2017 HONDA RIDGELINE towing

Contents
This owner’s manual should be considered a permanent part of the
vehicle and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.
This owner’s manual covers all models of your vehicle. You may find
descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your
particular model.
Images throughout this owner’s manual (including the front cover)
represent features and equipment that are available on some, but
not all, models. Your particular mo del may not have some of these
features.
This owner’s manual is for vehicles sold in the United States and
Canada.
The information and specifications in cluded in this publication were
in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications
or design at any time without notice and without incurring any
obligation.2 Safe Driving P. 27
For Safe Driving P. 28 Seat Belts P. 33 Airbags P. 40
2Instrument Panel P. 71
Indicators P. 72 Gauges and Multi-Information Display P. 101
2Controls P. 107
Clock P. 108 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 109
Security System P. 131 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 134
Adjusting the Mirrors P. 159 Adjusting the Seats P. 161
Heating and Cooling System
* P. 193
2 Features P. 197
Audio System P. 198
General Information on the Audio System P. 296
HomeLink ® Universal Transceiver
* P. 334 Bluetooth ® HandsFreeLink ® P. 337, 362
2 Driving P. 395
Before Driving P. 396 Towing a Trailer P. 404
Parking Your Vehicle P. 487Multi-View Rear Camera P. 496
2Maintenance P. 503
Before Performing Maintenance P. 504 Maintenance MinderTM P. 507
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 529
Heating and Cooling System
*/Climate Control System* Maintenance P. 542
2 Handling the Unexpected P. 551
Tools P. 552 If a Tire Goes Flat P. 553
Overheating P. 569 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 571
When You Cannot Unlock the Fuel Fill Door P. 581
2 Information P. 585
Specifications P. 586 Identification Numbers P. 588
Emissions Testing P. 591 Warranty Coverages P. 593

Contents
Child Safety P. 53Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 68Safety Labels P. 69
Opening and Closing the Tailgate P. 126 Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 128
Opening and Closing the Moonroof* P. 138 Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 140
Interior Lights/Convenience It ems P. 169Climate Control System* P. 186
Audio System Basic Operation P. 204, 222 Audio Error Messages P. 292
Customized Features P. 303
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 416 When Driving P. 418 Braking P. 474
Refueling P. 498 Fuel Economy and CO
2 Emissions P. 501
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 511 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 523
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 531 Battery P. 540 Remote Transmitter Care P. 541
Cleaning P. 543 Accessories and Modifications P. 549
Engine Does Not Start P. 562Jump Starting P. 565 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 568
Fuses P. 575 Emergency Towing P. 580
Refueling P. 582
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 589 Reporting Safety Defects P. 590
Authorized Manuals P. 595 Customer Service Information P. 596
Quick Reference GuideP. 4
Safe DrivingP. 27
Instrument PanelP. 71
ControlsP. 107
FeaturesP. 197
DrivingP. 395
MaintenanceP. 503
Handling the UnexpectedP. 551
InformationP. 585
IndexP. 597

20
Quick Reference Guide
Driving (P395)
Release Button
Depress the brake pedal and press the
release button to move out of
( P.
Move the shift lever without pressing
the release button.
Press the release button to move the
shift lever.
Automatic Transmission (P426)
● Shift to
(P and depress the brake pedal when starting the engine.
● Shifting
Park
Turn off or start the engine.
Transmission is locked.
Reverse
Used when reversing.
Neutral
Transmission is not locked.
Drive
Normal driving.
Shift Lever
Intelligent Traction
Management ButtonLow●Used to further increase engine braking.●Used when going up or down hills.
Drive (D4)
Press the button while the shift lever is in
( D.
Used when:
●Going up or down hills.●Towing a trailer in hilly terrain.
D4
ButtonD4

Quick Reference Guide
23
Handling the Unexpected (P551)
Flat Tire (P553)
● Park in a safe location and replace the
flat tire with the compact spare tire
located in the trunk.
Indicators Come On (P571)
● Identify the indica tor and consult the
owner’s manual.
Engine Won’t Start (P562)
● If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse (P575)
● Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.
Overheating (P569)
● Park in a safe location. If you do not see
steam under the hood, open the hood,
and let the engine cool down.
Emergency Towing (P580)
● Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.

395
Driving
This chapter discusses driving, refueling, and information on items such as accessories.
Before Driving................................... 396
Towing a Trailer ................................ 404
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines ..... 416
When Driving Starting the Engine .......................... 418
Precautions While Driving................. 424
Automatic Transmission ................... 425
Shifting ............................................ 426
ECON Button ................................... 428
Intelligent Traction Management...... 429
Cruise Control
*................................ 431
Front Sensor Camera*...................... 434Road Departure Mi tigation (RDM)
System*...................................... 436
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)*....... 441
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)*.... 454Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), System ............. 462
Agile Handling Assist System............ 464
i-VTM4 (Intelligent Variable Torque
Management)-4 ® System
*.............. 465
TPMS with Tire Fill Assist .................. 466
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) -
Required Federal Explanation ......... 468
Blind spot inform ation (BSI) System
*.... 470
LaneWatchTM*.................................. 472 Braking
Brake System ................................... 474
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 476
Brake Assist System ......................... 477
Collision Mitigation Braking System
TM
(CMBSTM)*..................................... 478
Parking Your Vehicle When Stopped ................................ 487
Parking Sensor System
*................... 488
Cross Traffic Monitor*..................... 492
Multi-View Rear Camera .................. 496
Refueling Fuel Information .............................. 498
How to Refuel ................................. 499
Fuel Economy and CO
2 Emissions .... 501
* Not available on all models

399
uuBefore Driving uMaximum Load Limit
Continued
Driving
Maximum Load Limit
The maximum load for your ve hicle is 1,323 lbs (600 kg).
See the Tire and Loading Informatio n label attached to the driver’s
doorjamb.
This figure includes the total weig ht of all occupants, cargo, and
accessories, and the tongue load if you are towing a trailer.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit -
(1) Locate the statement “The comb ined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your
vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers
that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lbs.1Maximum Load Limit
3WARNING
Overloading or improper loading
can affect handling and stability
and cause a crash in which you
can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this manual.
Label Example

uuBefore Driving uMaximum Load Limit
400
Driving
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of av ailable cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs. (1,400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being
loaded on the vehicle. That we ight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a tra iler, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicl e. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces th e available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.1 Maximum Load Limit
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR):
The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all a ccessories, all cargo, and the tongue
load. 2 Specifications P. 586
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR):
The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle axle. 2 Specifications P. 586
3WARNING
Never let passengers ride in the
pickup bed, in the trunk space, or
on the bed rails. This could cause
very serious injuries or death. No
one should ride in any position on
your vehicle that is not equipped
with seats and seat belts.
Exceeding load limits or
improperly loading cargo on the
vehicle can cause a crash in which
you can be seriously injured or
killed.
Load the cargo carefully before
starting to drive.

404
Driving
Towing a Trailer
Towing Preparation
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if you carefully observe the load limits, use the proper
equipment, and follow the to wing guidelines. Check the load limits before driving.
■Total trailer weight
Do not exceed the maximum allowable
weight of the trailer, cargo, and everything in
or on it shown in the table.
Towing loads in excess of this can seriously
affect vehicle handling and performance and
can damage the engine and drivetrain.
Each weight limit is calculated based on the following conditions:
• Occupants fill seats from the front of the vehicle to the back
• Each occupant weights 150 lbs (68 kg)
• Each occupant has 15 lbs (7 kg) of cargo in the cargo area
Any additional weight, cargo or accessori es reduce the maximum trailer weight and
maximum tongue load.
■Towing Load Limits1 Towing Load Limits
Check if all loads are within limits at a public scale.
If a public scale is not available, add the estimated
weight of your cargo load to the weight of your
trailer (as quoted by the manufacturer), and then
measure the tongue load with an appropriate scale or
tongue gauge or estima te it based on cargo
distribution.
Refer to the trailer owner’s manual for additional
information.
Break-in Period
Avoid towing a trailer duri ng your vehicle’s first 600
miles (1,000 km).
Never exceed the gross weight ratings.
Gross weight information 2 Vehicle Specifications P. 586
3WARNING
Exceeding any load limit or improperly
loading your vehicle and trailer can cause a
crash in which you can be seriously hurt or
killed.
Check the loading of your vehicle and
trailer carefully before starting to drive.
Total Load
Number of
occupantsAWD models2WD models
25,000 lbs (2,268 kg)3,500 lbs (1,587 kg)
44,750 lbs (2,154 kg)3,250 lbs (1,474 kg)
54,500 lbs (2,041 kg)3,000 lbs (1,360 kg)