2017 HONDA RIDGELINE light

DRIVING
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D
RIVING
Pre-tow checklist
When preparing to tow, and before driving away, ensure the following:
•
The vehicle has been properly serviced, and the suspension and the cooli\
ng
system are in good operating condition.
•
Avoid towing a trailer during your vehicle’s first 600 miles (1,000 km).
•
The trailer has been properly serviced and is in good condition.
•
All weights and loads are within limits. Never exceed the gross weight r\
atings.
•
Check if all loads are within limits at a public scale. If a public scal\
e is not
available, add the estimated weight of your cargo load to the weight of \
your
trailer (as quoted by the manufacturer) and the tongue load.
•
The hitch, safety chains, and any other attachments are secure.
•
All items in or on the trailer are properly secured and cannot shift whi\
le you drive.
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.
WARNING
Remote Engine Start*
Start your vehicle’s engine using the remote transmitter before you enter the vehicle.
Lock button
Engine button
Make sure the vehicle is in a safe location when using remote engine start (i.e., a well
ventilated area, away from any flammable materials).
n
Starting the Engine
Press the Lock button, then press and hold the Engine button within 5 se\
conds to
remotely start the engine.
The engine runs for up to 10 minutes. To extend the run time for another 10 minutes,
repeat the procedure during the initial 10 minutes.
While the engine is running, the climate control system adjusts the cabi\
n
temperature, the security system remains on, and lights and accessories remain off.
n
Stopping the Engine
Press and hold the Engine button.
The engine will also stop if it has been running for more than 10 minute\
s, or if any door is opened without using the remote or smart entry.
Engine exhaust contains toxic carbon monoxide gas.
Breathing carbon monoxide can kill you or cause unconsciousness.
Never use the remote engine starter when the vehicle is parked in a
garage or other area with limited ventilation.
WARNING
*if equipped

DRIVING
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D
RIVING
Starting to Drive
Turn on the vehicle and start the engine to begin driving.
n
Before Starting the Engine
Check that the transmission is in Park (P), then press
the brake pedal. Keep your foot firmly on the brake
pedal when starting the engine. Release the parking
brake, if necessary (see page 108).
Brake Pedal
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in thinner air found a\
t altitudes
above 8,000 feet (2,400 m). When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, climate control system, and r\
ear defogger
in order to reduce battery drain.
n
Changing the Power Mode
Use the ENGINE START/STOP button to cycle through power modes or start
the engine.
Accessory or On mode: Press the ENGINE START/
STOP button once without pressing the brake pedal for
Accessory mode. Press it again for On mode.
Starting the engine:

Press and hold the brake pedal,
then press the ENGINE START/STOP button. Keep your
foot firmly on the brake pedal when starting the engine.
Turning the vehicle off: Shift to Park (P), then press the
ENGINE START/STOP button.
Shifting
Change the shift position based on your driving needs.
n
Shift Lever
Park (P): Used for parking or starting/stopping the
engine. Press the brake pedal, then press the release
button to shift.
Reverse (R): Used for reversing.
Neutral (N): Used for idling.
Drive (D): Used for normal driving.
Low (L):

Used for stronger engine power and braking
when driving in hilly terrain.
D4: Press the D4 button when the shift lever is in Drive.
Used for going up or down hills or towing a trailer in
hilly terrain.
Release button
D4 button
When you change the shift lever from Drive (D) to Reverse (R) and vi\
ce versa, come
to a complete stop and keep the brake pedal pressed. Operating the shift\
lever
before the vehicle has come to a complete stop or while pressing the acc\
elerator
pedal can damage the transmission.
NOTICE

DRIVING
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D
RIVING
Braking
Slow down or stop your vehicle, and keep it from moving when parked.
n
Foot Brake
Press the brake pedal to slow down or stop your
vehicle from moving.
Brake pedal
n Parking Brake
Keep the vehicle from moving when it is parked.
To apply: Press the parking brake with your foot.
To release: Press the brake pedal, then press the
parking brake until it releases. Parking brake
Release the parking brake fully before driving. The rear brakes and axle\
can be
damaged if you drive with the parking brake applied.
NOTICE
n
Brake Assist System
During hard or emergency braking, the system increases braking force. The brake
pedal may move slightly or make a noise; this is normal. Continue to hol\
d the brake
pedal firmly down.
n
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
During hard or emergency braking, the system rapidly pumps the brakes to\
prevent wheel lockup and help you maintain steering control. The brake pedal may\
pulsate
slightly during ABS operation; this is normal. Do not pump the brake ped\
al, and
continue to hold it firmly down.
The ABS may not function correctly if you use an incorrect tire type and\
size.
NOTICE
Intelligent Traction Management System
Adjusts vehicle handling performance while driving on various road surfa\
ces.
Press the Mode button to select one of four appropriate
modes. The mode you select appears on the multi-
information display (MID).
Normal: Provides balanced driving performance on most
road surfaces.
Snow: Use when driving on snowy road surfaces.
Mud*: Use when driving on muddy roads or off-road
surfaces.
Sand*: Use when driving on soft, sandy road or off-road
surfaces.
Cruise control/adaptive cruise control* is not available
when Snow, Mud, or Sand is selected.
Mode Butto n
AWD shown

DRIVING
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D
RIVING
*if equipped
Eco Assist System
Can help improve your fuel economy by adjusting the performance of the e\
ngine, climate
control system, and cruise control.
n
ECON Button
Press the ECON button to turn the system on or off.
The ECON Mode indicator appears when the system is
turned on.
n Ambient Meter
Color-coded bars around the speedometer change
based on your driving style and brake or accelerator
pedal operation.
Green: Fuel efficient driving
Light green: Moderate acceleration/deceleration
White: Aggressive acceleration/deceleration
Ambient meter
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®)
Also known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), VSA helps to stabili\
ze the vehicle
during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less than what was intende\
d. It assists in
maintaining traction on slippery surfaces by regulating engine output an\
d selectively
applying the brakes.
n
Turning VSA On or Off
VSA is turned on every time you start the engine,
even if you previously turned it off. If you turn VSA off,
your vehicle has normal braking and cornering ability,
but traction and stability enhancement become less
effective.
Press and hold the VSA OFF button until you hear a
beep to turn VSA on or off. The VSA OFF indicator
appears when the system is off.
VSA off indicator
Traction control stops functioning, which may make it easier when trying to free your
vehicle if it is stuck in mud or snow.
Cruise Control*
Maintain a constant vehicle speed without having to keep your foot on th\
e accelerator
pedal. Use cruise control on freeways or open roads where you can travel\
at a constant
speed with little acceleration or deceleration.
Cruise control is not available when Snow, Mud, or Sand is selected for Intelligent
Traction Management (see page 109).
CRUISE
CRUISE button
RES/+ button
-/SET button CANCEL button
n Activating and Setting the Vehicle Speed
1.
Press the CRUISE button. The CRUISE MAIN
indicator appears.
2.
Accelerate to the desired speed (above 25 mph/
40 km/h). Take your foot off the pedal and press
the -/SET button to set the speed. The CRUISE
CONTROL indicator appears.
CRUISE
n Adjusting the Vehicle Speed
Press the RES/+ button to increase speed or the -/SET
button to decrease speed.
Each time you press the button, the vehicle speed is
increased or decreased by about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
If you keep the button pressed, the vehicle speed
increases or decreases until you release it.
n Canceling Cruise Control
Press the CANCEL button or the brake pedal.
The CRUISE CONTROL indicator goes off.
After cruise control has been canceled, you can still
resume the prior set speed by pressing the RES/+
button while driving at a speed of at least 25 mph
(40 km/h).
Press CRUISE to turn the system off.
CRUISE
Improper use of the cruise control can lead to a crash.
Use cruise control only when traveling on open highways in good weather.
WARNING
*if equipped

DRIVING
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RIVING
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)*
Alerts and helps to assist you if the system determines a possibility of\
your vehicle
unintentionally crossing over detected lane markings while driving betwe\
en 45–90 mph
(72–145 km/h).
If your vehicle is getting too close to detected lane
markings without a turn signal activated, a message
appears in the MID. Steering wheel torque and vibrations
are applied to help your vehicle stay in the lane.
Braking may also be applied if the lane lines are solid
and continuous.
If the system operates several times without detecting
driver response, the system beeps to alert you.
Steering assistance
Beep
n Turning the System On or Off
Press the RDM button to turn the system on or off.
A green indicator appears on the button when the
system is on.
n Changing Settings
Determine the warning timing.
1.
From the HOME screen, select Settings.
2.
Select Vehicle. The vehicle must be in Park (P).
3.
Select Road Departure Mitigation Setting.
4. Select from the options.
Normal (default): Steering control starts from inside the lane edge.
Wide: Steering control starts from outside the lane edge.
Warning Only:
The system only provides a BRAKE message, but does not apply
steering or braking.
5.
Press BACK to exit the menu
Important Safety Reminder
The RDM system has limitations. Overreliance on it may result in a colli\
sion. It is always
your responsibility to keep your vehicle within the driving lane.
*if equipped
Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™)*
Can assist you when there is a possibility of your vehicle colliding wit\
h a vehicle or a
pedestrian detected in front of yours.
The system can give you visual, audible, and tactile alerts
when a potential collision is determined, and reduce your
vehicle speed to help minimize collision severity when a
collision is deemed unavoidable.
When a potential collision with a detected oncoming
vehicle is determined, the system also alerts you with
rapid vibrations on the steering wheel.
Steering vibrations Beep
The system activates when:
•
The speed difference between your vehicle and a vehicle or pedestrian de\
tected in
front of you is about 3 mph (5 km/h) and over with a chance of a colli\
sion.
•
Your vehicle speed is about 62 mph (100 km/h) or less and there is a ch\
ance of a
collision with an oncoming detected vehicle or a pedestrian in front of \
you.
n
Alert Stages
The system has three alert stages for a possible collision. Depending on\
the circumstances or CMBS settings, CMBS may not go through all of the stage\
s before
initiating the last stage.
Stage 1: Visual and audible warning, steering wheel vibrations
Stage 2: Visual and audible warning and light brake application
Stage 3: Visual and audible warning and strong brake application
n
Changing Settings
Determine the warning timing. 1.
From the HOME screen, select Settings.
2.
Select Vehicle. The vehicle must be in Park (P).
3.
Select Forward Collision Warning Distance.
4.
Select Long, Normal, or Short.
5.
Press BACK to exit the menu.
*if equipped

DRIVING
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RIVING
n Turning CMBS On or Off
Press and hold the CMBS OFF button. A beep sounds
and a message appears in the MID. The CMBS
indicator appears when the system is off.
CMBS
OFF
button
Important Safety Reminder
CMBS is designed to reduce the severity of an unavoidable collision. It \
does not prevent
collisions nor stop the vehicle automatically. It is still your responsibility to operate the
brake pedal and steering wheel appropriately according to the driving co\
nditions.
Parking Sensor System*
When the system senses an object when you are parking or backing up, ind\
icators
appear on the display and a series of beeps will sound.
Screen indicators
n Turning the System On or Off
Press the parking sensor button to turn the system on
or off. A green indicator light appears on the button
when the system is on.
*if equipped
*if equipped
Blind Spot Information (BSI)*
Alerts you to a detected vehicle in your left or right blind spot while \
driving 20 mph (32
km/h) or higher.
When a vehicle is detected in your blind spot, the blind
spot indicator turns on and stays lit until the area is clear.
When your turn signal is on and a vehicle is detected, the
blind spot indicator blinks and a beep sounds until the area
is clear or the turn signal is off.
Comes on
Blinks
n Changing Settings
Determine the warning type, or turn the system off.
1.
From the Home screen, select Settings.
2.
Select Vehicle. The vehicle must be in Park (P).
3.
Select Driver Assist System Setup.
4.
Select an alert type, or turn the system off.
5.
Press BACK to exit the menu.
Important Safety Reminder
Like all assistance systems, BSI has limitations. Over-reliance on the system may result
in a collision. The system is for your convenience only.
Failure to visually confirm that it is safe to change lanes before doi\
ng so may
result in a crash and serious injury or death. Do not rely only on the b\
lind spot
information system when changing lanes.
Always look in your mirrors, to either side of your vehicle, and behind \
you for
other vehicles before changing lanes.
WARNING

DRIVING
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RIVING
Models with touchscreen
1.
From the HOME screen, select Settings.
2.
Select Camera.
3.
Select one of the options.
Fixed Guidelines: Guidelines appear when you
change the gear to Reverse. Select On or Off.

Dynamic Guidelines: Guidelines move as you turn
the steering wheel. Select On or Off.
4.
Press BACK to exit the menu.
The rear camera view is restricted. You cannot see the corner ends of the bumper or what is
underneath the bumper. Its unique lens also makes objects appear closer or farther than they \
actually are.
Visually confirm that it is safe to drive before backing up. Certain c\
onditions (such as weather,
lighting, and high temperatures) may also restrict the rear view. Do not rely on the rearview display,
which does not give you all information about conditions at the rear of \
your vehicle.
Refueling
Use the proper fuel and refueling procedure to ensure the best performan\
ce and safety
of your vehicle.
n
Fuel Information
Use of unleaded gasoline of 87 octane or higher is recommended.
Honda recommends TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline where available.
Do NOT use gasoline containing more than 15% ethanol.
Do NOT use gasoline containing methanol.
Do NOT use gasoline containing MMT.
We recommend quality gasoline containing detergent additives that help pr\
event
fuel system and engine deposits. In addition, in order to maintain good \
performance,
fuel economy, and emissions control, we strongly recommend the use of

gasoline
that does NOT contain harmful manganese-based fuel additives such as MMT\
, if
such gasoline is available.
NOTICE n
How to Refuel
1.
The fuel fill door is located at the left rear of the
vehicle. Park next to the service pump that is most
accessible.
2.
Turn off the engine.
3.
Press the fuel fill door release button on the
driver’s door. The fuel fill door opens.
4.
Place the end of the filler nozzle on the lower part
of the filler opening, then insert it slowly and fully.
5.
After filling, wait about 5 seconds before removing
the filler nozzle. Close the fuel fill door by hand.
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive. You can be burned or
seriously injured when handling fuel.
Stop the engine, and keep heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.
WARNING
NOTICE
The fuel filler opening is designed to accept only service station fi\
ller nozzles for
refueling. Use of smaller diameter tubes (e.g., to siphon fuel for othe\
r uses) or other
non-service station devices can damage the area in and around the fill\
er opening.
NOTICE

HANDLING THE UNEXPECTED
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H
ANDLING THE UNEXPECTED
Jump Starting
Turn off the power to electric devices, such as audio and lights. Turn off the engine, then
open the hood.
1.
Remove the engine compartment cover
(see page 141).
2.
Remove the holding clips and the air intake duct.
3.
Connect the first jumper cable to your vehicle’s battery
(+) terminal.
4.
Connect the other end of the first jumper cable to the
booster battery (+) terminal. Use a 12-volt booster
battery only.
5.
Connect the second jumper cable to the booster
battery (-) terminal.
6.
Connect the other end of the second jumper cable
to the engine hanger as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part.
7.
If your vehicle is connected to another vehicle, start
the assisting vehicle’s engine and increase its rpm
slightly.
8.
Attempt to start your vehicle’s engine. If it turns over
slowly, make sure that the jumper cables have good
metal-to-metal contact.
Clip
Air intake duct
Engine cover
Pins
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead\

compounds. Wash your hands after handling.
A battery can explode if you do not follow the correct procedure, seriou\
sly
injuring anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames, and smoking materials away from the batt\
ery.
WARNING
n After the Engine Starts
Once your vehicle’s engine has started, remove the jumper cables in the
following order:
1.
Disconnect the jumper cable from the engine hanger.
2.
Disconnect the other end of the jumper cable from the booster
battery’s (-) terminal.
3.
Disconnect the jumper cable from the booster battery’s (+) terminal.
4.
Disconnect the other end of the jumper cable from your vehicle’s (+) terminal.
5.
Have your vehicle inspected by a nearby service station or a dealer.
Overheating
If the temperature gauge needle is at the H mark, the engine suddenly lo\
ses power, or
steam or spray comes out from under the hood, your engine is overheating\
.
1.
Immediately park the vehicle in a safe place. Turn off
all accessories and turn on the hazard warning lights.
2.
If steam or spray is not present: Keep the engine
running and open the hood.
If steam or spray is present: Turn off the engine and
wait until it subsides. Then, open the hood.
Reserve tank
MIN MAX
3. Check that the cooling fan is operating and stop the engine once the tem\
perature
gauge needle comes down. If the cooling fan is not operating, immediatel\
y stop
the engine.
4.
Once the engine has cooled down, inspect the coolant level and check the\
cooling
system components for leaks. If the coolant level in the reserve tank is\
low, add
coolant until it reaches the MAX mark. If there is no coolant in the res\
erve tank,
make sure the radiator is cool, then cover the radiator cap with a heavy\
cloth and
open the cap. If necessary

, add coolant up to the base of the filler neck, and put the
cap back on.
Once the engine has cooled sufficiently, restart it and check the temperature gauge.
If the temperature needle has gone down, resume driving. If it has not g\
one down,
contact a dealer for repairs.
Steam and spray from an overheated engine can seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam is coming out.
WARNING
Removing the radiator cap while the engine is hot can cause the coolant \
to
spray out, seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before removing the radiato\
r
cap.
WARNING
Continuing to drive with the temperature gauge needle at the H mark may \
damage
the engine.
NOTICE