2021 HONDA RIDGELINE overheating

Contents
This owner’s manual should be considered a permanent part of the
vehicle and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.
The Navigation Manual is available online at owners.honda.com
(U.S.) or honda.ca (Canada). If you are the first registered owner
of your vehicle, you may request a complimentary printed
copy of the Navigation Manual within the first six months of
vehicle purchase. To request a copy, visit owners.honda.com. In
Canada, please request a copy from your Honda dealer.
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 ma nual (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. 31
For Safe Driving P. 32 Seat Belts P. 37 Airbags P. 44
2Instrument Panel P. 77
Indicators P. 78 Gauges and Multi-Information Display P. 110
2Controls P. 115
Clock P. 116 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 117
Security System P. 136 Windows P. 139
Mirrors P. 164 Seats P. 166
2Features P. 203
Audio System P. 204
General Information on the Audio System P. 281
HomeLink ® Universal Transceiver P. 323 Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink ® P. 329
2 Driving P. 363
Before Driving P. 364 Towing a Trailer P. 372
Braking P. 468Parking Your Vehicle P. 472
2Maintenance P. 487
Before Performing Maintenance P. 488 Maintenance MinderTM P. 491
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 514
Climate Control System Maintenance P. 528
2Handling the Unexpected P. 537
Tools P. 538 If a Tire Goes Flat P. 539
Overheating P. 555 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 557
If You Cannot Unlock the Fuel Fill Door P. 569
2 Information P. 573
Specifications P. 574 Identification Numbers P. 576
Emissions Testing P. 579 Warranty Coverages P. 581

26
Quick Reference Guide
Handling the Unexpected (P537)
Flat Tire (P539)
●Park in a safe location and replace the
flat tire with the compact spare tire
located in the trunk.
Indicators Come On (P557)
●Identify the indicator and consult the
owner’s manual.
Engine Won’t Start (P549)
●If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse (P562)
●Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.
Overheating (P555)
●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 (P568)
●Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.

96
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warn ing and Information Messages
Instrument Panel
Multi-Information Display Warn ing and Information Messages
The following messages appear only on the mu lti-information display. Press the (information) button to see the message again
with the system me ssage indicator on.
*1:When the tailgate is dropped open, the message does not appear.
MessageConditionExplanation
●Appears if any door, th e trunk or the tailgate*1 is not
completely closed.
●Appears if any door, th e trunk or the tailgate*1 is
opened while driving. The beeper sounds.
●Disappears when all the doors, the trunk and the
tailgate are closed.
●Appears when there is a problem with the battery
charging system.●Have your vehicle ch ecked by a dealer.
●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. 492
●Appears when the engine coolant temperature gets
abnormally high.
2Overheating P. 555

99
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warning and Information Messages
Continued
Instrument Panel
MessageConditionExplanation
●Appears if there is a problem with the cooling system.●Drive slowly to prevent overheating and have your
vehicle checked by a deal er as soon as possible.
●Appears when the transmission system temperature is
too high. The vehicle does not operate properly.●Stop in a safe place in (P.●Let the engine idle until the message disappears.
●Appears after you set the power mode to ACCESSORY
or ON.2Starting the Engine P. 385
●Appears when the engine does not restart automatically
due to the following reasons:
-The hood is open.
- There is a problem in the sy stem that disables Auto
Idle Stop.●Follow the normal procedure to start the engine.
2 Starting the Engine P. 385
●Appears when you attempt to change to another shift
position with the transmission in
(P and the engine
OFF.
●To select another shift position while in (P, the engine
must be ON.
●Appears when you try to chan ge the shift position after
the position has automatically been changed to
( P with
the driver’s door open and the driver’s seat belt
unfastened.
●Press the (P button If you leave the vehicle.

110
Instrument Panel
Gauges and Multi-Information Display
Gauges
Gauges include the speedometer, fuel gauge, and other related indicators. They are
displayed when the power mode is in ON.
Displays your driving speed in mph or km/h.
Shows the number of engine revolutions per minute.
Displays the amount of fuel left in the fuel tank.
Displays the temperature of the engine coolant.
■Speedometer
■Tachometer
■Fuel Gauge
■Temperature Gauge
1Speedometer
Press and hold the RESET button until you hear a
beep when the blank appears on the multi-
information display.
The speedometer reading as well as the displayed
measurements will switch between mph and km/h.
The display change message will switch for a few
seconds.
1 Fuel Gauge
NOTICE
You should refuel when the needle approaches .
Running out of fuel can cause the engine to misfire,
damaging the cata lytic converter.
The actual amount of remain ing fuel may differ from
the fuel gauge reading.E
1 Temperature Gauge
NOTICE
Driving with the temperat ure gauge needle in the
upper zone can cause serious engine damage. Pull
safely to the side of th e road and allow engine
temperature to return to normal. 2 Overheating P. 555

516
Maintenance
Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires
To safely operate your vehicle, your tires must be of the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread, and properly inflated.
■Inflation guidelines
Properly inflated tires provide the best combination of handling, tread life, and comfort.
Refer to the driver’s doorjamb label or spec ifications page for the specified pressure.
Underinflated tires wear unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and
are more likely to fail from overheating.
Overinflated tires make your vehicle ride harshly, are more prone to road hazards,
and wear unevenly.
Every day before you drive, look at each of the tires. If one looks lower than the
others, check the pressure with a tire gauge.
At least once a month or before long trips, use a gauge to measure the pressure in
all tires, including the spare. Even tires in good condition can lose 1-2 psi (10-20 kPa,
0.1-0.2 kgf/cm
2) per month.
■Inspection guidelines
Every time you check inflation, also examine the tires and valve stems.
Look for:
• Bumps or bulges on the side or in the tread. Replace the tire if you find any cuts,
splits, or cracks in the si de of the tire. Replace it if you see fabric or cord.
• Remove any foreign objects and inspect for air leaks.
• Uneven tread wear. Have a deal er check the wheel alignment.
• Excessive tread wear.
2 Wear Indicators P. 521
•Cracks or other damage around valve stem.
1Checking Tires
Measure the air pressure when tires are cold. This
means the vehicle has been parked for at least three
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). If
necessary, add or releas e air until the specified
pressure is reached.
If checked when hot, tire pressure can be as much as
4–6 psi (30–40 kPa, 0.3–0.4 kgf/cm
2) higher than if
checked when cold.
Have a dealer check the tires if you feel a consistent
vibration while driving. Ne w tires and any that have
been removed and reinst alled should be properly
balanced.
Check the spare tire pressu re once a month or before
long trips.
3WARNING
Using tires that are excessively worn or
improperly inflated can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instruction s in this owner’s
manual regarding ti re inflation and
maintenance.

537
Handling the Unexpected
This chapter explains how to handle unexpected troubles.
ToolsTypes of Tools .................................. 538
If a Tire Goes Flat Changing a Flat Tire ......................... 539
Engine Does Not Start
Checking the Engine ........................ 549
If the Smart Entry Remote Battery is Weak .......................................... 550
Emergency Engine Stop ................... 551
If the Battery Is Dead ....................... 552
Overheating How to Handle Overheating ............. 555 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking
If the Low Oil Pressure Indicator Comes
On ............................................. 557
If the Charging System Indicator Comes
On ................................................. 557
If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp Comes On or Blinks ................................... 558
If the Brake System I ndicator (Red) Comes
On .................................................559
If the Electric Power Steering (EPS) System
Indicator Comes On ....................... 559
If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator Comes On or Blinks........................ 560 If the Transmission System Indicator Blinks
along with the Warning Message... 561
Fuses
Fuse Locations ................................. 562
Inspecting and Changing Fuses ........ 567
Emergency Towing ........................... 568
If You Cannot Unlock the Fuel Fill Door....569
If You Cannot Unlock the Tailgate ... 570
Refueling
Refueling From a Portable Fuel Container ................................... 571

555Continued
Handling the Unexpected
Overheating
How to Handle Overheating
Overheating symptoms are as follows:
•The temperature gauge needle is at the mark or the engine suddenly loses
power.
• The Engine Temperature Too Hot message appears on the multi-information
display.
• Steam or spray comes out of the engine compartment.
■First thing to do
1. Immediately park the vehicle in a safe place.
2. Turn off all accessories and turn on the hazard warning lights.
u No steam or spray present: Keep the engine running and open the hood.
u Steam or spray is present: Turn off the engine and wait until it subsides.
Then open the hood.
1 How to Handle Overheating
NOTICE
Continuing to drive with the temperature gauge
needle at the mark may damage the engine.
Continuing to drive with the Engine Temperature
Too Hot message on the multi- information display
may damage the engine.
3WARNING
Steam and spray from an overheated
engine can seri ously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam is coming
out.
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