2018 HONDA RIDGELINE light

348
Features
HomeLink® Universal Transceiver*
The HomeLink ® Universal Transceiver can be pr ogrammed to operate up to three
remote controlled devices around your home, such as garage doors, lighting, or
home security systems.
Refer to the safety information that came wi th your garage door opener to test that
the safety features are functioning properly. If you do not have the safety
information, contact the manufacturer.
Before programming HomeLink, make sure that people and objects are out of the
way of the garage or gate to prevent potential injury or damage.
When programming a garage door opener, park just outside the garage door’s path.
■Important Safety Precautions
1HomeLink ® Universal Transceiver*
Before programming HomeLi nk to operate a garage
door opener, confirm that the opener has an external
entrapment protection system, such as an “electronic
eye,” or other safety and reverse stop features. If it
does not, HomeLink may not be able to operate it.
* Not available on all models

410
Driving
Before Driving
Driving Preparation
Check the following items before you start driving.
• Make sure there are no obstructions on the windows, door mirrors, exterior
lights, or other parts of the vehicle.
u Remove any frost, snow, or ice.
u Remove any snow on the roof, as this can slip down and obstruct your field of
vision while driving. If frozen solid , remove ice once it has softened.
u When removing ice from around the wheel s, be sure not to damage the wheel
or wheel components.
• Make sure the hood is securely closed.
u If the hood opens while driving, your front view will be blocked.
• Make sure the tires are in good condition.
u Check air pressure, check for damage and excessive wear.
2 Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 545
•Make sure the tailgate is fully closed when it is not being used as an extended
pickup bed.
• Make sure the trunk is secu rely closed and locked.
• Make sure there are no people or objects behind or around the vehicle.
u There are blind spots from the inside.
■Exterior Checks1Exterior Checks
NOTICE
When doors are frozen s hut, use warm water around
the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force
them open, as this can damage the rubber trim
around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid
further freezing.
Do not pour warm water into the key cylinder.
You will be unable to insert the key if the water
freezes in the hole.
Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite
flammable material s left under the hood, causing a
fire. If you’ve parked y our vehicle for an extended
period, inspect and remove any debris that may have
collected, such as dried grass and leaves that have
fallen or have been carried in for use as a nest by a
small animal. Also check under the hood for leftover
flammable materials after you or someone else has
performed maintenance on your vehicle.

Continued411
uuBefore Driving uDriving Preparation
Driving
• Store or secure all items on board properly.
u Carrying too much cargo, or improperly storing it, can affect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, sto pping distance, and tires, and make it unsafe.
2Maximum Load Limit P. 413
•Do not pile items higher than the seat height.
u They can block your view and may be thrown forward in the event of sudden
braking.
• Do not place anything in the front seat footwells. Make sure to secure the floor
mat.
u An object or unsecured floor mat can in terfere with your brake and accelerator
pedal operation while driving.
• If you have any animals on board, do no t let them move around in the vehicle.
u They may interfere with driv ing and a crash could occur.
• Securely close and lock all doors.
2Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside P. 121
•Adjust your seating position properly.
u Adjust the head restraint, too.
2Adjusting the Seats P. 163
2 Adjusting the front head restraint positions P. 168
•Adjust the mirrors and steering wh eel properly for your driving.
u Adjust them while sitting in the proper driving position.
2 Adjusting the Steering Wheel P. 160
2 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 161
■Interior Checks1Interior Checks
The headlight aim is set by the factory, and does not
need to be adjusted. Howeve r, if you regularly carry
heavy items in the cargo area or tow a trailer, have
the aiming readjusted at a dealer or by a qualified
technician.

uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
422
Driving
Towing generally requires a variety of supplemental equipment.
To ensure the best quality, we recommend that you purchase Honda equipment
whenever possible.
Your vehicle has a class 3 trailer hitch as standard equipment. The jumper harness
and trailer brake fuse are stored in the glove box.
2 Trailer brakes P. 423
Open the lid of the socket (located next to the
trailer hitch) to expose the 7-pin trailer
connector.
■Hitches
Read the trailer manufacturer’s instructions , and select the appropriate draw bar for
the height of the trailer you will be towing.
■Towing Equipment and Accessories
Models with AWD1 Towing Equipment and Accessories
Make sure that all equipment is properly installed and
maintained, and that it meets federal, state, province/
territory, and lo cal regulations.
Consult your trai ler maker for prope r installation and
setup of the equipment.
Improper installation and setup can affect the
handling, stability, and br aking performance of your
vehicle.
Consult your traile r sales or rental agency if any other
items are recommended or required for your towing
situation.
The lighting and wiring of tra ilers can vary by type
and brand. If a connector is required, it should only
be installed by a qua lified technician.
Trailer packages and products:
•Ball mount, hitch plug, hitch pin etc.•Wiring harness kit
•Trailer hitch kit (jum per harness included)
Are available at a dealer.
7-Pin trailer connector
Lid Trailer hitch

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uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
Driving
Have a qualified mechanic install your trailer
brake controller followi ng the trailer brake
controller manufacturer’ s instructions. Failure
to properly install the trailer brake controller
may increase the distance it takes for you to
stop your vehicle when towing a trailer.
The trailer hitch harness is used to install the
controller for the electric trailer brakes.
Insert the trailer brake fuse into the engine
compartment sub fuse box.
2 Engine Compartment Fuse Box Type B
P. 591
Electric Brake
(Brown) (20A)
Ground
(Black) Brake (Light
Green)
Stop
(Violet)
Trailer brake controller
connector’s terminals:
Electric Brake
(Brown)
Brake (20A)
(Blue)
Ground
(Black)
Brake Lights
(Sky Blue)

Continued425
uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
Driving
■Trailer light
Trailer lights and equipment must comply with federal, state, province/territory, and
local regulations. Check with your local trailer sales or rental agency for the
requirements in the area where you plan to tow.
We recommend that you have a dealer install a Honda wiring harness and converter.
They are designed for your vehicle.1 Trailer light
The trailer lighting connect or is located behind the
trailer hitch.
Even if you are planning to use the non-Honda trailer
lighting harness and converte r, ask a dealer for the
correct connector and pins.
Left turn signal and
brake lights (White)
Electric brake (Brown) Right turn signal and
brake lights (Red)
Back-up lights (Blue) Ground (Black)
Tail lights (Black)
+B Charge (Green)
Pins’ wiring color codes and their purposes:
(For 2WD Vehicles Only):

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uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
Driving
The 7-pin trailer connector is needed for your trailer lights. When inserting the
connector to the socket, ch eck if the connector and the socket are free of dirt,
moisture, or other foreign material.
The lighting and wiring of trailers can vary by type and brand. If a connector is
required, it should only be installed by a qualified technician.
■Sway control
This device can be used if your trailer te nds to sway. Your trailer maker can tell you
what kind of sway control you need and how to install it. Improper installation could
degrade the handling and stability of your vehicle.
■Trailer mirrors
Many states, provinces and te rritories require special exterior mirrors when towing a
trailer. Install special mirrors whenever you cannot clearly see behind you, or if the
trailer creates a blind spot.
Pins’ wiring color codes and their purposes:
Tail lights
(Black)
Left turn
signal and
brake lights
(White)
Ground (Black) +B Charge
(Green)
Right turn
signal and
brake lights
(Red)
Electric brake
(Brown)
Back-up lights (Blue) 1. Pull the socket lid to open.
2. Insert the 7-pin trailer
connector into the socket. 3. Hook the lid
retaining tab onto the
socket retaining tab.
Socket
(For Vehicles Equipped with Trailer Hitch Harness Only):

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uuTowing a Trailer uTrailer Stability Assist
Driving
Trailer Stability Assist
Helps to stabilize the vehicle and tra iler when the trailer severely sways.
■How trailer stability assist works
When the vehicle and trailer become unstable while driving, trailer stability assist
determines the cause. If the trailer oscilla tion is detected as the cause, and the
swaying increases, the system applies the br akes or controls engine output to reduce
vehicle speed.
Both the vehicle and trailer brake lights co me on automatically if you brake to
reduce vehicle speed.
1 Trailer Stability Assist
Trailer stability assist is not a function that prevents
the vehicle and trailer from swaying. Avoid high
speeds, abrupt steering, improper trailer load, and
sudden braking to keep the trailer from swaying.
When swayed too severely, the system becomes
ineffective, and you may lose control of your vehicle,
causing the trailer to roll over or get damaged. 2 Driving Safely with a Trailer P. 428
Trailer towing sway is caused by:
•Crosswinds
•Improper towbar down load
•Excessive Speed
The VSA ® system indicator blinks during the trailer
stability assist operation. 2 VSA ® Operation P. 476