2020 HONDA RIDGELINE emergency towing

Contents
Child Safety P. 55Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 70Safety Labels P. 71
Tailgate P. 127 Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 129
Moonroof* P. 139 Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 141
Convenience Items P. 171 Climate Control System P. 187
Audio System Basic Operation P. 203 Audio Error Messages P. 272
Customized Features P. 295
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 377 When Driving P. 379 Honda Sensing® P. 417
Multi-View Rear Camera P. 475 Refueling P. 477 Fuel Economy and CO
2 Emissions P. 480
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 489 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 501
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 509 Battery P. 518 Remote Transmitter Care P. 520
Cleaning P. 522 Accessories and Modifications P. 528
Engine Does Not Start P. 543Jump Starting P. 546
Fuses P. 556 Emergency Towing P. 562
When You Cannot Unlock the Tailgate P. 564 Refueling P. 565
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 571 Reporting Safety Defects P. 572
Authorized Manuals P. 577 Customer Service Information P. 578
Quick Reference GuideP. 4
Safe DrivingP. 29
Instrument PanelP. 73
ControlsP. 111
FeaturesP. 195
DrivingP. 357
MaintenanceP. 481
Handling the UnexpectedP. 531
InformationP. 567
IndexP. 579

24
Quick Reference Guide
Handling the Unexpected (P531)
Flat Tire (P533)
●Park in a safe location and replace the
flat tire with the compact spare tire
located in the trunk.
Indicators Come On (P551)
●Identify the indicator and consult the
owner’s manual.
Engine Won’t Start (P543)
●If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse (P556)
●Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.
Overheating (P549)
●Park in a safe location. If you do not see
steam under the hood, open the hood,
and let the engine cool down.
Emergency Towing (P562)
●Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.

77
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage
Transmission
System
Indicator
●The current shift position or all the
shift positions blink if there is a
problem with the transmission system
and the vehicle wi ll no longer move.●Immediately stop in a safe place.
2Emergency Towing P. 562●Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
●The current shift position or all the
shift positions blink if you cannot
select
(P due to the transmission
system failure.
●The engine can be activated as a
temporary measure.
2 If the Transmission System Indicator
Blinks along with the Warning
Message P. 555
●Set the parking brake when parking.●Have your vehicle checked by a dealer
immediately.
Seat Belt
Reminder
Indicator
●Blinks and the beeper sounds for a
few seconds if you are not wearing a
seat belt when you set the power
mode to ON, then the indicator
comes on.
●If the front passenger is not wearing a
seat belt, the indicator comes on a
few seconds later.
●Blinks while driving if you and/or the
front passenger has not fastened a
seat belt. The beeper sounds and the
indicator blinks at regular intervals.
●The beeper stops and the indicator goes
off when you and the front passenger
fasten their seat belts.
●Stays on after you and/or the front
passenger has fastened the seat
belt(s) - A detection error may have
occurred in the sensor. Have your vehicle
checked by a dealer.
2 Seat Belt Reminder P. 36

uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Your Vehicle
376
Driving
• Monitor your temperature gauge. If it nears the mark, turn off the climate
control system and reduce speed. Pull to the side of the road safely to cool down
the engine if necessary.
• Shift to the
(S position if the transmission shifts frequently.
When retrieving a boat from the water, we recommend using the sequential shift
mode
(S to utilize the trans missions lower gears.
Towing Your Vehicle
Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refe r to the emergency towing information.
2Emergency Towing P. 562
■Driving in Hilly Terrain
■Retrieving a Boat
1Driving in Hilly Terrain
If the automatic transmission fluid temperature
exceeds the specified limit, the transmission will also
automatically up shift, even in the sequential shift
mode.
H

531
Handling the Unexpected
This chapter explains how to handle unexpected troubles.
ToolsTypes of Tools .................................. 532
If a Tire Goes Flat Changing a Flat Tire ......................... 533
Engine Does Not Start
Checking the Engine ........................ 543
If the Smart Entry Remote Battery is Weak .......................................... 544
Emergency Engine Stop ................... 545
Jump Starting .................................... 546
Overheating How to Handle Overheating ............. 549 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking
If the Low Oil Pressure Indicator Comes
On ............................................. 551
If the Charging System Indicator Comes
On ................................................. 551
If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp Comes On or Blinks ................................... 552
If the Brake System Indicator (Red) Comes On .................................................... 553
If the Electric Power Steering (EPS) System
Indicator Comes On ........................... 553
If the Low Tire Pressure/Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Indicator Comes
On or Blinks ....................................... 554 If the Transmission System Indicator Blinks
along with the Warning Message ....... 555
Fuses
Fuse Locations ................................. 556
Inspecting and Changing Fuses ........ 561
Emergency Towing ........................... 562
When You Cannot Unlock the Fuel Fill Door ................................................. 563
When You Cannot Unlock the Tailgate .. 564
RefuelingRefueling From a Portable Fuel
Container ................................... 565

543
Handling the Unexpected
Engine Does Not Start
Checking the Engine
If the engine does not start, check the starter.
Starter conditionChecklist
Starter doesn’t turn or turns
over slowly.
The battery may be dead. Check
each of the items on the right and
respond accordingly.Check for a message on the multi-information display.
●If the To Start, Hold Remote Near Start Button message appears
2If the Smart Entry Remote Battery is Weak P. 544
uMake sure the smart entry remote is in its operating range.
2 ENGINE START/STOP Button Operating Range P. 141
Check the brightness of the interior lights.
Turn on the interior lights and check the brightness.
●If the interior lights are dim or do not come on at all
2Battery P. 518●If the interior lights come on normally 2 Fuses P. 556
The starter turns over normally
but the engine doesn’t start.
There may be a problem with the
fuse. Check each of the items on
the right and respond accordingly. Review the engine start procedure.
Follow its instructions, and try
to start the engine again.
2 Starting the Engine P. 379
Check the immobilizer system indicator.
When the immobilizer system indicator is blinking, the engine cannot be started.
2Immobilizer System P. 132
Check the fuel level.
There should be enough fuel in the tank.
2 Fuel Gauge P. 106
Check the fuse.
Check all fuses, or have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
2Inspecting and Changing Fuses P. 561
If the problem continues:
2Emergency Towing P. 562
1Checking the Engine
If you must start the vehi cle immediately, use an
assisting vehicle or booster battery to jump start it.
2 Jump Starting P. 546

555
uuIndicator, Coming On/Blinking uIf the Transmission System Indicator Blinks along with the Warning Message
Handling the Unexpected
If the Transmission System Indicator Blinks along
with the Warning Message
■Reasons for the indicator to blink
The transmission is malfunctioning.
■What to do when the indicator blinks
• Immediately have your vehicle inspected by
a dealer.
• Put the transmission into
(N when you start
the engine.
u Check if the
(N position in the
instrument panel and the indicator on
the
(N button light/blink.
2 Starting the Engine P. 379
1If the Transmission System In dicator Blinks along with the
Warning Message
You may not be able to start the engine.
Make sure to set the pa rking brake when parking
your vehicle.
Call a professional towing service if you need to tow
your vehicle. 2 Emergency Towing P. 562

562
Handling the Unexpected
Emergency Towing
Call a professional towing service if you need to tow your vehicle.
■Flat bed equipment
The operator loads your vehicle on the back of a truck.
This is the best way to transport your vehicle.
■Wheel lift equipment
The tow truck uses two pivoti ng arms that go under the front tires and lift them off
the ground. The rear tires remain on the ground. This is an acceptable way to
tow your vehicle.
1 Emergency Towing
NOTICE
Trying to lift or tow your vehicle by the bumpers will
cause serious damage. The bumpers are not designed
to support the vehicle’s weight.
NOTICE
Improper towing such as towing behind a
motorhome or other motor vehicle can damage the
transmission.
Never tow your vehicle with just a rope or chain.
It is very dangerous since ropes or chains may shift
from side to side or break.
All models
2WD models