2006 HONDA RIDGELINE automatic transmission

If youmuststopwhenfacinguphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
place by pressing on the accelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed, and use D3. Do not
‘‘ride’’ the brakes.
Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or vehicles with trailers.
When towing a f ixed-sided trailer
(e.g., camper), do not exceed 55 mph
(88 km/h). At higher speeds, the
trailer may sway or affect vehicle
handling.
Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause trailer to
sway. When being passed by a large
vehicle, keep a constant speed, and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.
When towing a trailer on level roads
under normal driving conditions, do
not use D3. This will increase the
automatic transmission fluid
temperature and may cause
overheating.
With heavy cargo on the pickup bed,
your vehicle has a higher center of
gravity. Drive more slowly and
cautiously, and allow more time and
distance for braking. Loading heavy
cargo could af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses.
Allow more time and distance f or
braking. Do not brake or turn
suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
Remember, it
takes longer to slow down and
stop when towing a trailer.T owing Speeds and Gears
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Making T urns and Braking
Driving on Hills
Towing a Trailer
216
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This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance messages in the
inf ormation display, a maintenance
record, and instructions f or simple
maintenance tasks you may want to
take care of yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .224
....................
Maintenance Minder .225
....................
Maintenance Record .233
..............................
Fluid Locations .235
........................
Adding Engine Oil .236
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter .237
..............................
Engine Coolant .239
....................
Windshield Washers .240
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid .241
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid .242
.............
Transf er Assembly Fluid .243
....................................
Brake Fluid .243
....................
Power Steering Fluid .244
....................................
Timing Belt .244
.............................................
Lights .245
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts .251
.....................................
Floor Mats .252
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .252
.................................
Wiper Blades .253
...............................................
Tires .255
...................
Checking the Battery .260
.............................
Vehicle Storage .262
305
Maintenance
Maint enance
223
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µµµ
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Youshouldcheckthefollowing
items at the specif ied intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perf orm
any check, turn to the appropriate
page listed.
Engine oil level Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page .
Engine coolant level Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you f ill the f uel tank. See page .
Automatic transmission Check
the f luid level monthly. See page .
Brakes Check the f luid level
monthly. See page .
Tires Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread f or
wear and foreign objects. See page . Lights Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
and license plate lights monthly.
See page .
256 245
178 178
241 243
CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Owner’s Maintenance Checks
Maint enance
231
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Î
Î
Fluid Locations
Maint enance
235
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)
WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)RADIATOR CAP AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)
BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
ENGINE
COOLANT
RESERVOIR POWER STEERING
FLUID (Red cap) ENGINE OIL FILL CAP
: Under the gray cover
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CONT INUED
Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
Check the f luid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
Park the vehicle on level ground.
Shut of f the engine.
Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
f rom the transmission, and wipe it
with a clean cloth. Remove the dipstick, and check
the f luid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
1.
2. 3.
4.
Windshield Washers, A utomatic T ransmission Fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Maint enance
241
DIPSTICKDIPSTICK
LOWER MARK UPPER MARK
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir. Antif reeze
can damage your vehicle’s paint, while
a vinegar/water solution can damage
the windshield washer pump. Use only
commercially-available windshield
washer f luid.
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To thoroughly f lush the transmission,
the technician should drain and ref ill
it with Honda ATF-Z1, then drive the
vehicle f or a short distance. Do this
three times. Then drain and ref ill the
transmission a f inal time.Insert the dipstick all the way back
in the transmission.
The automatic transmission should
be drained and ref illed with new f luid
when this service is indicated by a
maintenance message on the
inf ormation display.
If you are not sure how to add f luid,
contact your dealer.
If the level is below the lower
mark, remove the f ill plug, and add
f luid to bring it to the upper mark.
Pour the f luid slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill any. Clean up any
spill immediately; it could damage
components in the engine
compartment.
Always use Honda ATF-Z1
(Automatic Transmission Fluid). If
it’s not available, you may use a
DEXRON
III automatic
transmission f luid as a temporary
replacement. However, continued
use can affect the shift quality. Have
the transmission f lushed and ref illed
with Honda ATF-Z1 as soon as it is
convenient. The rear dif f erential should be
drained and ref illed with new f luid
when this service is indicated by a
maintenance message on the
inf ormation display. This service
may be needed more of ten under
certain driving conditions (see page
).
Always use Honda VTM-4
Dif f erential Fluid, and have your
dealer replace the rear differential
f luid.
6.
5.
232
A utomatic Transmissison Fluid, Rear Dif f erential Fluid
Rear Dif f erential Fluid
242
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If your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, or snow, call a towing service
to pull it out (see the previous page).
For very short distances, such as
f reeing the vehicle, you can use the
tie down hooks on the lower lef t of
the f ront and rear bumpers.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
287
FRONTREAR
TIE DOWN
HOOK TIE DOWN
HOOK
‘‘Rocking’’ your vehicle between
f orward and reverse gear or revving up
the engine and allowing the wheels to
spin f reely at high speeds can damage
the automatic transmission. Use a tow
service to prevent transmission damage.
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The engine number is stamped into
the engine block. It is on the f ront.
The transmission number is on a
label on top of the transmission.
Identif ication Numbers
Technical Inf ormation
291
ENGINE NUMBERAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NUMBER
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