds than yo u would with a passenger vehicle.
• Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers whenever possible.
• Do not modify your vehicle in any way that you would raise the center of gravity.
• Do not carry heavy cargo on the roof.
Never carry more than 165 lbs (75 kg) of cargo on the roof rack (Honda accessory).
Avoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the engine or
driveline, or cause electrical component failure.
If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicle, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks.
■Driving Guidelines for Your Utility Vehicle
■In Rain
■Other Precautions
1 Precautions While Driving
NOTICE
Do not select a shift button while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.
NOTICE
If you repeatedly turn the steering wheel at an
extremely low speed, or hold the steering wheel in
the full left or right position for a while, the electric
power steering (EPS) system heats up. The system
goes into a protective mode, and limits its
performance. The steering wheel becomes harder
and harder to operate. Once the system cools down,
the EPS system is restor ed. Repeated operation under
these conditions can eventually damage the system.
If the power mode is set to ACCESSORY while
driving, the engine will shut down and all steering
and brake power assist functi ons will stop, making it
difficult to control the vehicle.
Do not select
( N while driving as you will lose engine
braking (and accelera tion) performance.
During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as not to damage the engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km)
after purchasing your new vehicle or replacing the
brake pads or rotors, to allow for proper break-in.

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uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
■If you want to keep the transmission in (N position [car wash mode]
With the engine running:
1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Select
(N, then release the button to display (Neutral) (N hold mode on the
multi-information display.
3. Press and hold
(N again for two seconds.
u This puts the vehicle in car wash mode which must be used when your vehicle
is pulled through a conveyor type automatic car wash where you or an
attendant do not remain in the vehicle.
If the ENGINE STOP/START button is pressed
after car wash mode has been activated, the
power mode will change to ACCESSORY and a
message will be displayed on the multi-
information display. u For 15 minutes the transmission remains
in
(N with the power mode in
ACCESSORY. After that, the
transmission automatically changes to
(P and the power mode changes to OFF.
u Manually changing to
(P cancels
ACCESSORY mode. The
(P indicator
comes on and the power mode changes
to OFF. You must always put the
transmission into
(P when car wash
mode is no longer needed.
1If you want to keep the transmission in ( N position [car wash mode]
Note that the transmiss ion may not stay in (N
position while any of the following indicators is on:
•Transmission system indicator.
•Malfunction indicator lamp.•Charging system indicator.

401
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Continued
Driving
Use the paddle shifters to change betwee n 1st and 9th gears without removing your
hands from the steering wheel. The transmission will switch to the sequential mode.
■When the transmi ssion is in (D:
The vehicle will go into th e sequential mode momentarily, and the sequential mode
gear selection indicator will come on.
Once you start traveling at a constant speed , the sequential mode will automatically
switch off, and the sequential mode gear selection indicator will go off.
Hold the
(+ paddle shifter for two seconds or push button to return to normal
drive.
■When the transmi ssion is in (S:
The vehicle will go into th e sequential mode, and the M (sequential mode) indicator
and sequential mode gear selection indicator will come on.
If the vehicle speed increases and the engi ne speed reaches near the tachometer’s
red zone, the transmission automatically shifts up to the next gear.
You can cancel this mode by holding the
(+ paddle shifter for two seconds or push
button. When the sequenti al mode is canceled, the M (sequential mode)
indicator and sequential mode gear selection indicator go off.
■Sequential Mode
D/S
D/S

403
uuWhen Driving uECON Mode
Driving
ECON Mode
The ECON button turns the ECON mode on
and off.
The ECON mode helps you improve your fuel
economy by adjusting the performance of the
engine and climate control system.1 ECON Mode
While in ECON mode, the climate control system has
greater temperature fluctuation.
If the Snow , Mud
* or Sand* mode is turned ON
while the ECON mode is ON , the ECON mode will be
turned off.
* Not available on all models

406
uuWhen Driving uAuto Idle Stop
Driving
Auto Idle Stop
To help maximize fuel econ omy, the engine automatica lly stops when the vehicle
comes to a stop, depending on environmen tal and vehicle operating conditions. The
indicator (green) comes on at this time.
The environmental and vehicle conditions that
impact Auto Idle Stop system operation are
varied.
2Auto Idle Stop Activates When: P. 408,
409
The engine then restarts once the vehicle is
about to move again, and the indicator
(green) goes off.
2 The Engine Automatically Restarts When:
P. 410
If the driver’s door is opened while the
indicator (green) comes on, a buzzer sounds
to notify you that the Auto Idle Stop function
is in operation.
A message associated with Auto Idle Stop
appears on the multi-information display.
2 Indicators P. 78
2 Customized Features P. 298
1Auto Idle Stop
The 12-volt battery insta lled in this vehicle is
specifically designed for a m odel with Auto Idle Stop.
Using a 12-volt battery other than this specified type
may shorten the 12-volt ba ttery life, and prevent
Auto Idle Stop from activati ng. If you need to replace
the 12-volt battery, make sure to select the specified
type. Ask a dealer for more details.
The duration of the Au to Idle Stop operation:
•Increase in the ECON mode, compared to when the
ECON mode is off, with climate control in use.
2 ECON Mode P. 403

uuWhen Driving uAuto Idle Stop
410
Driving
The brake pedal is released.
■The engine restarts even if the brake pedal is depressed when:
• The Auto Idle Stop OFF button is pressed.
• The steering wheel is operated.
• The transmission is put into
(R or (S, or when it is set from (N to (D.
u If you put the transmission into
(P after the Auto Idle Stop activates, the Auto
Idle Stop continues to operate. In this case, the engine restarts when you
depress the brake pedal.
• The pressure on the brake pedal is redu ced and the vehicle starts moving while
stopped on an incline.
• The pressure on the brake pedal is repeated ly applied and released slightly during
a stop.
• The battery charge becomes low.
• The accelerator pedal is depressed.
• The driver’s seat belt is unlatched.
• is ON (indicator on).
• The climate control system is in us e, and the difference between the set
temperature and actual interior temperature becomes significant.
• The climate control system is bein g used to dehumidify the interior.
• The Intelligent Traction Management is set to Snow, Mud
*, or Sand*.
• The AC power outlet is used.
■The Engine Automatically Restarts When:1The Engine Automatically Restarts When:
If you are using an electroni c device during Auto Idle
Stop, the device may tempor arily be turned off when
the engine restarts.
Models with AC Power Outlet
* Not available on all models