Honda Tech and Ridge owner here to help.

[Jet Pack]

Originally Posted by rdharper

I have a "panic" button on the key. But other than that, how is that alarm suppose to trigger?

I thought that the red light on the dash indicates an alarm is set, but I thought that just shut-off the fuel in case of triping the "alarm", but didn't actually make noise.

I thought that "alarm" was triggered by the wrong key being inserted. But no proximity alarm, no physical detection such as a broken window.

I'm speaking of the stock alarm system... not the add-on such as the Karr system.

To my knowledge there is no difference in the alarm system between the trim levels.

Richard, I'm not sure what red light in the dash you're reffering too. There is a green key that flashes a few times when we turn the ignition off, all Ridgelines have this imobilizer feature. This works with the key as you described. Without the correct key your truck won't run for long.
The factory alarm in the RTS & RTL models have a blinking red LED by the drivers door lock (between the lock and window). When we lock our trucks the LED flashes till we unlock. If a door, trunk or the hood is opened with the alarm armed, the horn will sound for 60 or 90 sec.
I'm not sure about the panic button on your FOB. Does it set off the horn if you press it? Perhaps all R/L's have the panic button, I don't know.
Hope this info helps.

[Webwader]

There is a description of the security system in your owners manual. I know one way to set it off. Roll down your windows by hitting the remote unlock buttion twice and holding the second time. Now do something else for 30 seconds until the doors relock, then reach inside and unlock the doors with the armrest switch. System works fine! Now how do I turn the darn thing off?

[Sparkland]

Originally Posted by Webwader

There is a description of the security system in your owners manual. I know one way to set it off. Roll down your windows by hitting the remote unlock buttion twice and holding the second time. Now do something else for 30 seconds until the doors relock, then reach inside and unlock the doors with the armrest switch. System works fine! Now how do I turn the darn thing off?

Yes, my son did the exact same thing last night. He reached in to open the door through the open windows. Is there a way to close the windows with the key fob after you have opened all four windows? That would be a nice feature.

Thanks, Brad

[Webwader]

Is there a way to close the windows with the key fob after you have opened all four windows? That would be a nice feature.

No, because Honda considers that a safety issue. You can close the windows from the outside with your key by inserting it in the lock and turning to the lock position twice and holding the second time.

[Pug]

Originally Posted by Sparkland

Yes, my son did the exact same thing last night. He reached in to open the door through the open windows. Is there a way to close the windows with the key fob after you have opened all four windows? That would be a nice feature.

Thanks, Brad

I've "tested" the alarm this way, too. Scared the crap outta me late one night! Neighbors couldn't have been too pleased, either.

Check here for more info about closing the windows with the keyfob.

[3FOOT]

I know I have read about the back up circuit not being able to handle extra accessories, but I haven't seen any solutions to if you already did it, and now your truck won't come out of park! I check all of the fuses and they are fine, but my reverse lights don't work, and the truck won't come out of park. Is there something else I should be checking?

[Chuck]

3FOOT - Double check fuse 21 "IG Meter" in the left side interior kick panel fuse box.

[Pug]

Originally Posted by 3FOOT

I know I have read about the back up circuit not being able to handle extra accessories, but I haven't seen any solutions to if you already did it, and now your truck won't come out of park! I check all of the fuses and they are fine, but my reverse lights don't work, and the truck won't come out of park. Is there something else I should be checking?

How do you know your reverse lights don't work, if your truck won't come out of PARK?
Did you try the steering column "routine" mentioned in the owners manual to move the shifter?

[Webwader]

If fuse #21 is blown, the most likely cause is a bad ground to your trailer. Since fuse #21 has nothing to do with the trailer lights, it took me a while to determine that the problem was that my ground wire had come loose from the 7-pin plug. I still have no idea why it affects that fuse.

[rdharper]

Originally Posted by Jet Pack

Richard, I'm not sure what red light in the dash you're reffering too. There is a green key that flashes a few times when we turn the ignition off, all Ridgelines have this imobilizer feature. This works with the key as you described. Without the correct key your truck won't run for long.
The factory alarm in the RTS & RTL models have a blinking red LED by the drivers door lock (between the lock and window). When we lock our trucks the LED flashes till we unlock. If a door, trunk or the hood is opened with the alarm armed, the horn will sound for 60 or 90 sec.
I'm not sure about the panic button on your FOB. Does it set off the horn if you press it? Perhaps all R/L's have the panic button, I don't know.
Hope this info helps.

The green key function is the same as you describe (on the 2008RT).
Apparently the blinking red light (which is what I was describing as well), has been moved to the dash.

But as to wether the alarm goes off if a door, truck, or hood is opened.. that does not work that way on mine. First of all, it "arms" almost immediately after removing the key. If I don't lock the system after getting out, it will let me open any door, or the trunk.. or the hood. This is with the light blinking.

So the truck is protected in the sense that if wrong key is inserted, or the ignition tampered with, that alarm will go off... presumably. You can also see why I've never heard the alarm go off... given the way it arms almost immediately after withdrawing the key.

If it is supposed to work other than this way, I'd like to know... does anyone else have a 2008RT that works the way I've described? What I assumed is that if the windows and doors are locked (the alarm would be armed as described), the alarm will go off if there is an attempt to break-in. This is a reasonable way for it to work (if that is the way it does indeed work). It gives you an option if someone is trying force you to start the car, for instance. Instead of inserting the key, you press the panic button... or throw the key out the window... whatever... depends on the hypothetical situation.

Apparently there have been some changes in the 2008...with respect to how the alarm works. The key does have an elongated button, slightly depressed to keep you from accidently triggering it, which is labeled in white letters... "panic button".

But I would like to know if mine is working correctly... and standard for this model year. It is possible the alarm system on mine was modified when they put the Karr system in, which I wouldn't buy. The last thing they did when I drove off is disable that system.

The other thing I added (a week after purchase), was the Lo-jack system. But there was no change in the way the factory built system worked when that was installed... meaning it worked, and continues to work, as I described above.