This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .276
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .277
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .285
................................
Jump Starting .286
..............
If the Engine Overheats .288
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .290
..........
Charging System Indicator .290
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .291
...............
Brake System Indicator .292
..............................................
Fuses .293
..............................
Fuse Locations .296
......................
Emergency Towing .298
..........
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck .299
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
275
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2008 Ridgeline
Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position:Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
or neutral or the starter will not
operate.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. Turn on the
headlights, and check their
brightness. If the headlights are
very dim or do not come on at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page . If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
discharged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
f rom a booster battery (see page
).
In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position, but the engine does not run. Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ).
Turn the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the f uses. If the f uses
areOK,thereisprobably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. See
on page .
Check these things:
When you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, you do not
hear the normal noise of the engine
trying to start. You may hear a
clicking sound, a series of clicks, or
nothing at all. You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run.
You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
81
286
298 272
286
CONT INUED
Jump Starting T he Starter Operates Normally
Emergency T owing
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
285
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2008 Ridgeline
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er toon page .
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See on page . Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
You cannot start your vehicle by
pushing or pulling it.
Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the low f uel indicator may
not be working.
Turn of f all electrical accessories:
heater, A/C, climate control, audio
system, lights, etc. Put the
transmission in Park, and set the
parking brake.
Open the hood, and check the
physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or f rozen, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
1.
2.
200
293 298 Starting the
Engine
Emergency
Towing Jump Starting
If the Engine Won’t Start, Jump Starting
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
286
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
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µ
´ ´ If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
Start the vehicle. If the starter
motor still operates slowly, check
that the jumper cables have good
metal-to-metal contact.
Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the vehicle until everything is
disconnected. Otherwise, you may
cause an electrical short.
Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative ( ) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine.
Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
vehicle’s battery. Connect the
other end to the positive ( )
terminal on the booster battery.
The numbers in the illustration show
you the order to connect the jumper
cables.
Once your vehicle is running,
disconnect the negative cable f rom
your vehicle, then f rom the
booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable f rom your vehicle,
then from the booster battery.
4. 6.
7.
5.
3.
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
287
BOOSTER
BATTERY
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CONT INUED
Back Window.......................................
Indicator .69
...................................
Operation .107
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .62,290
............................
Jump Starting .286
..............................
Maintenance .272
............................
Specif ications .305
Bed Lights .......................................
Indicator .69
...................................
Operation .122
..............................
Bef ore Driving .179 ....................................
Belts,Seat .8,18
.........................
Beverage Holders .116
..................................
Booster Seats .50
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .213
.............
Break-in, New Linings .180
...........................................
Fluid .255
............
Bulb Replacement .259,260
.......................................
Parking .111
.................
System Indicator .63,292
........................
Wear Indicators .212
.............................
Braking System .212
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle .180
..
Brightness Control, Instruments .78
........................
Brights, Headlights .76
...
Accessories and Modif ications .188
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) .82
............
Accessory Power Sockets .118
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .249
........
Adjusting the Steering wheel .79
...........................
Advanced Airbags .25
.....................................
Airbag (SRS) .9
..............
Air Conditioning System .124
.........................................
Usage .128
...............
Air Outlets (Vents) .126,131
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .268
......................................
Antif reeze .251
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator .63,213
...................................
Operation .213
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .166
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock .82
........................................
Armrests .102
................
Audio System .135,144,150
.....
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking .84
Automatic Heated Wiper
......................................
Zone .76,129
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .19 .............
Automatic Speed Control .169
..............
Automatic Transmission .201
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .304
...............
Checking Fluid Level .253
.......................................
Shif ting .201
Shif t Lever Position
...............................
Indicators .201
................
Shif t Lever Positions .202
....................
Shif t Lock Release .205
......................
Auxiliary Input Jack .165
Index
A
B
INDEX
I
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ÎÎ
CONT INUED
..............................
Economy, Fuel .185
..................................
Emergencies .275
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .286
...........
Brake System Indicator .292
................
Changing a Flat Tire .277
.....
Charging System Indicator .290
..................
Checking the Fuses .293
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers .79
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .290
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .291
..................
Overheated Engine .288
............................
Stuck Vehicle .299
.......................................
Towing .298
.........................
Emergency Brake .111
.......................
Emissions Controls .312
Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .72
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .62,291
.........................
Oil Lif e Display .239
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .62,290 ..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .248
...............................
Overheating .288
............................
Specif ications .305
............................
Speed Limiter .205
.......................................
Starting .200
.................
Engine, if it won’t start .285
Evaporative Emissions Control
........................................
System .312
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .53
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
........................................
System .313
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .16
................
Daytime Running Lights .78
.................................
Dead Battery .286
.........
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .320
..............
Def rosting the Windows .129
................
Dif f erential Fluid, Rear .254
....................................
Dimensions .304
...............
Dimming the Headlights .76
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .253
..................................
Engine Oil .184
..........................
Directional Signals .76
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .212
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .250
.
Door and Tailgate Open Monitor .64
Doors
..
Locking and Unlocking .83,84,87
....................
Lockout Prevention .83
......................
Power Door Locks .83
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .306
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .197
....................................
Economy .185
...................................................
D3 .203
Dual-Action Tailgate
.................................
Indicator .64,95
.....................................
Operation .93 ..........
Dual Temperature Control .132
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .264
...................................
Fan, Interior .125
.........................................
Features .123
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .182
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen .264
...............................................
Oil .250
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .79
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .277
Index
E
F
INDEX
III
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CONT INUED
.................
High-Low Beam Switch .75
HomeLink Universal
................................
Transceiver .175
.......................
Hood, Opening the .183
..................................................
Horn .74
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle .302
Ignition
..............................................
Keys .80
...........................................
Switch .82
............
Timing Control System .313
........................
Immobilizer System .81
.........
Important Safety Precautions .6
...................................
In-Bed Trunk .96
....................
Emergency Opener .97
............................
Open Indicator .69
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel .59
...............
ABS (Anti-lock Brake) .63
.......................
A/T Temperature .66
....................
Back Window Open .69
.............................
Bed Lights On .69
Brake (Parking and Brake
....................................
System) .63
........................
Charging System .62 .............................
Cruise Control .65
...................................
Door Open .64
DRL (Daytime Running
......................................
Lights) .65
...................................
High Beam .65
....................
In-Bed Trunk Open .69
........
Key (Immobilizer System) .63
.....................................
Lights On .66
......................................
Low Fuel .65
........................
Low Oil Pressure .62
......................
Low Tire Pressure .68
..................
Maintenance Minder .67
Malf unction Indicator Lamp
.......................................
(MIL) .62
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .62
.......................................
Seat Belt .61
...............................................
SRS .62
..............................
Tailgate Open .64
...............
Tire Pressure Monitor .68
.............................
TPMS System .68
Turn Signal and Hazard
...................................
Warning .64
............................
VSA Activation .67
.................................
VSA System .67
..........................................
VTM-4 .66
..............................
Washer Level .65 ..................
Individual Map Lights .121
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .37
......................................
Inf ant Seats .37
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire .267
........................
Inf ormation Display .70
.........
Engine Oil Lif e Indicator .239
...........
Maintenance Items .242,246
.................................
Inside Mirror .112
.............................
Inspection, Tire .268
........................
Instrument Panel .3,58
........
Instrument Panel Brightness .78
...............................
Interior Lights .120
........................................
Introduction .i
..................................................
Keys .80 ................
Jacking Up the Vehicle .279
.......................................
Jack, Tire .279
................................
Jump Starting .286
Index
J
K
I
INDEX
V
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2008 Ridgeline