Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.As you read this manual, you will
f ind inf ormation that is preceded by
a symbol. This
inf ormation is intended to help you
avoid damage to your vehicle, other
property, or the environment.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Af terwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so
youcanrefertoitatanytime.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the maintenance minder shown in the
instrument panel helps to keep your driving trouble-f ree while it preserves
your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that
your dealer’s staf f is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique
to your vehicle. Your dealer is dedicated to your satisf action and will be
pleased to answer any questions and concerns.
Congratulations! Your selection of a 2008 Honda Ridgeline was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.
Introduction
i
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2008 Ridgeline
How to operate the heating and air
conditioning system, the audio
system, and other convenience
f eatures.
A convenient ref erence to the
sections in this manual.
A quick ref erence to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
and how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.The proper way to start the engine,
shif t the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you’re
planning to tow a trailer.
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
How to order manuals and other
technical literature.
A summary of the inf ormation you
need when you pull up to the f uel
pump.
The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance service.
There is also a list of things to check
and instructions on how to check
them.
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual f or detailed
inf ormation.
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them.
Important inf ormation about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable inf ormation on how to
protect children with child restraints. What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
Contents
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Instruments and Controls
Features Bef ore Driving
Driving
Maintenance
T echnical Inf ormation
Warranty and Customer
Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only)
Index
Service Inf ormation Summary
T aking Care of the Unexpected
Overview of Contents
2
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CONT INUED: If equipped
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Your Vehicle at a Glance
3
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
PARKING BRAKE
PEDAL GLOVE BOX
AUDIO SYSTEM
MIRROR CONTROLS
CENTER CONSOLEACCESSORY POWER SOCKETSHEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
DRIVER’S FRONT
AIRBAG
GAUGES
INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS
FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE
Vehicle with navigation system is shown. (P.9,23)
PARKING BRAKE
RELEASE HANDLE
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH AUXILIARY INPUT
JACK
REAR VIEW MIRROR WITH
COMPASS
(P.59)
(P.70)
(P.83) (P.111)
(P.113)
(P.107) (P.111)(P.115) (P.118)(P.117)
(P.130)
(P.124)
(P.135)
PASSENGER’S FRONT
AIRBAG
(P.9,29)
(P.172)
(P.165)
(P.183)
(P.181)
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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.
1:
2:
3:
Your Vehicle at a Glance
4
VTM-4 LOCK
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT SEAT HEATERS
CRUISE CONTROLS
Vehicle with navigation system is shown. HORN
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS
(P.76) (P.78)
(P.79) RESET BUTTON
PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P.29)
HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P.79)
SELECT BUTTON
(P.70)
(P.70)
VOICE CONTROL
SWITCHES
MOONROOF SWITCH INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESSSHIFT LEVER
MULTI-CONTROL LEVER
(WINDSHIELD WIPERS/
WASHERS/TURN SIGNALS/
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS)
(P.75)
BED LIGHT SWITCH
HEADLIGHT CONTROL
DIAL
CRUISE BUTTON
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM OFF SWITCH (P.110)
(P.122)
(P.105)
INTERIOR LIGHT
CONTROL SWITCH
(P.120) (P.201)
(P.216)
(P.169) (P.165) (P.169) (P.206)
2
1
2 3
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2008 Ridgeline
Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.Seat belts are the single most
effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand
larger children. (Inf ants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.
The pickup bed is not equipped with
seats or seat belts. Do not let anyone
ride in the pickup bed as they can
easily be thrown out and be killed or
seriously injured.
In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.
Your seat belt system also includes
an indicator on the instrument panel
and a beeper to remind you and your
passengers to f asten your seat belts.
Help keep you f rom being thrown
against the inside of the vehicle
and against other occupants.
Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including f rontal,
side and rear impacts, and
rollovers.
Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle’s built-in saf ety f eatures.
When properly worn, seat belts:
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Seat BeltsWhy Wear Seat Belt s
8
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.
Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.
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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µAdjust the driver’s seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain f ull control of the vehicle.
Have a front passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.
See pages f or important
guidelines on how to properly
protect inf ants, small children, and
larger children who ride in your
vehicle.
The f ollowing pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver, adult passengers,
and teenage children who are large
enough and mature enough to drive
or ride in the f ront.
After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors are closed
and locked. Bef ore driving, be sure
the tailgate is also closed.
Locking the doors reduces the
chance of someone being thrown out
of the vehicle during a crash, and it
helps prevent passengers f rom
accidentally opening a door and
f alling out. Your vehicle has a door and
tailgate monitor on the
instrument panel to indicate when a
specif ic door or the tailgate is not
tightly closed.
Your vehicle also has an
In-Bed Trunk open
indicator to show when the In-Bed
Trunk lid is not tightly closed (see
page ).
Locking the doors also helps prevent
an outsider f rom unexpectedly
opening a door when you come to a
stop.
See page f or how to lock the
doors, and page f or how the door
and tailgate monitor system works.
Your vehicle has the auto door
locking/unlocking f eature. For more
inf ormation, see page .
32
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36
69
84
83
CONT INUED
Protecting A dults and Teens
Introduction A djust the Front Seats
Close and L ock the Doors
1. 2.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
11
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Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all f ive seating
positions. The f ront seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners.
This system uses the same sensors
as the front airbags to monitor
whether the f ront seat belts are
latched or unlatched, and how much
weight is on the f ront passenger’s
seat (see pages and ).If the indicator comes on or the
beeper sounds when the driver’s seat
belt is latched and there is no f ront
seat passenger and no items on the
front seat, something may be
interf ering with the monitoring
system. Look f or and remove:
Any items under the f ront
passenger’s seat.
Any object(s) hanging on the seat
or in the seat-back pocket.
Any object on the f loor that is
touching the rear of the seat-back.
If no obstructions are f ound, have
your vehicle checked by a dealer.
The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the
instrument panel and a beeper to
remind you and your passengers to
f asten your seat belts.
This system monitors the f ront seat
belts. If you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position bef ore your
seat belt is f astened, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will f lash. If
your seat belt is not f astened bef ore the beeper stops, the indicator will
stop f lashing but remain on.
If a f ront passenger does not f asten
their seat belt, the indicator will
come on about 6 seconds af ter the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.
If either the driver or a f ront
passenger does not f asten their seat
belt while driving, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will f lash
again at regular intervals.
When no one is sitting in the f ront
passenger’s seat, or a child or small
adult is riding there, the indicator
should not come on and the beeper
should not sound.
26
25
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt System Components
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Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the f ront passenger’s
seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs
(29 kg) or less (the weight of an
inf ant or small child), the
passenger’s f ront airbag will be
turned 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 ).
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 switch is in the ON (II)
position.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 ).
An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger’s
f ront airbag has been turned of f
(see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact,
side impact, or rollover.
Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag of f (see
page ).
Sensors that can detect whether
the driver’s seat belt and the f ront
passenger’s seat belt are latched
or unlatched (see page ).
A driver’s seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too f ar f orward, the airbag will
inf late with less f orce (see page
). 19
28 28
29
29
18
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Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
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2008 Ridgeline