2006 Ridgeline Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .3
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .55
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Features ........................................................................\
................................................................... .119
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................173
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .189
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................223
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................263
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
............................................ .289
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................301
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................305
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Important Handling Information........................................................................\
.............................iii
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. 190
219
Of f -Highway Driving Guidelines
Important Handling Inf ormation
iii
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Î
Î
Î
Î
Î
Î Î
Î 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.
3:
2:
1:
Your Vehicle at a Glance
4
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT (P.76)
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
VTM-4 LOCK
SHIFT LEVER
SEAT HEATERS
CRUISE CONTROLS
CRUISE BUTTON
VOICE CONTROL
SWITCHES
Vehicle with navigation system is shown.
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
MOONROOF SWITCH
BED LIGHT SWITCH
HEADLIGHT CONTROL
DIAL
INTERIOR LIGHT
CONTROL SWITCH
HORN
(P.105)
(P.72) (P.117)
(P.73)
(P.206)
(P.163) (P.75)
(P.193)
(P.198)
(P.159) (P.163)
(P.76) (P.115) (P.101)SELECT BUTTON
RESET BUTTON
MULTI-CONTROL LEVER
(WINDSHIELD WIPERS/
WASHERS/TURN SIGNALS/
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS) (P.
67)
(P.67)
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS
2
3
2
1
2
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Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together to
protect you and your passengers
during a crash.
Some f eatures do not require any
action on your part. These include a
strong steel f ramework that f orms a
saf ety cage around the passenger
compartment; front and rear crush
zones; a collapsible steering column;
and tensioners that tighten the f ront
seat belts in a crash.
However, you and your passengers
can’t take f ull advantage of these
f eatures unless you remain sitting in
a proper position and. In fact, some safety
f eatures can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
The f ollowing pages explain how you
cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting
yourself and your passengers.
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
always wear
your seat belts
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
7
(7) (9) (1)
(2)
(6) (10)
(8)
(5)
(2) (11)
(4)
(3)
(10)
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Front Airbags
(8) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(9) Door Locks
(10) Side Airbags
(11) Side Curtain Airbags (1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats and Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
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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.
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). 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.
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. 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.
26
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.
A irbags can pose hazards. What you should do:
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.
95
On RT 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 ). An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page ).
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned of f (see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact,
side impact or rollover.
Height and position sensors that
can detect whether a small
person or child is in the
passenger’s side airbag path and
signal the control unit to turn
the airbag of f (see page ).
A rollover sensor that can detect if
your vehicle is about to roll over
and signal the control unit to
deploy both side curtain airbags
and f ront seat belt tensioners (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 on both sides are
marked ‘‘SIDE CURTAIN
AIRBAG’’ (see page ). A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and f ront
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is in the ON (II) position.
27 28
23
25
26 28
20
26
A irbag System Components
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
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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 .56
............................
Instrument Panel .57
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators .59
.............................................
Gauges .67
Controls Near the Steering
...........................................
Wheel .71
........................
Multi-Control Lever .72
...................
Headlight Control Dial .73
........
Instrument Panel Brightness .75
.................
Hazard Warning Button .76
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment .76
..................................................
Keys .77
........................
Immobilizer System .78
................................
Ignition Switch .79
......................................
Door Locks .80
.......................
Remote Transmitter .86
.......................
Dual-Action Tailgate .89
...............................
In-Bed Trunk .92
.................................................
Seats .95
..................................
Seat Heaters .101
............................
Power Windows .102
.......................................
Moonroof .105
...............................
Parking Brake .106
...........................................
Mirrors .107 .........
Interior Convenience Items .109
.........................
Center Console .110
.......
Console Compartments .110
.........................
Cargo Hooks .111
.................
Beverage Holders .111
..................................
Glove Box .112
................................
Coat Hooks .112
....................
Sunglasses Holder .112
........
Accessory Power Sockets .113
...................................
Sun Visor .114
............................
Vanity Mirror .114
...............................
Interior Lights .115
.....................................
Bed Lights .117
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
55
TM
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