Reducing car emissions has become a priority in the fight against air pollution. This has led to increased automotive innovations to help reduce car emissions. For example, to reduce unnecessary emissions, the Honda Ridgeline is equipped with Idle Stop, which automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped for more than 2 seconds.
Keep reading to learn more about the Honda ridgeline’s emissions system and how to fix it.
What does it mean when the emissions system light comes on?
If the car is running smoothly and showing no problems other than the Emissions Light coming on, the problem could be with the sensor that triggers the light. When an Emissions Light comes on, it is due to either a sensor or a problem with the exhaust gas recirculation valve.
It is also possible to have a vacuum hose that has become disconnected or has developed cracks. The lit emission light on a car can mean many different things. Though there is not much risk with the light coming ON, you should not ignore what your car’s system is trying to tell you.
Before you know about the safety of driving with the emissions light “ON,” it is essential to understand why the light popped up. Here are some reasons;
Sensor Error
When the emission light comes “ON,” but there are no interruptions in how your car operates, the sensor has an issue. This, in turn, means that there are no potential risks that you have to look after. But unfortunately, a common system failure leads to the dashboard light malfunctioning.
To be on the safer side, it is always recommended to visit a mechanic. However, sometimes there could be some internal issues that may go unnoticed by the eye. In that case, a vehicles expert would be the right person to contact. These professionals can help you unravel the mystery behind the glowing emissions light.
Faulty Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve
The Exhaust gas recirculation valve or the EGR help circulate the exhaust gas from the engine back for combustion again. The valve ensures that the fuel gets entirely utilized, and the exhaust gasses exit into the environment diminishes. In simple words, the EGR helps regulate the car’s emissions into the atmosphere.
When the EGR system turns faulty for one reason, the emissions control lamp is likely to turn ON. That is why it is essential to visit a mechanic who would inspect the system and replace the EGR valve if required.
Malfunctioning Vacuum Hose
A rubber tube connection that attaches a manifold vacuum to various components in a car is a vacuum hose. One component holds the capability to power car components, calling the need for installation of many of them. As the vacuum is a rubber component, one should know that it may develop cracks or even get disconnected.
This can be another reason why the emission control system’s warning light lights up. Though there wouldn’t be much risk if the vacuum hose malfunctions, replacing it should never be overlooked. Consider replacing vacuum hoses when the emission icon lighting up is accompanied by engine speed fluctuations or you notice a dwindling fuel mileage.
What causes the emissions light to come on?
There are several different possible triggers for illuminated engine light. The following are some of the most frequent causes;
Emissions system fault
Your emissions control monitors the volume of carbon monoxide that your vehicle emits while in motion. This is something that people are becoming increasingly aware of by opting for more eco-friendly vehicles to reduce their carbon footprint.
A component of this is the oxygen sensor, which can sense if the engine is burning too much or not enough fuel. This can trigger the Check Engine Light to indicate that the car is running too rich or lean. It may also denote an issue with the oxygen sensor itself.
Blocked diesel particulate filter
This function measures how easily gas can travel through the exhaust. As this gas moves through the system, it must pass through the particulate filter, removing harmful particles from the exhaust. It does this by oxidizing the particles into a fine ash.
The Check Engine Light may illuminate if this process fails somehow or if the filter becomes blocked.
Mass airflow sensor fault
The engine control unit calculates how much fuel to add to the combustion chambers based on the mass airflow sensor data.
This sensor gathers information from an air filter, which can damage the sensor if incorrectly installed or clogged. If this is the case, the Check Engine Light will appear.
Ignition system fault
Responsible for burning the fuel that starts an engine is the ignition system. Faults with components such as glow plugs, spark plugs, and coil cylinders can all be indicated by the Check Engine Light. These faults are known as ‘misfires,’ and repair often involves getting replacements.
What to do if your emission light comes on
The check engine light, which signifies several possible issues, including emissions, is the most common.
The Check Engine Light illuminates after being prompted by the engine control unit that manages the engine. For example, if the control unit determines that something in your engine is not functioning properly, it will signal to light up the symbol on the dashboard.
Here are some things you can do to try and solve the issue;
1. Check for additional problems
Check that no other symbols on your dashboard indicate additional problems, such as low oil pressure or overheating. Pull your vehicle over, shut the engine off, and contact a roadside service if this is the case.
2. Check the gas cap
Tighten or replace your gas cap as sometimes a broken or loose rubber seal can trigger the light to come on.
3. Reduce pressure
If you think your vehicle feels different on the road, especially if the performance has decreased, reduce your speed and avoid transporting heavy goods.
4. Check whether the engine light is constant or flashing
A solid glow tells you that you should have your vehicle inspected soon. However, a blinking Check Engine Light is a greater cause for concern and indicates that your vehicle should be inspected by a professional immediately.
Is It Safe To Drive With Emissions Light ON?
It is safe to drive with an amber Check Engine Light glowing on your dashboard, especially if you cannot detect any problems with the car’s smooth operation. However, it’s always best to find why the light came on in the first place. If you cannot do so, hire a professional to troubleshoot and diagnose the problem.
If the Check Engine Light glows up in red, that is a greater cause for concern, and you should pull over where appropriate and arrange for immediate inspection. On the other hand, get it checked if the car faces problems with mileage, speed, power, and responds slowly to the throttle input.
What is the Honda emissions system service?
The Emission System helps the engine run efficiently and as cleanly as possible while helping contain dangerous exhaust fumes. The Emission System relies on a series of sensors, computerized control unit, and exhaust components such as the catalytic converter.
The most significant benefit of an Emission System at peak performance is preventing pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides from entering the atmosphere.
Therefore, Honda recommends routine inspections of the Emission System to ensure that vital components are not worn or defective.
Honda clarity emissions system problems
An Emissions System Problem message on your dashboard is a common problem on Honda Pilot cars, which generally can be fixed by changing your fuel injectors.
The warning message usually shows around 40,000 – 60,000 miles, and sometimes even earlier. While there has been no recall from Honda addressing the problem yet, dealerships are aware of the issue.
Common Signs of Emission Control System Failure
Here are the main signs of ECS failure;
Check Engine Light
The ECS does not have a dashboard warning light, so your vehicle’s computer turns on the Check Engine Light when something is wrong with the emissions. Of course, the Check Engine Light might turn on for no reason; it’s just an electrical fluke.
The light covers a lot of problems, though. So, it’s good to bring your vehicle in for a diagnostic check to find out why it came on.
Increased Gas Consumption
Your vehicle’s emissions system affects your fuel economy, and if your car, truck, or crossover has suddenly become a gas guzzler, you might have an issue with the ECS. The ECS limits gas vapor loss, i.e., it seals the gasoline in the tank and engine so it doesn’t evaporate.
If there isn’t a proper vacuum seal, the gas in your tank will evaporate. Some ECS problems can also make your engine burn more fuel.
Loss of Engine Performance
You know how your European automobile’s engine performs, and any performance loss is a sign of trouble. Unfortunately, a loss of engine performance doesn’t point to the emission control system alone.
Nearly all of your vehicle’s systems affect engine performance, including the combustion, fuel, and ignition systems. Even transmission problems can affect your engine’s performance, so have the problem checked ASAP.
Gasoline Smell
You should not be able to smell gasoline on the inside or outside of your vehicle. This is a dangerous sign of an emission control system or other system failures.
Vehicle emissions are treated to ensure carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases are converted to safer gases before being released into the environment. If you smell gasoline inside your car’s cabin or outside of it, you’ve got an emissions problem.
What is the most common cause for Honda Ridgeline emissions system failures?
The fuel injectors are the most common cause of emissions problems. A low level of emissions is directly influenced by the fuel injection system, which, the main purpose is to deliver fuel at high pressure into the engine’s cylinders.
Fuel injection provides a continuously adjustable air/fuel mixture that changes engine speed, load, throttle position, air temperature, coolant temperature, and other operating conditions. This allows EFI to provide an Air/Fuel (A/F) ratio that minimizes emissions while maximizing fuel economy.
The changes in fuel trim are based on what the oxygen sensors are telling the engine computer. Unfortunately, any number of things can create inaccurate oxygen sensor readings. For example, a misfiring spark plug, a leaky exhaust valve, or an air leak in the exhaust manifold gasket can allow false air into the exhaust.
This will cause the O2 sensor to read leaner than it should, which in turn will cause the computer to richen the fuel mixture unnecessarily and increase the fuel trim numbers. This can hurt both fuel economy and emissions.
Conversely, if an old oxygen sensor is sluggish, contaminated, unresponsive, or dead, it may underreport exhaust oxygen levels. This will mislead the computer into thinking the mixture is richer than it is.
The computer will lean out the mixture unnecessarily, causing the fuel trim numbers to go negative. An overly lean A/F mixture will increase NOx emissions, increase the risk of detonation (spark knock), and increase the risk of lean misfire, which will cause a drop in performance and fuel economy and a big jump in hydrocarbon emissions.
What are the signs of faulty fuel injectors?
To ensure that faulty fuel injectors cause your problem, here are some of the common signs of fuel injectors going bad.
The car has a rough idle
While in traffic or at a stoplight, you might feel the car shake and sputter. The fuel injectors might not be delivering the right amount of fuel, causing the engine to vibrate.
Poor fuel economy
Your MPG can drop due to faulty injectors, as the ECU is asking for more fuel to be delivered but does not receive it. The less fuel gets to the combustion chamber, the worse your MPG will be. If you would like to read more about what MPG is, check out my article on what DTE means.
Check Engine Light
As the injector stops spraying the right amount of fuel, your Check Engine warning light will come on, indicating a problem with the engine. As soon as you the Emissions System Problem message, you probably notice the Check Engine Light is on.
Engine misfire
You may notice a delay when you hit the gas pedal, or it misfires. As the fuel injectors cannot deliver enough fuel, the mix of fuel and air in your combustion chamber will become unbalanced, causing your engine to misfire.
Difficulties when starting the car
If the fuel injectors cannot deliver enough gasoline to the engine, you might have difficulty starting the car.
Honda Ridgeline Emission System Diagnosis & Testing Cost
The average cost for a Honda Ridgeline emission system diagnosis & testing is between $44 and $56. Labor costs are estimated between $44 and $56. This range does not include taxes and fees and does not factor in your specific model year or unique location. Related repairs may also be needed.
How to fix Honda emissions system failures
Cleaning your fuel injectors might make the warning message disappear for a couple of weeks, as this still does not fix the underlying issue. Several emission control systems on your car engine help reduce the number of poisonous gases that otherwise would be released into the atmosphere.
In large quantities, hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxide of nitrogen (NOx), and other combustion-engine pollutants cause great damage to the environment, humans, animals, and plants if they are exposed to them. This is why it is important to keep emission control systems in your vehicle working properly.
Follow these steps to fix your emissions system;
Air filter Repair
Check the air filter on the air cleaner system. This special paper element helps filter dirt, dust, and other foreign particles from the air stream going into the engine. Replace the filter if clogged or after one year of use. Also, clean the air filter housing of dust and debris using a clean shop rag.
Ventilation Repair
Inspect the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system. This system redirects blowby gases in the crankcase into the intake manifold to reduce air pollution and sludge build-up in the engine. Check the PCV valve and look for clogged, broken, or missing hoses.
Emissions Control Repair
Examine the Evaporative Emissions Control (EVAP) system. The EVAP prevents toxic fuel system vapor from going into the atmosphere. For the most part, this system requires very little maintenance, but you should inspect hoses, fittings, and canisters for possible damage. On some vehicle models, the canister is equipped with a filter that can be replaced if black or clogged.
Exhaust Repair
Go over the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system. The system reduces NOx emissions produced when very high temperatures exist during the combustion process. The EGR allows exhaust gases to enter the intake system to reduce combustion temperature. Look for vacuum hoses damage, valve operation, restricted pipe, and passages.
Air Injection System Repair
Check the Air Injection System if your particular vehicle model is equipped with it. The system injects fresh air into the exhaust ports or catalytic converter to help consume unburned or partially burned fuel, reducing HC and CO. Inspect for damaged hoses, lines, check valves, and belt tension. Some air injection systems use a pump inlet filter that can be replaced.
Catalytic Converter Repair
Inspect the catalytic converter and connecting pipes. The converter does not require maintenance, but exhaust pipes and connectors leading to the converter should be checked for leaks. If the catalytic converter in your vehicle has been in operation for five or more years, have it inspected to make sure it is still in good shape and not blocked. A clogged converter reduces engine power and causes overheating.
How to reset an emission warning light
You should take your car to a garage, which will give it a full examination, solve the problem and turn off the light. If the light doesn’t turn off automatically, then you can try the following methods. You must get the problem fixed rather than simply resetting your light without looking into any potential causes.
The easiest method to reset the Check Engine Light is to drive your car as you normally would and let the light turn off naturally by itself. Then, if it hasn’t turned off after three days, turn the car on and off three times consecutively.
If the Check Engine Light isn’t turning off, disconnect and reconnect the battery. While the engine is not running, use a wrench to disconnect the positive power cable and leave it for 20 minutes. Turn the key in the ignition to the ‘ON’ position. Reconnect the positive battery cable and turn the key in the ignition; wait a few minutes, and the Check Engine Light should be gone.
If neither of these methods works, it’s best to take your vehicle into a garage so that a professional can reset your light. They will also run proper diagnostics and find the exact cause behind it illuminating in the first place and determine if there are any issues with your car.
How to prevent Honda Ridgeline emissions system failure
While some mechanics recommend always using premium gasoline for the higher octane, engines running on higher octane gasoline will be more efficient and emit fewer emissions.
Using premium fuel will only delay the issue, becoming a problem if your car runs out of the warranty limits.
Achieving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions is dependent on several factors, including driving conditions, load weight, idling time, driving habits, and vehicle condition. Depending on these and other factors, you may not achieve the rated fuel economy of this vehicle.
Fueling Tips
Use the proper fuel and refueling procedure to ensure your vehicle’s best performance and safety.
- Use of unleaded gasoline of 87 octanes or higher is recommended.
- Use high-quality gasoline-containing detergent additives that help prevent fuel system and engine deposits.
- Honda recommends TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline where available.
- Do NOT use gasoline containing more than 15% ethanol.
- Do NOT use gasoline containing methanol.
- Do NOT use gasoline containing MMT.
Note: To maintain good performance, fuel economy, and emissions control, use gasoline that does NOT contain harmful manganese-based fuel additives such as MMT if such gasoline is available.
How To Reduce Your Car’s Emissions
Are you interested in becoming an environmentally friendly motorist? Here are some other methods you can use to reduce your car’s emissions;
Use fuel additive
If you drive a new diesel car, the chances are that you will have an extra reservoir next to your fuel tank for AdBlue. This is a form of additive which breaks down harmful chemicals in the engine so that gases from the tailpipe are cleaner.
You won’t need to worry too much if you drive a petrol car either because there are separate mixtures designed to be used for these engines. Unlike AdBlue, which needs to be added to the car regularly for a car to comply with emissions standards, petrol fuel injector cleaner is optional. However, using it will greatly improve your vehicle’s efficiency while reducing its nasty releases from the exhaust.
Carbon and ethanol are two of the biggest culprits escaping the combustion process. But universal products such as Redex can be bought online or at your local auto store for little cost.
Note: Fuel additive should be used approximately every three months to maintain your vehicle’s upkeep.
Regularly check tire pressure
Under-inflated tires can contribute massively to higher fuel consumption. In addition, your car will be producing more CO2 the longer you ride on them. Therefore, check the pressure of all tires at least once a month and before every long journey.
You can find out what PSI (pounds per square inch) is required for the front and rear tires online or in the vehicle handbook. There should also be a guide to how much pressure you need when carrying more passengers and luggage.
Use premium fuel
Although you’ll pay slightly more (10p-30p per liter) when filling your car with premium fuel, its contents will reduce its emissions over time.
You’ll usually identify the better-quality petrol and diesel fuels by the label. Names such as ‘ultimate,’ ‘premium,’ and ‘supreme’ with lots of ‘+’ symbols are typical indicators of getting more bang for your buck.
The difference between the two types is higher octane (petrol fuel performance) and cetane (diesel fuel performance) ratings. This means that your car will get more miles to the gallon while your engine is also cleaned and protected better.
Note: You don’t need to fill up with premium fuel to see the benefits constantly. Try it occasionally and measure how your car performs compared to standard fuels.
Do not let your car idle
Idling in a car is when the engine is left running while stuck in traffic or parked, for example. Although most modern cars have intelligent stop/start ignition functions which automatically shut down the engine when it’s not being used, this won’t apply to those of you with older vehicles.
You can reduce emissions by turning the engine off if you find yourself in gridlock traffic or even a longer-than-usual wait at a set of lights. Turn your engine off if you’re waiting for 10 seconds or longer. In modern cars that have idle stop and go, the time to automatically kill the engine when you stop is almost instant.
Change your driving style
There are several ways to change your driving style to reduce your car’s emissions. Here are just a few.
- Keep revs down.
- Brake sooner and less harshly.
- Change gear earlier.
- Keep speeding limits.
These changes won’t just help you keep safe behind the wheel but will burn less fuel and emit less from the exhaust.
Change your engine oil regularly
A well-lubricated engine is vital to increase the longevity of your car, which is exactly what engine oil does. Essentially, it prevents the moving pistons and cylinders from overheating, which prevents wear and tear that can drastically increase the inefficiency of your car. As such, CO2 emissions can also increase as a result.
It takes minutes to check what level of oil is in your engine. First, open the bonnet, and unscrew the dipstick, often a yellow/brightly colored handle. Wipe it clean with a rag and re-insert, then remove it, ensuring the level is between the ‘min’ and ‘max’ points.
If there’s not enough oil, check which type your vehicle takes and add more before rechecking the levels. You may need to bleed the engine if there’s too much oil.
Service your car regularly
Regular vehicle checks on vital components such as oil, brake fluid level, and tire pressure will ensure that your car is kept in good condition and won’t produce higher emissions from running inefficiently.
Do not ignore warning lights
Keep an eye on your vehicle’s dashboard for signs of any warning lights that could indicate problems with important components such as the engine, brakes, and oil level. These are good indicators to determine when your car needs to be booked in for a service.
Improve your car’s aerodynamics
This doesn’t necessarily mean making expensive upgrades like adding spoilers, adding carbon fiber trim packs to the body, etc. Instead, there are easier, cheaper ways to ensure your vehicle doesn’t have a lot of drag, which causes more fuel to be burnt and increases emissions.
Here are just a few ways you can make your car more aero.
- Remove any roof racks/bars when they aren’t being used.
- Keep the windows closed and use the A/C to regulate the temperature in the car, especially at higher speeds.
- Changing your air filter regularly
This allows the engine to breathe but can clog up if left and not replaced (usually, every 15,000-30,000 miles is the typical lifespan of a filter), which can cause wear and tear problems that increase vehicle emissions.
What Honda Ridgeline model year has the most emissions system problems?
The Honda ridgeline models with the most emissions problems include;
- 2013
- 2017
- 2018