2018 HONDA RIDGELINE lights

426
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):

427
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

428
uuTowing a Trailer uDriving Safely with a Trailer
Driving
Driving Safely with a Trailer
• Have the trailer properly serviced and keep it in good condition.
• Make sure that all the weights and load in the vehicle and trailer are within limits.
2Towing Load Limits P. 418
•Securely attach the hitch, safety chains, and other necessary parts to the trailer.
• Securely store all the items in and on the tr ailer so that they do not shift while
driving.
• Check if the lights and brakes on the trailer are working properly.
• Check the pressures of the traile r tires, including the spare.
• Drive slower than normal.
• Obey posted speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
• Use the
(D position when towing a trailer on level roads.
• Turn more slowly and with a wider turning arc than normal.
• Allow more time and distance for braking.
• Do not brake or turn suddenly.
■Things You Need To Know Before Towing a Trailer
■Towing Speeds and Gears
■Turning and Braking
1Driving Safely with a Trailer
Operating speed when towing a trailer must not
exceed 62 mph (100 km/h).
Parking
In addition to the normal precautions, place wheel
chocks at each of the trailer’s tires.
When towing a trailer, we recommend that you carry
a full-size spare wheel and tire for both your vehicle
and trailer. If you use the compact spare tire that
came with your vehicle, it could adversely affect
vehicle handling.
Remember to unhitch the tra iler before changing a
flat tire. Ask the trailer sales or rental agency where
and how to store the trailer’s spare tire.
1 Towing Speeds and Gears
When towing a fixed-sided trailer (e.g., camper), do
not exceed 55 mph (88 km/h).
At higher speeds, the trai ler may sway or affect
vehicle handling.

432
Driving
When Driving
Starting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
(P, then
depress the brake pedal.
u Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N, it is safer to start it in (P.
3. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button
without depressing the accelerator pedal.
The engine will crank until it starts.
1 Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to st art in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, heating and
cooling system
*/climate control system*, and rear
defogger in order to reduce battery drain.
If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. Cons ult a dealer for details.
Bring the smart entry remote close to the ENGINE
START/STOP button if the battery in the smart entry
remote is weak.
2 If the Smart Entry Remote Battery is Weak
P. 577
The engine may not start if the smart entry remote is
subjected to strong radio waves.
Do not hold the ENGINE START/STOP button to
start the engine.
If the engine does not start, wait at least 30 seconds
before trying again.
Parking Brake
Brake Pedal
* Not available on all models

Continued435
uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
Driving
■To start the engine
The engine runs for up to 10 minutes without you starting the vehicle.
To extend the run time for another 10 minutes during the first run, press the
button, then press an d hold the button.
u Some exterior lights come back on three times, twice, if a 10-minute extension
request was transmitted successfully.1Remote Engine Start*
•There is any antenna failure.•Door is unlocked with the built-in key.
•The engine oil pressure is low.
•The engine coolant temper ature is extremely high.•The telematics unit malfunctions.
•The security system alarm is not set.
The engine may stop whil e it is running if:
•You do not start the vehicl e within 10 minutes of
starting the engine with the smart entry remote.
•The engine is stopped by using the smart entry
remote.
•There is any antenna failure.•The security system alarm is not set.
•Door is unlocked with the built-in key.
•The hood is open, or any door, or the trunk is
unlocked.
•You press the shift lever release button.
•The telematics unit malfunction.
•The engine coolant temper ature is extremely high.•The battery is low.
•The engine oil pressure is low.
•The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) comes on if
there is a problem with the emissions control
systems.
Press the button, then press and hold
the button.
Some exterior lights flash once.
LED: Blinks when any button is pressed. Go within the range,
and try again.
Some exterior lights flash six
times if the engine runs
successfully. Some exterior lights will not
flash if the engine does not
start.
* Not available on all models

uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
436
Driving
■To stop the engine1Remote Engine Start*
While the engine is running, the vehicle will
automatically preconditi on inside the vehicle.
When it is warm outside:
•The heating and cooling system*/climate control
system* is activated in recirculation mode.
•The seat ventilation* is activated.
When it is cold outside:
•The defroster is activated at a moderately warm
temperature.
•The rear defogger and door mirror heaters* are
activated.
•The seat heaters* and heated steering wheel* are
activated. 2Heated Steering Wheel
* P. 180
2 Front Seat Heaters and Seat
Ventilation
* P. 182, 183
Press and hold the
button for one second.Go within the range, and try again.
Some exterior lights will not flash when the remote is out of
the keyless access system range.
The engine will not stop.
Some exterior lights flash once if the engine stops
successfully.
* Not available on all models

454
uuWhen Driving uRoad Departure Mitigation (RDM) System*
Driving
■Roadway conditions
• Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obscured lane marking, vehicle tracks,
reflected lights, road spray, high contrast).
• Driving on a road with temporary lane markings.
• Faint, multiple, or varied lane markings are visible on the roadway due to road
repairs or old lane markings.
• The roadway has merging, split, or crossing lines (e.g., such as at an intersection
or crosswalk).
• The lane markings are extremely narrow, wide, or changing.
• The vehicle in front of you is driving near the lane lines.
• The road is hilly or the vehicle is approaching the crest of a hill.
• Driving on rough or unpaved roads, or over bumpy surfaces.
• When objects on the road (curb, guard rail, pylons, etc.) are recognized as white
lines (or yellow lines).
• When driving on roads with double lines.
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the headlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshield is streake d or blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet
snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• The camera temperature gets too hot.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wro ng sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, comp act spare tire, etc.).
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heav y load or suspension modifications.
• When tire chains are installed.

uuWhen Driving uAdaptive Cruise Control (ACC)*
460
Driving
The system may automatically shut off and the ACC indicator will come on under
certain conditions. Some examples of th ese conditions are listed below. Other
conditions may reduce some of the ACC functions.
2 Front Sensor Camera* P. 448
■Environmental conditions
Driving in bad weather (r ain, fog, snow, etc.).
■Roadway conditions
Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obscure d lane marking, vehicle tracks, reflected
lights, road spray, high contrast).
■Vehicle conditions
• The outside of the windshie ld is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wro ng sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, comp act spare tire, etc.).
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• The parking brake is applied.
• When the radar sensor cover is dirty.
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heav y load or suspension modifications.
• When tire chains are installed.
■ACC Conditions and Limitations1ACC Conditions and Limitations
The radar sensor for ACC is shared with the collision
mitigation braking system
TM (CMBSTM).
2 Collision Mitigation Braking SystemTM
(CMBSTM)* P. 492
Do not put a sticker on the radar sensor cover or
replace the radar sensor cover.
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer if you find any
unusual behavior of the system (e.g., the warning
message appears too frequently).
If the front of the vehicle is impacted in any of the
following situations, the ra dar sensor may not work
properly. Have your vehi cle checked by a dealer:
•The vehicle mounted onto a bump, curb, chock,
embankment, etc.
•You drive the vehicle where the water is deep.
•Your vehicle has a frontal collision.
You can read about handling information for the
camera equipped with this system. 2 Front Sensor Camera
* P. 448
* Not available on all models