2012 HONDA RIDGELINE tailgate

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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.
Af ter everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors are closed
and locked. Bef ore driving, be sure
the tailgate is also closed.
Your vehicle has a door and
tailgate open indicator on
the instrument panel to indicate
when any 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 ). Your vehicle also has a tailgate, In-
Bed Trunk, and door open indicator
on the multi-information display to
indicate when the tailgate, the In-
Bed Trunk, or a specif ic door is not
tightly closed. You will see the
appropriate indicator(s) and
message(s) f or each condition.
You will also hear a beep when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, and each time you open
any door, the tailgate, or the In-Bed
Trunk with the key in the ON (II)
position.
Your vehicle also has a
tailgate and door open
indicator on the inf ormation display
to indicate when the tailgate or a
specif ic door is not tightly closed.
You will see the appropriate
indicator(s) f or each condition.
34 54
75
CONT INUED
On models with navigation system
On models without navigation system
Protecting A dults and Teens
Introduction
Close and L ock the Doors
1.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
11
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During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause serious or fatal injuries.
If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash. Children who play in vehicles
can accidentally get trapped inside.
Teach your children not to play in
or around vehicles. Know how to
operate the emergency In-Bed
Trunk opener and decide if your
children should be shown how to
use this f eature (see page ).
Opening or
closing the tailgate could cause
accidental injuries.
Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition
switch, and open the windows,
which can lead to accidental injury
or death.
If you are not wearing a
seat belt in a crash, you could be
thrown f orward and crush the
child against the dashboard or a
seat-back. If you are wearing a
seat belt, the child can be torn
f rom your arms and be seriously
hurt or killed.
If a child wraps a loose seat belt around their neck, they
can be seriously or f atally injured.
(See pages and f or how to
activate and deactivate the
lockable retractor.)
Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states, Canadian provinces and
territories, and can be very
hazardous. This can prevent
children f rom accidentally f alling
out (see page ).
For example, infants and small
childrenleftinavehicleonahot
day can die f rom heatstroke. A
child lef t alone with the key in the
ignition switch can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others. 46 47
104 117
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Protecting Children General Guidelines
Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child.
Never let two children use thesame seat belt . L ock all doors and t he In-Bed
T runk when your vehicle is not in use.
T each your children not t o play onthe pickup bed.
K eep vehicle keys/remot etransmitters out of the reach of children.
Neverholdaninfantorchildon
your lap.
Make sure any unused seat beltt hat a child can reach is buckled,the lockable retractor is activated,and the belt is f ully retracted andlocked. Do not leave children alone in a
vehicle.
Use t he childproof door locks t o
prevent children f rom opening t herear doors.
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This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations . 60
............................
Instrument Panel . 61
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 62
.............................................
Gauges . 76
..............
Multi-Inf ormation Display .82
Controls Near the Steering
...........................................
Wheel . 93
........................
Multi-Control Lever . 94
........................................
Headlights . 95
...............
Headlight Control Dial . 95
........................................
Fog Lights . 97
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 98
.................
Hazard Warning Button . 99
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 99
................................................
Keys . 100
......................
Immobilizer System . 101
..............................
Ignition Switch . 102
....................................
Door Locks . 103
............
Childproof Door Locks . 104
Auto Door Locking/
..............................
Unlocking . 104
.....................
Remote Transmitter . 110
.....................
Dual-Action Tailgate . 113
...............................
In-Bed Trunk
. 116
...............................................
Seats . 119
..................................
Seat Heaters . 126 ............................
Power Windows . 128
.......................................
Moonroof . 131
...............................
Parking Brake . 132
...........................................
Mirrors . 133
.........
Interior Convenience Items . 135
.........................
Center Console . 136
.......
Console Compartments . 136
.........................
Cargo Hooks . 137
.....................
Beverage Holders . 137
..................................
Glove Box . 138
................................
Coat Hooks . 138
....................
Sunglasses Holder . 138
........
Accessory Power Sockets . 139
...................................
Sun Visor . 140
............................
Vanity Mirror . 140
........................
AC Power Outlet .141
...............................
Interior Lights . 142
.....................................
Bed Lights . 144
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
59
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Î
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On models without navigation system.
On models with navigation system.
The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the tex
t.
1:2:3: On RTS, RTL, and Touring models.
Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
61
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
(P.72)
(P.70)
(P.75)
(P.65)
(P.63) (P.63)
(P.63)
(P.69)(P.75) (P.82)/
INFORMATION
DISPLAY
MULTI-INFORMATION
DISPLAY
(P.77)
(P.67) (P.62)
SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR
(P.74)
(P.67)(P.66)
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR (P.68)
HIGH BEAM
INDICATOR
(P.73)
(P.68)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS) INDICATOR
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
INDICATOR
WASHER LEVEL INDICATOR
(P.67) SEAT BELT REMINDER
INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR (P.71)
(P.69)
DOOR AND TAILGATE OPEN INDICATOR
IN-BED TRUNK OPEN INDICATOR
A/T TEMPERATURE INDICATOR
BED LIGHTS ON INDICATOR
(P.74)
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
LAMP
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR
BACK WINDOW OPEN
INDICATOR
VTM-4 INDICATOR
LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR/
TPMS INDICATOR
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS) INDICATOR
LIGHTS ON INDICATOR
(P.75)
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM INDICATOR (P.70)
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR(P.66)
MESSAGE INDICATOR
(P.64)
CRUISE MAIN
INDICATOR
(P.67)
(P.67)
MAINTENANCE MINDER INDICATOR
VSA OFF INDICATOR (P.71) SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (SRS) INDICATOR
(P.64)
2
1 3
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Main MenuTable of Contents

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.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.
Most of the time, this indicator
comes on along with other indicators
in the instrument panel such as the
seat belt reminder indicator, SRS
indicator, VSA system indicator, etc.
This indicator comes on when there
is a system message on the multi-
inf ormation display. Press the INFO
button on the dashboard (see page
) to see the message (see page).
82
90 144On models with navigation system
Bed L ights On Indicator
Message Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
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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
113
NOTE:
UPPER HANDLE
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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

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.
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 ).
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.
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.
The tailgate open indicator appears
on the multi-information display (see
page ).
11
144
116
261
On models without navigation system
On models with navigation system
L oading Cargo
T ailgat e Open Indicat or
Dual-Action Tailgate
Inst rument s and Cont rols
115
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