Page 40 of 341

µ
During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child 
and cause serious or fatal injuries.
If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash. Children who play in vehicles
can accidentally get trapped inside. 
Teach your children not to play in 
or around vehicles. Know how to
operate the emergency In-Bed
Trunk opener and decide if your
children should be shown how to
use this f eature (see page ).
Opening or
closing the tailgate could cause
accidental injuries.
Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition 
switch, and open the windows,
which can lead to accidental injury
or death.
If you are not wearing a
seat belt in a crash, you could be
thrown forward and crush the 
child against the dashboard or a
seat-back. If you are wearing a
seat belt, the child can be torn
from your arms and be seriously
hurt or killed.
If a child wraps a loose seat belt around their neck, they 
can be seriously or f atally injured.
(See pages and f or how to
activate and deactivate the
lockable retractor.) 
For example, infants and small 
childrenleftinavehicleonahot
day can die f rom heatstroke. A 
child lef t alone with the key in the
ignition switch can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others.
Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most 
states and Canadian provinces,
and can be very hazardous. This can prevent
children f rom accidentally f alling
out (see page ). 4445
84 97
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Protecting Children General Guidelines
Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child.
Never let two children use thesame seat belt . L ock all doors and t he In-Bed
T runk when your vehicle is not inuse.
T each your children not t o play onthe pickup bed.
K eep vehicle keys/remot etransmitters out of the reach ofchildren.
Neverholdaninfantorchildon
your lap.
Make sure any unused seat beltt hat a child can reach is buckled,the lockable retractor is activated,and the belt is f ully retracted andlocked. Do not leave children alone in a
vehicle.
Use t he childproof door locks t o
prevent children f rom opening t herear doors.
36
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\f
y
 2008  Ridgeline   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 58 of 341
These labels are in the locations 
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious 
injury or death. Read these labels 
caref ully. 
If a label comes of f or becomes hard 
to read (except for the U.S.
dashboard label which may be 
removed by the owner), contact your
dealer f or a replacement.U.S. modelsCanadian models
U.S. models only
U.S. models only
Saf ety L abels
54
RADIATOR CAPDASHBOARD
SUN VISOR
SUN VISORS
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\fy
 2008  Ridgeline   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 73 of 341

This indicator reminds you that the 
bed lights are on. With the shif t lever
in the Park position, they come on 
when you push the light switch on 
the dashboard, swing open the
tailgate, or open the In-Bed Trunk.This indicator reminds you that the
In-Bed Trunk is open. If you do not
close it, the indicator stays on for 
about 3 minutes. See page f or 
more inf ormation.
This indicator reminds you that the
back window is not completely
closed when you turn the ignition 
switch f rom the ON (II) position to 
the ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0)
position. With the ignition switch in
the ACCESSORY (I) position, it goes
of f af ter about 30 seconds. With the 
ignition switch in the LOCK (0)
position, it goes of f af ter about 3
minutes.
If you turn the ignition switch to the
ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0)
position without turning of f the bed
lights, this indicator will remain on,
andthengooff after20minutes.See
page f or more inf ormation. If you remove the ignition key, turn
of f the lights, and open the driver’s
door without closing the back
window, you will hear f ive beeps and
see the indicator blink. If you do not
close the back window bef ore the
beeper stops, the indicator stops
blinking but remains on. It will go of f
af ter about 3 minutes. See pagef or more inf ormation.
96
122
108Back Window Open 
Indicator
Bed L ights On Indicator In-Bed T runk Open
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
69
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\fy
 2008  Ridgeline   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 98 of 341
To swing open the tailgate, f irst 
make sure it is f ully closed, then pull
up the right lower handle, and swing 
the tailgate to the lef t. 
To close, swing the tailgate back,
and push it f irmly until it is latched.
The dropped open tailgate can be 
used as an extended pickup bed.
Make sure to secure the items in the
pickup bed, and do not exceed the
maximum allowable weight on the
tailgate(seepage). 
To turn the bed lights on or off, use 
the bed light switch on the
dashboard (see page ).
Bef ore opening or closing the 
tailgate, check that passengers,
especially children, are not in the
tailgate’s path.
122
194 T o Swing Open the T ailgate
Dual-Action Tailgate
94
HANDLESwinging the tailgate open or 
closed while anyone is in its
path can cause serious injury. 
Make sure all passengers are 
clear of the tailgate’s path
before opening or closing it.
Do not drive with the tailgate swung
open. This could damage the tailgate.
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\fy
 2008  Ridgeline   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 99 of 341

See page for information on 
cargo loading and weight limits. 
You can also store and lock items in 
the In-Bed Trunk (see page ). 
If you do not f asten the seat belt, you 
f irst hear the seat belt reminder 
alarm, then the tailgate reminder
beeper sounds. 
The indicator does not monitor the 
tailgate when it is dropped open.
This indicator is in the door and
tailgate open monitor on the
instrument panel. It comes on when
the tailgate is swung open or it is not
completely closed. This indicator
worksevenif thekeyisnotinthe
ignition switch. 
If the tailgate is swung open or not 
closed tightly when the ignition
switch is in the ON (II) position, you
will hear six beeps and see the
indicator blinking. The indicator
stays on until you close the tailgate.
The beeper also sounds and the
indicator blinks when you move the 
shif t lever out of the Park or neutral
position.
Do not allow anyone to hang on the
swung open tailgate. This could 
damage the tailgate. 
Do not leave the tailgate swung open. 
The tailgate may swing and shut
accidentally. This could cause
serious injuries. 
Thebedlightscomeonwhenyou 
swing open the tailgate. You can also
turn the bed lights on or off by
pushing the bed light switch on the
dashboard (see page ).
96
122 190
Loading Cargo
T ailgat e Open Indicat or
Dual-Action Tailgate
Inst rument s and Cont rols
95
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f
\f\fy
 2008  Ridgeline   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 100 of 341

YoucanopentheIn-BedTrunktwo 
dif f erent ways:Push the release button on the
lower right side of the In-Bed
Trunk lid when the driver’s door is
unlocked. To close the In-Bed Trunk, lower the
lid, then press down on the back
edge. If your vehicle’s battery is 
disconnected or goes dead, the
release button on the In-Bed Trunk
lid is disabled. To open the In-Bed
Trunk, use the master key.
Usethemasterkeytoopenthe
In-Bed Trunk when the driver’s
door is locked. Thebedlightscomeonwhenyou 
open the In-Bed Trunk. You can also
turn the bed lights on or off by
pushing the bed light switch on the
dashboard (see page ). 
You can store items in the In-Bed 
Trunk up to 300 lbs (136 kg). Do not
exceed this weight limit, or you may
damage the In-Bed Trunk. See page
f or inf ormation on loading cargo
and weight limits. 
To store items separately in the 
In-Bed Trunk, optional divider
guides are available f rom your dealer.
When the In-Bed Trunk is closed
securely, it can be locked or
unlocked along with the power door
locks (see page ).
83 122
190
In-Bed Trunk
96
RELEASE 
BUTTON
TM
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f
\f
y
 2008  Ridgeline   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 114 of 341

Turnthekeyclockwiseagain,and 
hold it. All f our side windows start
to open. To stop the windows, 
release the key. 
To open the windows f urther, turn 
andholdthekeyagain(within
10 seconds).The moonroof has two positions: it
can be tilted up in the back f or 
ventilation, or it can slide back into
the roof. Use the switch near the left
dashboard vent to operate the
moonroof . The ignition switch must
be in the ON (II) position.
NOTE: If the windows stop bef ore 
the desired position, repeat steps 2
and 3.
To close the windows further, turn
andholdthekeyagain(within
10 seconds).
To close: 
NOTE: If the windows stop bef ore 
the desired position, repeat steps 2
and 3. Insert the key in the driver’s door
lock. 
Turn the key counterclockwise, 
then release it. 
Turn the key counterclockwise 
again, and hold it. All four side
windowsstarttoclose.Tostopthe
windows, release the key.
1. 
2.
3. 4.
3. 
4.
If equipped
Moonroof
Power Windows, Moonroof
110
MOONROOF SWITCH
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f
y
 2008  Ridgeline   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 122 of 341
There are three accessory power 
sockets in your vehicle. Two
accessory power sockets are above 
the center pocket on the dashboard, 
and another is on the back of the
center console.These sockets are intended to supply
power f or 12 volt DC accessories
that are rated 120 watts or less (10 
amps). 
To use an accessory power socket, 
the ignition switch must be in the
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) position.None of the sockets will power an 
automotive type cigarette lighter
element. When both sockets are
being used, the combined power
rating of the accessories should be
120 watts or less (10 amps).
A ccessory Power Sockets
Interior Convenience Items
118
FRONT REAR
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f
y
 2008  Ridgeline