Honda Automobiles 2009 Ridgeline User Manual

Introduction

2009 Ridgeline

Main Menu

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2009 Honda Ridgeline was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so
youcanrefertoitatanytime.

Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.

Maintaining your vehicle according to the maintenance minder shown in the
instrument panel helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves
your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that
your dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique
to your vehicle. Your dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be
pleased to answer any questions and concerns.

As you read this manual, you will
find inf ormation that is preceded by
a symbol. This
information is intended to help you
avoid damage to your vehicle, other
property, or the environment.

i

Introduction

2009 Ridgeline

Main Menu

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

defects or other reproductive harm.

Event Data Recorders

This vehicle is equipped with one or more devices commonly referred to as event data recorders. These
devices record front seat belt use, front passenger seat occupancy, airbag deployment data, and the f ailure
of any airbag system component.

except as legally required or with the permission of the vehicle owner.

Service Diagnostic Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with service-related devices that record information about powertrain performance. The data
can be used to verify emissions law requirements and/or help technicians diagnose and solve service problems. It may
also be combined with data f rom other sources for research purposes, but it remains conf idential.

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth

This data belongs to the vehicle owner and may not be accessed by anyone else

ii

AFewWordsAboutSafety

2009 Ridgeline

Main Menu

Your safety, and the safety of others,
is very important. And operating this
vehicle safely is an important
responsibility.

To help you make informed
decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and
other information on labels and in
this manual. This information alerts
you to potential hazards that could
hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or
possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or
maintaining your vehicle. You must
use your own good judgement.

You will f ind this important safety inf ormation in a variety of forms,
including:

−

Safety Labels
Safety Messages

three signal words: , , or .
These signal words mean:

Safety Headings

Safety Precautions.

Safety Section
Instructions

This entire book is f illed with important saf ety information please read it
carefully.

on the vehicle.

−

preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY
HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY
HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow
instructions.

−

such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

−

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

−

how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

−

iii

Important Handling Information

2009 Ridgeline

Main Menu

Your vehicle has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed f or use only on pavement. Higher ground
clearance has many advantages for off-highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough
terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier. Your vehicle also has a shorter
wheelbase, allowing it to respond quicker to the steering wheel than other sport utility vehicles with a longer
wheelbase.

In addition to these characteristics, your vehicle’s pickup bed area allows you to carry more cargo and has the dual­action tailgate to handle the items easily.

These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a high
center of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is signif icantly
more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear
seat belts.

Overloading or improperly loading cargo could affect your handling and the vehicle’s stability, and could result in a
crash. Make sure the cargo is properly loaded and all items are secured in the pickup bed area.

For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read ‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page of this manual and the

Off-Highway Driving Guidelines

control or an accident.

section on page . Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of

306

268

iv

2009 Ridgeline Online Reference Owner's Manual

Contents

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... i

A Few Words About Safety .............................................................................................................................. iii

Important Handling Information .................................................................................................................... iv

Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) .................................................................................................... 3

Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) .................................................... 5

Instruments and Controls (indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard, and steering column) ........... 59

Features (climate control

Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ..................................................................... 247

Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 267

Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 311

Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, fuses) ...................................... 359

Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 385

Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ... 403

Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 407

Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I

, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control and Homelink®)

..................................... 145

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)

1

00X31-SJC-6300

Overview of Contents

2009 Ridgeline

Main Menu

Contents

A convenient reference to the
sections in this manual.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

A quick reference to the main
controls in your vehicle.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

Important information about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable information on how to
protect children with child restraints.

Instruments and Controls

Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
and how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.

Features

How to operate the heating and air
conditioning system, the audio
system, and other convenience
features.

2

Before Driving

What gasoline to use, how to break­in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.

Driving

The proper way to start the engine,
shift the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you’re
planning to tow a trailer.

Maintenance

The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance service.
There is also a list of things to check
and instructions on how to check
them.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them.

Technical Information

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.

Warranty and Customer
Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)

A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual for detailed
information.

Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only)

How to order manuals and other
technical literature.

Index

Service Information Summary

A summary of the information you
need when you pull up to the fuel
pump.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

2009 Ridgeline

Main Menu

INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS
GAUGES

MIRROR CONTROLS
(P.134)

POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
(P.103)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P.128)

HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.252)

FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE
(P.249)

Vehicle with navigation system is shown.

＊

: If equipped

(P.76)

PARKING BRAKE
RELEASE HANDLE
(P.132)

PARKING BRAKE

(P.132)

PEDAL

(P.62)

DRIVER’S FRONT
AIRBAG

CENTER CONSOLE
(P.136)

(P.9, 25)

REAR VIEW MIRROR WITH
COMPASS

＊

(P.210)

ACCESSORY POWER SOCKETS
(P.139)

PASSENGER’S FRONT
AIRBAG

AUDIO SYSTEM
(P.159)

AUXILIARY INPUT
JACK
(P.203)

HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS

CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM

GLOVE BOX
(P.138)

(P.9, 25)

＊

(P.146)

(P.152)

CONTINUED

Your Vehicle at a Glance

3

Your Vehicle at a Glance

2009 Ridgeline

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＊

INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS

MOONROOF SWITCH
(P.131)

(P.98)

＊

MULTI-CONTROL LEVER
(WINDSHIELD WIPERS/

TRIP/RESET BUTTON

2

(P.76)

SHIFT LEVER
(P.271)

VTM-4 LOCK
(P.276)

5

SELECT BUTTON

WASHERS/TURN SIGNALS/
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS)
(P.94)

＊

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS
(P.202)

HEADLIGHT CONTROL DIAL
(P.95)

＊

FOG LIGHTS

2

2

(P.97)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM OFF SWITCH

Vehicle with navigation system is shown.

To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.

＊

1:

If equipped

＊

2:

Only on vehicles equipped with navigation system. Refer to the navigation system manual.

＊

3:

On models with navigation system.

＊

4:

On models without navigation system.

＊

5:

(P.292)

BED LIGHT SWITCH
(P.144)

VOICE CONTROL
BUTTONS

＊

3

BLUETOOTH
HANDSFREELINK
SYSTEM VOICE CONTROL
BUTTONS

＊

3

(P.218)

4

＊

HORN

STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT

5

(P.76)

INFO ( ) BUTTON

▲

(P.76)

SEL/RESET BUTTON
(P.76)

▼

INFO ( ) BUTTON
(P.76)

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR

(P.31)

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON
(P.99)

CRUISE CONTROLS
(P.207)

INTERIOR LIGHT CONTROL
SWITCH

SEAT HEATERS
(P.126)

＊

1

(P.142)

＊

2

(P.99)

＊

4

＊

4

＊

4

Driver and Passenger Safety

2009 Ridgeline

Main Menu

This section gives you important
information about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts. It
explains how your airbags work. And
it tells you how to properly restrain
infants and children in your vehicle.

.........Important Safety Precautions . 6

.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 7

.......................................Seat Belts . 8

...........................................Airbags . 9

.........Protecting Adults and Teens . 11

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 11

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 14

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 15

5. Fasten and Position the

.............................Seat Belts . 16

6. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 17

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 18

...Additional Safety Precautions . 19

Additional Information About Your

.................................Seat Belts . 20

..Seat Belt System Components . 20

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 21

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 21

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 22

Additional Information About

...........................Your Airbags . 23

......Airbag System Components . 23

How Your Front Airbags

.........................................Work . 25

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 28

How your Side Curtain Airbags

.........................................Work . 30

..How the SRS Indicator Works . 30

How the Side Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 31

How the Passenger Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 31

.............................Airbag Service . 32

...Additional Safety Precautions . 33

Protecting Children General

All Children Must Be

−

................................Guidelines . 34

...............................Restrained . 34

All Children Should Sit in a

.................................Back Seat . 35

The Passenger’s Front Airbag

If You Must Drive with Several

...................................Children . 37

If a Child Requires Close

..................................Attention . 37

Protecting Infants and Small

...................................Children . 39

.......................Protecting Infants . 39

.....................Selecting a Child Seat . 41

....................Installing a Child Seat . 42

...............................With LATCH . 43

..............................With a Tether . 48

...............Checking Seat Belt Fit . 51

..................Using a Booster Seat . 52

When Can a Larger Child Sit in

.........................................Front . 53

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 55

...................................Safety Labels . 56

.........Can Pose Serious Risks . 35

...Additional Safety Precautions . 38

.........Protecting Small Children . 40

.........With a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 46

...........Protecting Larger Children . 51

...Additional Safety Precautions . 54

Driver and Passenger Safety

5

Important Safety Precautions

2009 Ridgeline

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

You’ll find many saf ety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Therecommendationsonthispage
are the ones we consider to be the
most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags are
designed to supplement seat belts,
not replace them. So even though
your vehicle is equipped with airbags,
make sure you and your passengers
always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly (see page ).16

6

Restrain All Children

Children age 12 and under should
ride properly restrained in a back
seat, not the front seat. Infants and
smallchildrenshouldberestrained
in a child seat. Larger children
should use a booster seat and a lap/
shoulder belt until they can use the
belt properly without a booster seat
(see pages ).

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to f ollow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with

−

34 54

every additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your friends
drink and drive, either.

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 current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.While airbags can save lives, they

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 (see page ).

348

(7)

2009 Ridgeline

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(9)

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Your vehicle is equipped with many

(1)

(5)

(4)

(8)

(3)(10)

(2)

(11)

(6)

(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats and Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Front Airbags
(8) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(9) Door Locks
(10) Side Airbags
(11) Side Curtain Airbags

(10)

(2)

features that work together to
protect you and your passengers
during a crash.

Some features do not require any
action on your part. These include a
strong steel framework that forms a
safety cage around the passenger
compartment, front and rear crush
zones, a collapsible steering column,
and tensioners that tighten the front
seat belts in a crash.

However, you and your passengers
can’t take full advantage of these
features unless you remain sitting in
a proper position and

your seat belts

features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.

The f ollowing pages explain how you
cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting
yourself and your passengers.

. In fact, some safety

always wear

Driver and Passenger Safety

7

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

2009 Ridgeline

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Seat Belts

Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.

The pickup bed is not equipped with
seats or seat belts. Do not let anyone
ride in the pickup bed as they can
easily be thrown out and be killed or
seriously injured.

Your seat belt system also includes
an indicator on the instrument panel
and a beeper to remind you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts.

Allowing passengers to ride in
the pickup bed or on the tailgate
can result in death or serious
injury in a crash.

Make sure all passengers ride
in a seat and wear a seat belt
properly.

8

Why Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most
effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand
larger children. (Infants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.

In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.

Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.

Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle’s built-in safety features.

Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including:

−

frontal impacts

−

side impacts

−

rear impacts

−

rollovers

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

2009 Ridgeline

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Help keep you from being thrown
against the inside of the vehicle
and against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown out
of the vehicle.

Help keep you in a good position
should the airbags ever deploy. A
good position reduces the risk of
injury from an inflating airbag and
allows you to get the best
advantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannot
completely protect you in every
crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.

What you should do:

Always wear
your seat belt, and make sure you
wear it properly.

Airbags

Your vehicle has a supplemental
restraint system (SRS) with front
airbags to help protect the heads and
chests of the driver and a front seat
passenger during a moderate to
severe f rontal collision (see page

for more information on how

25

your front airbags work).

Your vehicle also has side airbags to
help protect the upper torso of the
driver or a front seat passenger
during a moderate to severe side
impact (see page f or more

28

information on how your side airbags
work).

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

9

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

2009 Ridgeline

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In addition, your vehicle has side
curtain airbags to help protect the
heads of the driver, f ront passenger,
and passengers in the outer rear
seating positions during a moderate
to severe side impact or rollover (see
page for more information on how

30

your side curtain airbags work).

10

The most important things you need
to know about your airbags are:

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

They are designed to supplement
the seat belts.

Airbags off er no protection in rear
impacts, or minor frontal or side
collisions.

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

To do their job, airbags must
inflate with tremendous force. So
while airbags help save lives, they
can cause minor injuries or more
serious or even fatal injuries if
occupants are not properly
restrained or sitting properly.

What you should do:

Always wear
your seat belt properly, and sit
upright and as far back from the
steering wheel as possible while
allowing full control of the vehicle. A
front passenger should move their
seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible.

The rest of this section gives more
detailed inf ormation about how you
can maximize your safety.

Remember, however, that no safety
system can prevent all injuries or
deaths that can occur in a severe
crash, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy.

Protecting Adults and Teens

2009 Ridgeline

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Introduction

The f ollowing pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver, adult passengers,
and teenage children who are large
enough and mature enough to drive
or ride in the front.

−See pages for important

347554

guidelines on how to properly
protect infants, small children, and
larger children who ride in your
vehicle.

Close and Lock the Doors1.

After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors are closed
and locked. Before driving, be sure
the tailgate is also closed.

Your vehicle has a door and

tailgate open indicator on
the instrument panel to indicate
when any door or the tailgate is not
tightly closed.

Your vehicle also has an

In-Bed Trunk open
indicator to show when the In-Bed
Trunk lid is not tightly closed (see
page ).

On models without navigation system

Your vehicle also has a

tailgate and door open
indicator on the information display
to indicate when the tailgate or a
specific door is not tightly closed.
You will see the appropriate
indicator(s) for each condition.

On models with navigation system

Your vehicle also has a tailgate, In­Bed Trunk, and door open indicator
on the multi-information display to
indicate when the tailgate, the In­Bed Trunk, or a specific door is not
tightly closed. You will see the
appropriate indicator(s) and
message(s) for each condition.

You will also hear a beep when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, and each time you open
any door, the tailgate, or the In-Bed
Trunk with the key in the ON (II)
position.

CONTINUED

11

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

2009 Ridgeline

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When one or more doors are not
tightly closed, the ‘‘DOOR OPEN’’
message will come on.

12

When the In-Bed Trunk is not tightly
closed, the ‘‘TRUNK OPEN’’
message will come on.

When the tailgate is not tightly
closed, the ‘‘TAILGATE OPEN’’
message will come on.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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When the In-Bed Trunk, tailgate,
and one or more doors are not
tightly closed, the ‘‘DOOR, TRUNK
& TAILGATE OPEN’’ message will
come on.

Locking the doors reduces the
chance of someone being thrown out
of the vehicle during a crash, and it
helps prevent passengers from
accidentally opening a door and
falling out.

Locking the doors also helps prevent
an outsider from unexpectedly
opening a door when you come to a
stop.

This vehicle has auto door locking/
unlocking features. See page for

104

how to set them.

Adjust theFront Seats2.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain full control of the vehicle.
Have a front passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.

CONTINUED

13

Protecting Adults and Teens

2009 Ridgeline

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If you sit too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard, you can be
seriously injured by an inflating front
airbag, or by striking the steering
wheel or dashboard.

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that drivers
allow at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the center of the steering
wheel and the chest. In addition to
adjusting the seat, you can adjust the
steering wheel up and down (see
page ).99

If you cannot get f ar enough away
from the steering wheel and still
reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some
type of adaptive equipment may help.

14

Sitting too close to a front
airbag can result in serious
injury or death if the front
airbags inflate.

Always sit as far back from the
front airbags as possible.

On RT and Canadian DX and VP models

Once your seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it back and forth to make sure it
is locked into position. See page

for how to adjust the front seats.

119

Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a
comfortable, upright position,
leaving ample space between your
chest and the airbag cover in the
center of the steering wheel.

Passengers with adjustable seat­backs should also adjust their seat­back to a comfortable, upright
position.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Reclining the seat-back too far
can result in serious injury or
death in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to an
upright position, and sit well
back in the seat.

Reclining a seat-back so that the
shoulder part of the belt no longer
rests against the occupant’s chest
reduces the protective capability of
the belt. It also increases the chance
of sliding under the belt in a crash
and being seriously injured. The
farther a seat-back is reclined, the
greater the risk of injury.

See page for how to adjust the
manual adjustable seat-back, and
page for the power adjustable
seat-back.

120

121

Adjust the Head Restraints4.

Adjust the driver’s head restraint so
the center of the back of your head
rests against the center of the
restraint.

restraints properly as well. Taller
persons should adjust their restraint
as high as possible.

When a passenger is seated in the
rear center seating position, make
sure the center head restraint is
adjusted to its highest position.

Improperly positioning head
restraints reduces their
effectiveness and you can be
seriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints are
in place and positioned properly
before driving.

Properly adjusted head restraints
will help protect occupants from
whiplash and other crash injuries.Have passengers adjust their head

See page for how to adjust the
head restraints and how the driver’s
and front passenger’s active head
restraints work.

123

Driver and Passenger Safety

15

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Fasten and Position the Seat

5.
Belts

Insert the latch plate into the buckle,
then tug on the belt to make sure the
belt is securely latched. Check that
the belt is not twisted, because a
twisted belt can cause serious
injuries in a crash.

16

Position the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across your hips,
then pull up on the shoulder part of
the belt so the lap part fits snugly.
This lets your strong pelvic bones
take the force of a crash and reduces
the chance of internal injuries.

If necessary, pull up on the belt again
to remove any slack, then check that
the belt rests across the center of
your chest and over your shoulder.

This spreads the forces of a crash
over the strongest bones in your
upper body.

Improperly positioning the seat
belts can cause serious injury
or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are
properly positioned before
driving.

If the seat belt touches or crosses
your neck, or if it crosses your arm
instead of your shoulder, you need to
adjust the seat belt anchor height.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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RELEASE
BUTTONS

The front seats have adjustable seat
belt anchors. To adjust the height of
an anchor, squeeze the two release
buttons, and slide the anchor up or
down as needed (it has four
positions).

Never place the shoulder portion of a
lap/shoulder belt under your arm or
behind your back.

This could cause

very serious injuries in a crash.

If a seat belt does not seem to work
as it should, it may not protect the
occupant in a crash.

No one should sit in a seat with an
inoperative seat belt.

Using a seat
belt that is not working properly can
result in serious injury or death.
Have your dealer check the belt as
soon as possible.

See page f or additional

20

information about your seat belts
and how to take care of them.

Maintain a Proper Sitting

6.
Position

After all occupants have adjusted
their seats and head restraints, and
put on their seat belts, it is very
important that they continue to sit
upright, well back in their seats, with
their feet on the floor, until the
vehicle is parked and the engine is
off .

Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward or sideways,
or puts one or both feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased.

CONTINUED

17

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

2009 Ridgeline

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

In addition, an occupant who is out of
position in the front seat can be
seriously or f atally injured in a crash
by striking interior parts of the
vehicle or being struck by an
inflating front airbag.

Sitting improperly or out of
position can result in serious
injury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back in
the seat, with your feet on the
floor.

18

Advice for Pregnant Women

If you are pregnant, the best way to
protect yourself and your unborn
child when driving or riding in a
vehicle is to always wear a seat belt,
and keep the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across the hips.

When driving, remember to sit
upright and adjust the seat as far
back as possible while allowing full
control of the vehicle. When riding
as a front passenger, adjust the seat
as far back as possible.

This will reduce the risk of injuries
to both you and your unborn child
that can be caused by a crash or an
inflating front airbag.

Each time you have a checkup, ask
your doctor if it’s okay for you to
drive.

Protecting Adults and Teens

2009 Ridgeline

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Additional Safety Precautions

Never let passengers ride in the
area in front of a folded-uprear
seat.

If they do, they could be very

seriously injured in a crash.

Never let passengers ride in the
pickup bed.

If they do, they could
be killed or very seriously injured
in a crash.

Never let passengers ride 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.

Passengers should not stand up or
change seats while the vehicle is
moving.

A passenger who is not
wearing a seat belt during a crash
or emergency stop can be thrown
against the inside of the vehicle,
against other occupants, or out of
the vehicle.

Two people should never use the
same seat belt.

If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

Do not put any accessories on seat
belts.

Devices intended to improve
occupant comfort or reposition the
shoulder part of a seat belt can
reduce the protective capability of
the seat belt and increase the
chance of serious injury in a crash.

Do not place hard or sharp objects
between yourself and a front
airbag.

Carrying hard or sharp
objects on your lap, or driving with
a pipe or other sharp object in
your mouth, can result in injuries
if your front airbag inflates.

Keep your hands and arms away
from the airbag covers.

If your
hands or arms are close to an
airbag cover, they could be injured
if the airbag inf lates.

Do not attach or place objects on
the f ront airbag covers.

Objects on
the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’
could interfere with the proper
operation of the airbags or be
propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone if the airbags inflate.

Do not attach hard objects on or
near a door.

If a side airbag or a
side curtain airbag inflates, a cup
holder or other hard object
attached on or near the door could
be propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone.

19

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

2009 Ridgeline

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Seat Belt System Components

Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all seating positions.
The front seat belts are also
equipped with automatic seat belt
tensioners.

This system uses the same sensors
as the front airbags to monitor
whether the front seat belts are
latched or unlatched, and how much
weight is on the front passenger’s
seat (see pages and ).

instrument panel and a beeper to
remind you and your passengers to
fasten your seat belts.

This system monitors the front seat
belts. If you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position before your
seat belt is fastened, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will flash. If
your seat belt is not fastened before

27 28

The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the

20

the beeper stops, the indicator will
stop flashing but remain on.

If a front passenger does not fasten
their seat belt, the indicator will
come on about 6 seconds after the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.

If either the driver or a front
passenger does not fasten their seat
belt while driving, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will flash
again at regular intervals.

On models with navigation system

You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT
BELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER
SEAT BELT’’ message on the multi­information display (see page ).

When no one is sitting in the front
passenger’s seat, or a child or small
adult is riding there, the indicator
should not come on and the beeper
should not sound.

90

If the indicator comes on or the
beeper sounds when the driver’s seat
belt is latched and there is no front
seat passenger and no items on the
front seat, something may be
interfering with the monitoring
system. Look for and remove:

Any items under the front
passenger’s seat.

Any object(s) hanging on the seat
or in the seat-back pocket.

Any object on the f loor that is
touching the rear of the seat-back.

If no obstructions are found, have
your vehicle checked by a dealer.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

2009 Ridgeline

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The lap/shoulder belt goes over
your shoulder, across your chest,
and across your hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched (see page for how to

16

properly position the belt).

To unlock the belt, press the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide
the belt across your body so that it
retracts completely. Af ter exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.

All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move freely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.

The seat belts in all positions except
the driver’s have a lockable retractor
that must be activated to secure a
child seat (see page ).

46

If the shoulder part of the belt is
pulled all the way out, the lockable
retractor will activate. The belt will
retract, but it will not allow the
passenger to move freely.

To deactivate the lockable retractor,
unlatch the buckle and let the seat
belt fully retract. To refasten the
seat belt, pull it out only as far as
needed.

Automatic Seat Belt TensionersLap/Shoulder Belt

Driver and Passenger Safety

For added protection, the front seat
belts are equipped with automatic
seat belt tensioners. When activated,
the tensioners immediately tighten
the belts to help hold the driver and
a front passenger in position.

CONTINUED

21

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

2009 Ridgeline

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Main Menu

The tensioners are designed to
activate in any collision severe
enough to cause the front airbags to
deploy, or if a sensor detects your
vehicle is about to roll over (see page

).

30

If a side curtain airbag deploys
during a side impact, the tensioner
on that side of the vehicle will also
deploy.

The tensioners can also be activated
during a collision in which the front
airbags . In this case, the
airbags would not be needed, but the
additional restraint could be helpful.

When the tensioners are activated,
the seat belts will remain tight until
they are unbuckled.

do not deploy

22

Seat Belt Maintenance

For safety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull each belt out fully, and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
the belts retract easily. If a belt does
not retract easily, cleaning the belt
may correct the problem (see page

). Any belt that is not in good

344

condition or working properly will
not provide good protection and
should be replaced as soon as
possible.

Honda provides a limited warranty
on seat belts. See your

Warranty Information

details.

Honda

booklet for

If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
it must be replaced by the dealer. A
belt that has been worn during a
crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.

The dealer should also inspect the
anchors for damage and replace
them if needed. If the automatic seat
belt tensioners activate during a
crash, they must be replaced.

Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious
injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when
needed.

Check your seat belts regularly
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

2009 Ridgeline

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Airbag System Components

(8)

(9)

(2)

(11)

(12)

(1)

(3)

(5)

(1) Driver’s Front Airbag
(2) Passenger’s Front Airbag
(3) Control Unit
(4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(5) Side Airbags
(6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor
(7) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors
(8) Front Impact Sensors
(9) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
(10) Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors
(11) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors/OPDS Sensors Control Unit
(12) SRS Indicator
(13) Side Curtain Airbags
(14) Side Impact Sensors (First)
(15) Side Impact Sensors (Second)
(16) Roll Rate Sensor

(6)

(4)

(14)

(15)

(7)

(10)(13)

(16)

(5)

(7)

(4)

(15)

(14)

Your airbag system includes:

Two SRS (supplemental restraint
system) front airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Two side airbags, one for the
driver and one for a front
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat­backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Two side curtain airbags, one f or
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the ceiling,
above the side windows. The front
and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG’’ (see page

).

30

25

28

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

23

Additional Information About Your Airbags

2009 Ridgeline

Table Of Contents

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Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact,
side impact, or if your vehicle is
about to rollover.

Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag off (see
page ).2129

Sensors that can detect whether
the driver’s seat belt and the front
passenger’s seat belt are latched
or unlatched (see page ).

A driver’s seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will
inflate with less force (see page

).

27

20

24

Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the front passenger’s
seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs
(29 kg) or less (the weight of an
infant or small child), the
passenger’s front airbag will be
turned off (see page ).

A rollover sensor that can detect if
your vehicle is about to roll over
and signal the control unit to
deploy both side curtain airbags
and front seat belt tensioners (see
page ).

30

A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.

27

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page ).

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned off (see page ).

An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger’s
front airbag has been turned off
(see page ).

Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.

30

31

31

Additional Information About Your Airbags

2009 Ridgeline

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

How Your Front Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, sensors will
detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration.

If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will instantly
inflate the driver’s and f ront
passenger’s airbags, at the time and
with the force needed.

During a frontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the f ront airbag helps protect
your head and chest.

Although both airbags normally
inflate within a split second of each
other, it is possible for only one
airbag to deploy.

This can happen if the severity of a
collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
sufficient protection, and the
supplemental protection offered by
the airbag would be minimal.

Only the driver’s airbag will deploy if
there is no passenger in the front
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger’s
airbag off (see page ).27

Driver and Passenger Safety

After inf lating, the front airbags
immediately deflate, so they won’t
interfere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.

CONTINUED

25

Additional Information About Your Airbags

2009 Ridgeline

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

The total time for inflation and
deflation is one-tenth of a second, so
fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag’s surface.
Although the powder is not harmful,
people with respiratory problems
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.

26

Your front airbags are dual-stage
airbags. This means they have two
inflation stages that can be ignited
sequentially or simultaneously,
depending on crash severity.

more severe

In a crash, both stages
will ignite simultaneously to provide
the quickest and greatest protection.

less severe

In a crash, one stage will
ignite first, then the second stage
will ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inflation time
with a little less force.

Dual-Threshold AirbagsDual-Stage Airbags

Your front airbags are also dual­threshold airbags. Airbags with this
feature have two deployment
thresholds that depend on whether
sensors detect the occupant is
wearing a seat belt or not.

If the occupant’s belt is ,

not latched

the airbag will deploy at a slightly
lower threshold, because the
occupant would need extra
protection.

If the occupant’s belt is , the

latched

airbag will deploy at a slightly higher
threshold, when the airbag would be
needed to supplement the protection
provided by the seat belt.