2008 HONDA RIDGELINE overheating

2008 Ridgeline Online Reference Owner's Manual
Contents

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety .............................................................................................................................. iii Important Handling Information .................................................................................................................... iv
Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) .................................................................................................... 3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) .................................................... 5
Instruments and Controls
(indicators, gauges, dashboard, and steering column)
............................................ 57
Features (climate control
, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control and Homelink)
...................................... 123
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ..................................................................... 179
Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 197
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 237
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, fuses) ...................................... 275
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 301
Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ... 317
Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 321
Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)
1 00X31-SJC-6202

µTo shif t to second,
pull the shif t lever towards you, then
shif t to the lower gear. This position
locks the transmission in second
gear. It does not downshif t to f irst
gear when you come to a stop.
Use second gear:
For more power when climbing.
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills.
For starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow.
To help reduce wheel spin.
When driving downhill with a
trailer.
When towing a trailer on level roads
under normal driving conditions, do
not use D3. This will increase the
automatic transmission f luid
temperature and may cause
overheating.
Shif ting out of the D position will
cancel D3, and cause the D3
indicator to go out. Selecting the D
position again will resume D3, and
the indicator will come on.
Turning the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position turns D3 of f . To
use D3 when you restart the engine,
select the D position, and press the
D3 switch again.
TheD3indicatoralsocomesonfora
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
When D3 is on, the transmission
selects only the f irst three gears.
Use D3 f or engine braking when
going down a steep hill.
Automatic Transmission
Second (2)
204
D3 INDICATOR
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2008 Ridgeline

If youmuststopwhenfacinguphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
place by pressing on the accelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed, and use D3. Do not
‘‘ride’’ the brakes.
Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or vehicles with trailers.
When towing a f ixed-sided trailer
(e.g., camper), do not exceed 55 mph
(88 km/h). At higher speeds, the
trailer may sway or affect vehicle
handling.
Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause the trailer to
sway. When being passed by a large
vehicle, keep a constant speed, and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.
When towing a trailer on level roads
under normal driving conditions, do
not use D3. This will increase the
automatic transmission fluid
temperature and may cause
overheating. Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses.
Allow more time and distance f or
braking. Do not brake or turn
suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
With heavy cargo on the pickup bed,
your vehicle has a higher center of
gravity. Drive slowly and cautiously,
and allow more time and distance f or
braking. Loading heavy cargo could
af f ect your vehicle’s handling and
perf ormance. Remember, it
takes longer to slow down and
stop when towing a trailer.T owing Speeds and Gears
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Making T urns and Braking
Driving on Hills
Towing a Trailer
230
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2008 Ridgeline

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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.......................
Label, Certif ication .302
.................
Lane Change, Signaling .76
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .14,19
...........................
Light Control Dial .76
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement .257
.......................................
Indicator .66
.......................................
Interior .120
.........................................
Parking .76
..................................
Turn Signal .76
............................
Load Limits .191,217
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) .82
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column .82
............................
Fuel Fill Door .181
..................................
Glove Box .117
...............................
In-Bed Trunk .96
....................
Lockout Prevention .83
.................................
Power Door .83
........................
Low Coolant Level .184
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .65
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .62,290
Lubricant Specif ications
..................................
Chart .304,305 ...........
Luggage, Storing (Cargo) .190
..................................
Maintenance .237
Owner’s Maintenance ...................................
Checks .245
................................
Minder .239-246
.........................
Minder Indicator .67
..........................................
Saf ety .238
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .62,291
..............
Manual Seat Adjustments .99
...............................
Meters, Gauges .70
........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .113
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle .189
.......................................
Moonroof .110
...................
Neutral Gear Position .203
..................
New Vehicle Break-in .180
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of .i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication .302 ...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline .180
.........................................
Odometer .70
....................
Of f -Highway Driving .232
...................
Of f -Road Precautions .233
Oil
........................
Change, How to .249
......................
Change, When to .239
......................
Checking Engine .184
...........................................
Filter .250
..............
Pressure Indicator .62,290
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart .248
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) .82
............................
Outside Mirrors .113
....................
Overheating, Engine .288
....
Owner’s Maintenance Checks .245
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .180
..............
Panel Brightness Control .78
........................
Park Gear Position .202
...........................................
Parking .211
...............................
Parking Brake .111
Index
N O
P
M
L
VI
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Î
Î
CONT INUED
.................................
Parking Lights .76
..
Parking Over Things that Burn .315
.............................
PGM-FI System .313
Pickup Bed
.........................
Carrying Cargo .190
.........................................
Lights .122
..............
Power Seat Adjustments .101
...............
Power Socket Locations .118
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts .16
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens .11
...
Additional Safety Precautions .17
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women .16
........................
Protecting Children .32
.....................
General Guidelines .32
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .37
.......
Protecting Larger Children .49
.........
Protecting Small Children .38
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers .46
.............................
Using LATCH .41
...................
Radiator Overheating .288
Radio/CD Sound
.......................
System .135,144,150 .................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid .254
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement .259
..........................
Rear View Mirror .112
Rear View Mirror with
.....................................
Compass .172
....................
Rear (Back) Window .108
.......
Reclining the Seat-Backs .99,101
................
Remote Audio Controls .165
.......................
Remote Transmitter .90
Replacement Inf ormation
................
Engine Oil and Filter .249
..........................................
Fuses .293
................................
Light Bulbs .257
........................................
Minder .246
................................
Timing Belt .256
...........................................
Tires .277
.............................
Wiper Blades .264
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .20
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant .184
..................
Reverse Gear Position .202
................................
Rotation, Tire .269
..................................
Saf ety Belts .8,19 .........
Safety Defects, Reporting .320
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .11
..........................
Head Restraints .13
.................................
Seat Belts .8,18
...........
Seats and Seat-Backs .11,12
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of .54
..............................
Saf ety Messages .iii
.....................
Satellite Radio, XM .144
.....................................
Seat Belts .8,18
...............
Additional Information .18
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners .19
.....................................
Cleaning .263
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .19
................................
Maintenance .20
Reminder Light and
................................
Beeper .18,61
...................
System Components .18
...............
Use During Pregnancy .16
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt .14
.........................
Seating Capacities .304
Index
INDEX
S
R
VII
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2008 Ridgeline