2012 HONDA RIDGELINE tow

Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park. Apply the
parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
it.
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.
If you tow a trailer f requently, we
recommend that you use a regular
tire as a spare. You can store the
regular size spare tire on the tire tray,
but store the tool kit at the side of
the In-Bed Trunk (see page ),
and secure it.
2.
1.
369
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of the Unexpected
363
TOOL BOX SPARE TIRE
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the jack.
Main MenuTable of Contents

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.
272
385
380 Starting the
Engine
Emergency
Towing Jump Starting
If the Engine Won

CONT INUED
If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or
organization. Never tow your vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.The operator will load
your vehicle on the back of a truck.
Any other method of towing will
damage the drive system. When you
contact the towing agency, inf orm
them a f lat-bed is required. If your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, or snow, call a towing service
to pull it out (see the previous
column).
For very short distances, such as
f reeing the vehicle, you can use the
tie down hooks on the lower of the
f ront and rear bumpers.
Emergency Towing, If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
The only way you can saf ely tow
your vehicle is with f lat-bed
equipment.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
T aking Care of the Unexpected
385
FRONT
REAR
TIE DOWN
HOOK TIE DOWN
HOOK
‘‘Rocking’’ your vehicle between
f orward and reverse gear or revving up
the engine and allowing the wheels to
spin f reely at high speeds can damage
the automatic transmission. Use a tow
service to prevent transmission damage.
Towing your vehicle with two tires on
the ground will damage parts of the
4WD system. It should be transported
on a f lat-bed truck or trailer.
Main MenuTable of Contents

If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
386
To avoid damage to your vehicle, use
the tie down hooks f or straight, f lat
ground towing only. Do not tow at an
angle. These hooks should not be used
f or open-road towing.
Main MenuTable of Contents

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
..........................
Fan, Interior . 147, 154
.........................................
Features . 145
...............
DANGER, Explanation of . iv
...................................
Dashboard . 3, 60
................
Daytime Running Lights . 97
.................................
Dead Battery . 372
.........
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 408
......
Def rosting the Windows . 148, 155
................
Dif f erential Fluid, Rear . 390
....................................
Dimensions . 390
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 95
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission . 333
..................................
Engine Oil . 255
..........................
Directional Signals . 95
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 290
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 330
.
Door and Tailgate Open Monitor . 11
Doors
Locking and ..............
Unlocking . 103, 104, 107
..................
Lockout Prevention . 103
....................
Power Door Locks . 103
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 392
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5 ...........................................
Driving . 269
....................................
Economy . 256
...................................................
D3 . 275
Dual-Action Tailgate
...............................
Indicator . 11, 115
...................................
Operation . 113
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 346
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 256
..................................
Emergencies . 361
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 372
...........
Brake System Indicator . 378
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 363
.....
Charging System Indicator . 376
..................
Checking the Fuses . 380
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers . 99
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 376
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 377
..................
Overheated Engine . 374
............................
Stuck Vehicle . 385
.......................................
Towing . 385
.........................
Emergency Brake . 132
.......................
Emissions Controls . 399
........................
Emissions Testing . 402 Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 76
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 63, 377
.................
Oil Lif e Display . 315, 319
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 63, 376
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 328
...............................
Overheating . 374
............................
Specif ications . 391
............................
Speed Limiter . 277
.......................................
Starting . 272
.................
Engine, if it won

Î
Î
Î
CONT INUED
........................................
Sun Visor . 140
........................
Sunglasses Holder . 138
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS)
......................................
Servicing . 32
.........................
SRS Indicator . 30, 64
...................
System Components . 23
..................................
Synthetic Oil . 329
Unexpected, Taking Care..........................................
of the . 361
..
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 392
.....................................
Tachometer . 76
Tailgate, Dual-Action
...............................
Indicator . 11, 115
...................................
Operation . 113
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 341
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 361
Technical Descriptions
....
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 392
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 399
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter . 401
.......................
Temperature Gauge . 76
...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 22
............................
Thef t Protection . 205
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 401 ....................................
Timing Belt . 337
....................................
Tire Chains . 355
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 363
.................................
Tire Labeling . 394
Tire Pressure Monitoring
....................
System (TPMS) . 280
Low Tire Pressure ..................
Indicator . 72, 280, 283
Required Federal
............................
Explanation . 396
.....
Tire Pressure Monitor . 281, 284
....
TPMS Indicator . 72, 73, 281, 283
...............................................
Tires . 349
..............................
Air Pressure . 351
.........................
Checking Wear . 351
..........................
Compact Spare . 362
....
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 392
......................................
Inf lation . 350
..................................
Inspection . 351
..............................
Maintenance . 352
...................................
Replacing . 353
......................................
Rotating . 352
...........................................
Snow . 354
....................
Specif ications . 354, 391
................................
Tire Chains . 355
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 363 Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 298
................
Emergency Wrecker . 385
.................................
Equipment . 303
....
Equipment and Accessories . 299
.............................
Weight Limit . 295
.........................
Trailer Loading . 297
.................
Trailer Towing Tips . 305
.............
Transf er Assembly Fluid . 391
Transmission
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 333
...........................
Fluid Selection . 334
..............
Identif ication Number . 389
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 273
.....................................
Treadwear . 392
.................................
Trip Meter . 79, 84
................................
Trunk, In-Bed . 116
....................................
Turn Signals . 95
Index
U
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INDEX
IX
Main Menu

ÎÎ.....................................
XM
Radio . 167
........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 248
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 330
................................
Vanity Mirror . 140
.........
Vehicle Capacity Load . 262, 390
......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 390
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 388
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
),
aka Electronic Stability ....
Control (ESC), System . 292
.............
VSA OFF Indicator . 71, 293
.......................
VSA OFF Switch . 294
........
VSA System Indicator . 70, 293
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 357
.....................................
Ventilation . 149
.................................................
VIN . 388
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 328
Variable Torque Management
4-wheel drive system
...............................
(VTM-4
) . 278
................................
VTM-4
Lock . 278 ............
WARNING, Explanation of . iv
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 56
..................
Warranty Coverages . 407
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 332
............................
Level Indicator . 67
.....................................
Operation . 94
...........................................
Wheels . 349
...............
Adjusting the Steering . 99
......................................
Wrench . 366
Windows
................
Operating the Power . 128
Windshield ...........................
Def roster . 148, 155
.......................................
Washers . 94
...
Wiper Zone, Heated . 95, 150, 156
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades . 347
.....................................
Operation . 94
....................................
Worn Tires . 351
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 385 :U.S.only
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