2008 HONDA RIDGELINE tailgate

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
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2008 Ridgeline

Youcanopenthetailgatetwo
dif f erent ways:Drop it open by using the upper
handle.
Swingitopenbyusingtheright
lower handle.
To drop open the tailgate, pull up the
upper handle, then pull down the
tailgate. To close the tailgate, push
f irmly up until it latches.
Bef ore you open the tailgate a
dif f erent way (dropped open, and
then swung open), make sure it is
f ully closed.
Make sure all passengers and
objects are clear of the tailgate
bef ore opening and closing it, and
make sure the tailgate is closed
securely bef ore driving.
As a saf ety f eature, the upper handle
is disabled if you do not f ully close
the tailgate af ter it is swung open.
And the lower handle is disabled if
you do not f ully close the tailgate
af ter it is dropped open.
CONT INUED
To Drop Open the Tailgate
Dual-Action Tailgate
Inst rument s and Cont rols
93
NOTE:
UPPER HANDLE
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2008 Ridgeline

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.
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2008 Ridgeline

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
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2008 Ridgeline

To avoid damaging the key and key
cylinder of the In-Bed Trunk lid, do
notclosethetailgatewhenthekeyis
in the lid.As a saf ety f eature, your vehicle has
a release lever on the latch of the
In-Bed Trunk lid so it can be opened
f rom the inside. To open the In-Bed
Trunk, push the release lever in the
direction of the arrow.
Parents should decide if their
children should be shown how to use
this f eature. For more inf ormation
about child saf ety, see page .
To avoid damaging the seal on the
In-Bed Trunk lid, remove any debris
from the lid’s mating surface before
you close it.
To avoid damaging the bottom of the
In-Bed Trunk, do not drive over large
obstacles, and do not use it as a
jacking point to raise the vehicle.
To avoid damaging the In-Bed Trunk
lid, and to prevent items f rom being
thrown about the vehicle and
possibly hurting someone in an
accident or sudden stop, be sure the
In-Bed Trunk lid is securely closed
bef ore driving away. This indicator on the instrument
panel reminds you that the In-Bed
Trunk is open (see page ).69
36
Emergency Opener
In-Bed T runk Open
Indicator
In-Bed Trunk
Inst rument s and Cont rols
97
RELEASE LEVER
TM
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2008 Ridgeline

If you turn the ignition switch to
ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0)
without turning of f the bed lights,
the lights and the indicator will
remain on, then go of f af ter 20
minutes (see page ).
Your vehicle has bed lights in the
pickup bed: a light on each f ront
upper and rear bottom side. With the
shif t lever in the Park position, the
bed lights come on when you push
the bed light switch on the
dashboard, swing open the tailgate,
or open the In-Bed Trunk. The
indicator on the instrument panel
alsocomesontoremindyouthatthe
bed lights are on. To turn of f the lights, push the light
switch again, or close the tailgate
and the In-Bed Trunk.
When you move the shif t lever out of
the Park position, the bed lights go
of f and cannot be used. 69
Bed L ights
122
BED LIGHT SWITCH
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2008 Ridgeline

The security system automatically
sets 15 seconds after you lock the
doors, hood, and the In-Bed Trunk.
For the system to activate, you must
lock the doors f rom the outside with
the key, driver’s lock tab, door lock
switch, or remote transmitter. The
security system indicator above the
driver’s door lock tab starts blinking
immediately to show you the system
is setting itself .Once the security system is set,
opening any door (without using the
key or the remote transmitter), the
hood, or the In-Bed Trunk, will cause
it to alarm. It also alarms if the radio
and navigation components are
removed f rom the dashboard or the
wiring is cut.
The security system helps to protect
your vehicle and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, parking lights, license
plate lights, and taillights f lash if
someone attempts to break into your
vehicleorremovetheradio.This
alarm continues f or 2 minutes, then
the system resets. To reset an
alarming system before the 2
minutes have elapsed, unlock the
driver’s door with the key or the
remote transmitter.
The security system will not set if
the hood, In-Bed Trunk, or any door
is not f ully closed. If the system will
not set, check the door and tailgate
open monitor and In-Bed Trunk open
indicator on the instrument panel
(see pages and ) to see if the
doors and In-Bed Trunk are f ully
closed. Since it is not part of the
monitor display, manually check the
hood.
Use the remote transmitter
to quickly check that the hood,
In-Bed Trunk, and all doors are
closed. Push the lock button twice
within 5 seconds. There should be an
audible conf irmation beep.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it. 6469
If equipped
Security System
168
NOTE:
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR
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2008 Ridgeline

Your vehicle can carry a large
amount of cargo in the pickup bed.
However, the pickup bed is not
intended f or carrying passengers.
Peoplewhorideinthepickupbed
can be very seriously injured or
killed in a crash (see page ).
Make sure your cargo is properly
loaded and all items are secured so
they will not shif t or f all out while
driving.When loading and unloading cargo,
make sure all passengers or any
objects are clear of the tailgate
bef ore opening or closing it. The
tailgate should be closed securely
bef ore driving when it is not used
as the extended pickup bed.
The maximum allowable loading
weight on the pickup bed is 1,100
lbs (500 kg). Do not exceed the
load limit (see page ).
Distribute cargo evenly on the
pickup bed. Place the heaviest
items on the bottom and as f ar
f orward as possible of the rear
axle. Tie down and secure all
items that could be thrown out of
the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.If you stack items higher than the
bed sides, tailgate, or back window,
secure them with a net or cover.
This will reduce the risk of items
beingthrownoutof thepickup
bed during a crash or sudden stop.
When the tailgate is dropped open,
itcanbeusedasanextended
pickup bed. The maximum
allowable weight on the tailgate
while driving is 300 lbs (136 kg).
Exceeding this limit could damage
the tailgate.
Carrying heavy cargo in the
pickup bed will raise your vehicle’s
center of gravity. This can affect
handling and perf ormance. Drive
more slowly and cautiously, and
allow extra time and distance f or
braking.
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191
Carrying Cargo in the Pickup Bed
Carrying Cargo
194
Allowing passengers to ride in
the pickup bed or on the tailgate
can result in death or serious
injury in a crash.
Make sure all passengers ride
in a seat and wear a seat belt
properly.
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2008 Ridgeline