2020 HONDA RIDGELINE check engine

366
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 17.6 lbs (8 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. 568
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 (2,267 kg)3,500 lbs (1,587 kg)
34,875 lbs (2,211 kg)3,375 lbs (1,531 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)

379Continued
Driving
When Driving
Starting the Engine
1.Make sure the parkin g brake is applied.
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button
without depressing the accelerator pedal.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 altit udes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, climate
control system, and rear de fogger 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.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
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. 544
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 starting the engine again.
Parking Brake
Brake Pedal

Continued381
uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
Driving
You can remotely start the engine using the smart entry remote.
■Remote Engine Start1Remote Engine Start
The remote engine start may violate local laws.
Before using the remote e ngine start, check your
local laws.
If there are buildings an d obstacles between your
vehicle and the remote, th e range will be reduced.
This distance may vary by external electrical
interference.
The engine may not start by the remote engine start
if:
•You have disabled a remo te engine start setting
using the audio/information screen.
•You do not press and hold the button
within 5 seconds after the button is pressed.
•The power mode is not in VEHICLE OFF.
•The transmission is in a position other than ( P.
3WARNING
Carbon monoxide ga s is toxic and can
rapidly accumulate in closed or even partly
enclosed areas.
Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and
even kill you.
Never use the remote engine starter with
the vehicle parked in a garage or other
areas with limited ventilation.

uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
384
Driving
1. Depress the brake pedal and press the ENGINE START/STOP button
simultaneously.
2. Keeping your right foot on the brake peda l, release the parking brake. Check that
the parking brake indicator has gone off.
2 Parking Brake P. 462
3.Put the transmission into (D. Select (R when reversing.
4. Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to pull
away.
■Hill start assist system
Hill start assist keeps the brake engaged br iefly to help prevent the vehicle from
rolling on inclines as you move your fo ot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
Put the transmission into
(D, or (S when facing uphill, or (R when facing downhill,
then release the brake pedal.
■Starting to Drive1 Starting to Drive
The engine stops when th e transmission is taken out
of
( P before the ENGINE START/STOP button is
pressed. Follow the step 1 when starting to drive.
When the engine was started using the smart entry
remoteWhen the engine was started using the smart entry remote
When the engine was started in any case
1 Hill start assist system
Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very steep or slippe ry slope, and
will not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist will operate even when VSA ® is
switched off.
Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.

385
uuWhen Driving uPrecautions While Driving
Continued
Driving
Precautions While Driving
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
To prevent rollovers or loss of control:
• Take corners at slower speeds than yo u would with a passenger vehicle.
• Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers whenever possible.
• Do not modify your vehicle in any way th at you would raise the center of gravity.
• Do not carry heavy cargo on the roof.
Never carry more than 165 lbs (75 kg) of cargo on the roof rack (Honda accessory).
Avoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the engine or
driveline, or cause electrical component failure.
If there is a strong impact with something un der the vehicle, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks.
■Driving Guidelines for Your Utility Vehicle
■In Rain
■Other Precautions
1 Precautions While Driving
NOTICE
Do not select a shift button while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.
NOTICE
If you repeatedly turn the steering wheel at an
extremely low speed, or hold the steering wheel in
the full left or right position for a while, the electric
power steering (EPS) system heats up. The system
goes into a protective mode, and limits its
performance. The steering wheel becomes harder
and harder to operate. Once the system cools down,
the EPS system is restor ed. Repeated operation under
these conditions can eventually damage the system.
If the power mode is set to ACCESSORY while
driving, the engine will shut down and all steering
and brake power assist functi ons will stop, making it
difficult to control the vehicle.
Do not press the
( N button, as you will lose engine
braking (and accelera tion) performance.
During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as not to damage the engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are
replaced.

uuWhen Driving uShifting
390
Driving
■Shift Operation1Shift Operation
NOTICE
When you change (D to (R and vice versa, depress
the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, then
select the intended shift position while maintaining
brake pressure.
Use the shift position indi cator and the shift button
indicator to check the shift position before selecting a
shift button.
If the indicator of the currently selected shift position,
or all the shift position indicators are blinking
simultaneously, there is a problem with the
transmission.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut of f if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tac hometer’s red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happe ns, you may experience a
slight jolt.
When the engine speed is increased while the
transmission is in
( N, (P or (R, the fuel supply may
be cut off even without the engine speed entering
the tachometer’s red zone.
The beeper sounds once when you change to
( R.
2 Customized Features P. 295
Shift Position Indicator
(Transmission System Indicator) Tachometer’s Red Zone
Press the
(P button.
Pull back the (R button.
Press the
( N button.
Press the button.
Each time you press the button,
the mode switches between Drive
and S Position mode.
D/S
Shift Button
Indicator M
(sequential mode) Indicator
Sequential Mode Gear Selection
Indicator

404
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA ® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine output and select ively applying the brakes.
When VSA ® activates, you may notice that the
engine does not respond to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.
■VSA ® Operation
1 Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), System
The VSA ® may not function properl y if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® system indicator comes on and stays
on while driving, there ma y be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehi cle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA® System
Indicator

405
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
This button is on the driver side control panel.
To partially disable VSA ® functionality/
features, press and hold it until you hear a
beep.
The traction control stop s fully functioning,
allowing the wheels to spin more freely at low
speed. The VSA ® OFF indicator will also come
on and a message on the multi-information
display informs you that the mode is changed.
Traction control mode can not be changed
during Mud or Sand modes. If you are driving
on mud or sand, Mud or Sand Intelligent
Traction Management modes can also be
used to free a stuck ve hicle. On other road
surfaces, change to Normal or Snow mode,
then press and hold the (VSA ® OFF) button.
To restore VSA ® functionality/features, press
the (VSA ® OFF) button until you hear a
beep.
VSA ® is turned on every time you start the
engine, even if you turned it off the last time
you drove the vehicle.
■VSA ® On and Off1 Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA® ), aka Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), System
In certain unusual conditions when your vehicle gets
stuck in shallow mud or fr esh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA ® temporarily switched off.
When the button is pressed, the traction control
function becomes less effective. This allows for the
wheels to spin more freely at low speed. You should
only attempt to free your vehicle with the VSA ® off if
you are not able to free it when the VSA ® is on.
Immediately after freeing your vehicle, be sure to
switch VSA ® on again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA ® system switched off.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.
VSA ® OFF Indicator
When the button is pressed
AWD models