2018 HONDA RIDGELINE maintenance

California Proposition 65 Warning
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s
systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or le ss. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or brake pedal; and,
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data
are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving
conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and
crash location) are recorded. Howe ver, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data r outinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
WARNING: This product contains or emits
chemicals known to the state of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm.
To read data recorded by an ED R, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the ED R is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that
have the special equipment, can re ad the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
The data belongs to the vehicle ow ner and may not be accessed by
anyone else except as legally requir ed or with the permission of the
vehicle owner.
Service Diagnostic Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with serv ice-related devices that record
information about powertrain perfo rmance. The data can be used
to verify emissions law requirem ents and/or help technicians
diagnose and solve service problems. It may also be combined with
data from other sources for res earch purposes, but it remains
confidential. Some diagnostic and maintenance information is
uploaded to Honda up on vehicle start up.
California Perchlorate Contamination Prevention Act
The airbags, seat belt tensioners , and CR type batteries in this
vehicle may contain perchlorate materials - special handling may
apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/
As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded
by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid
damage to your vehicle, othe r property, or the environment.
NOTICE

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. 29
For Safe Driving P. 30 Seat Belts P. 35 Airbags P. 42
2Instrument Panel P. 73
Indicators P. 74 Gauges and Multi-Information Display P. 103
2Controls P. 109
Clock P. 110 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 111
Security System P. 133 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 136
Adjusting the Mirrors P. 161 Adjusting the Seats P. 163
Heating and Cooling System
* P. 195
2 Features P. 199
Audio System P. 200
General Information on the Audio System P. 298
HomeLink ® Universal Transceiver
* P. 348 Bluetooth ® HandsFreeLink ® P. 351, 376
2 Driving P. 409
Before Driving P. 410 Towing a Trailer P. 418
Parking Your Vehicle P. 501Multi-View Rear Camera P. 510
2Maintenance P. 517
Before Performing Maintenance P. 518 Maintenance MinderTM P. 521
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 543
Heating and Cooling System
*/Climate Control System* Maintenance P. 556
2 Handling the Unexpected P. 565
Tools P. 566 If a Tire Goes Flat P. 567
Overheating P. 583 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 585
When You Cannot Unlock the Fuel Fill Door P. 595
2 Information P. 599
Specifications P. 600 Identification Numbers P. 602
Emissions Testing P. 605 Warranty Coverages P. 607

Contents
Child Safety P. 55Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 70Safety Labels P. 71
Opening and Closing the Tailgate P. 128 Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 130
Opening and Closing the Moonroof* P. 140 Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 142
Interior Lights/Convenience It ems P. 171Climate Control System* P. 188
Audio System Basic Operation P. 206, 224 Audio Error Messages P. 294
Customized Features P. 317
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 430 When Driving P. 432 Braking P. 488
Refueling P. 512 Fuel Economy and CO
2 Emissions P. 515
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 525 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 537
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 545 Battery P. 554 Remote Transmitter Care P. 555
Cleaning P. 557 Accessories and Modifications P. 563
Engine Does Not Start P. 576Jump Starting P. 579 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 582
Fuses P. 589 Emergency Towing P. 594
Refueling P. 596
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 603 Reporting Safety Defects P. 604
Authorized Manuals P. 609 Customer Service Information P. 610
Quick Reference GuideP. 4
Safe DrivingP. 29
Instrument PanelP. 73
ControlsP. 109
FeaturesP. 199
DrivingP. 409
MaintenanceP. 517
Handling the UnexpectedP. 565
InformationP. 599
IndexP. 611

Visual Index
8
Quick Reference Guide❙Maintenance Under the Hood (P525)
❙Windshield Wipers (P154, 543)
❙Power Door Mirrors (P162)
❙Headlights (P146, 537)
❙Front Side Marker Lights (P146, 539)
❙Fog Lights* (P149, 540)
❙Side Turn Signal Lights* (P145, 540)
❙Daytime Running Lights /Parking Lights* (P150, 539)
❙How to Refuel (P513)
❙Rear Turn Signal and Back-Up Lights (P541)
❙Door Lock/Unlock Control (P114)
❙Tires (P545, 567)
❙Front Turn Signal/Parking Lights* (P145, 540)
❙Brake/Taillight and Rear Side Marker Lights (P541)
❙Rear License Plate Light (P542)
❙Multi-View Rear Camera (P510)
❙Drop Opening the Tailgate (P129)
❙Rear License Plate Light (P542)
❙Swing Opening the Tailgate (P129)
❙Opening and Closing the Trunk (P130)
❙AC Power Outlet* (P184)
❙High-Mount Brake Light (P542)
❙Bed Lights (P186)

23
Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance (P517)
Under the Hood (P525)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer
fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid.
● Check the battery condition monthly.
aPull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard.
bLocate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up
the hood.
cWhen finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.
Lights (P537)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades (P543)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires (P545)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter
driving.
* Not available on all models

31
uuFor Safe Driving uImportant Safety Precautions
Safe Driving
■Pay appropriate attention to the task of driving safely
Engaging in cell phone conversation or other activities that keep you from paying
close attention to the road, other vehicles , and pedestrians could lead to a crash.
Remember, situations can change quickly, and only you can decide when it is safe to
divert some attention away from driving.
■Control your speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher
the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds.
Never drive faster than is safe for curr ent conditions, regardless of the maximum
speed posted.
■Keep your vehicle in safe condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous.
To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition
frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance.
■Never let passengers ride in the pickup bed or inside a truck cap (shell).
They could be killed or injured in a crash, or become ill or even die from carbon
monoxide poisoning if engine exhaust enters the cap.

54
uuAirbags uAirbag Care
Safe Driving
Airbag Care
You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any
airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle
inspected by a dealer in the following situations:
■When the airbags have deployed
If an airbag has inflated, th e control unit and other related parts must be replaced.
Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it must be
replaced.
■When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision
Even if the airbags did not inflate, have your dealer inspect the following: the driver’s
seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat belt
tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash.
■Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting a dealer
This would likely disable or affect the proper operation of the driver’s seat position
sensor or the weight sensors in the passenger ’s seat. If it is necessary to remove or
modify a front seat to accommodate a person with disabilities, contact a Honda
dealer, or for U.S. vehicles, American Honda Automob ile Customer Service at
1-800-999-1009 and for Canadian vehicles , Honda Canada Customer Relations at
1-888-9-HONDA-9.
1 Airbag Care
We recommend against the use of salvaged airbag
system components, including the airbag, tensioners,
sensors, and control unit.

92
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warn ing and Information Messages
Instrument Panel
MessageConditionExplanation
●Appears when there is a problem with the sensor on the
battery.●Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
2Checking the Battery P. 554
●Appears along with the battery charging system
indicator when the battery is not charging.●Turn off the climate control system*/heating and cooling
system* and rear defogger to reduce electricity
consumption.
2 If the Charging System Indicator Comes On P. 585
●Appears when the scheduled maintenance is due soon.●Consequently, Maintenance Due Now and
Maintenance Past Due follow.2Maintenance Minder Messages on the Multi-
Information Display P. 522
●Appears when the engine coolant temperature gets
abnormally high.
2Overheating P. 583
* Not available on all models