2003 HONDA ELEMENT brake fluid

The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement. However, the use of
any non-Honda brake fluid can cause
corrosion and decrease the lif e of the
system. Have the brake system
f lushed and ref illed with Honda
Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 as
soon as possible.
Check the f luid level in the reser-
voirs monthly. There are up to two
reservoirs, depending on the model.
They are:
Brake f luid reservoir (all models)
Clutch f luid reservoir
(manual transmission only)
The brake f luid should be replaced
according to the time recommenda-
tion in the maintenance schedule. Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage.Brake System
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Maint enance234
MIN
MAX

Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering f luid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently, and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The f luid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
f luid to the UPPER LEVEL.
The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If it is not, add
brake f luid to bring it up to that level.
Use the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
Low f luid level can indicate a leak in
the clutch system. Have this system
inspected as soon as possible. Power Steering
Clutch System
Brake and Clutch Fluid, Power Steering
Maint enance235
LOWER LEVEL
MAX
MIN UPPER LEVEL
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.

CONT INUED
BatteryCharging System ...........................
Indicator .66, 291
............................
Jump Starting .285
..............................
Maintenance .240
............................
Specif ications .307
..............................
Bef ore Driving .157
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,50
.........................
Beverage Holders .110
.................................
Body Repairs .274 Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 186
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 158
....................
Bulb Replacement .261
...........................................
Fluid .234
.......................................
Parking .111
.................
System Indicator . 66,294
........................
Wear Indicators .185
.............................
Braking System .185
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 158
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 77
........................
Brights, Headlights .76
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .261
..............................
Brake Lights .261
......................
Cargo Area Light .265
..............................
Ceiling Light .264
................
Front Parking Lights . 259
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 260
.................................
Headlights .258
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 263
...........................
Interior Lights .264
.................
License Plate Lights . 262
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 165
................................
Accessories .165
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 166
............................
Modif ications .166
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .86
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 113
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 222
.............................
Airbag (SRS) .10, 54
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .236
..............
Air Conditioning System . 118
..............................
Maintenance .245
.........................................
Usage .118
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .120
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .249
.........................
Normal Driving .250
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .311
......................................
Antif reeze .225
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .68, 188
...................................
Operation .186
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 152
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock .85 ..........................
Appearance Care .267
...................
Armrest, Driver’s Seat . 93
................................
Audio System .126
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 52
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 153
..............
Automatic Transmission . 178
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .306
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 231
.......................................
Shif ting .179
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 178
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 179
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 183
Index
A
B
I

ÎÎ
Bulb Replacement
............................
Specif ications .307
...................................
Spotlights .264
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 259
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .258
............................
Capacities Chart .306
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 60
..........................
Cargo Area Light .115
.................................
Cargo Hooks .170
.............................
Carrying Cargo .167
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..........................
CD Changer .134, 147
..............................
CD Player .132, 145
...............................
Ceiling Pocket .112
........................
Certif ication Label .304
............................................
Chains .255
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .277
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 227
.................................
Changing Oil .223
........................................
How to .223
......................................
When to .212
...
Charging System Indicator . 66,291
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 173.....................................
Child Saf ety .24
.......................................
Child Seats .29
......
LATCH Anchorage System . 47
...........................
Lower Anchors .47
............
Tether Anchorage Point . 46
....................
Cleaner Element, Air . 236
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels .269
......................................
Exterior .268
.........................................
Fabric .271
..........................
Floor Covering .271
.......................................
Interior .271
...................................
Seat Belts .271
...........................................
Vinyl .271
....................................
Windows .272
.................
Clock, Setting the . 130,142
...................................
Clutch Fluid .235
........................
CO in the Exhaust .312
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 175
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 320
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 63
Coolant ........................................
Adding .225
....................................
Checking .163
.........................
Proper Solution .225
...................................
Replacing .227 ...................
Temperature Gauge . 74
....................
Corrosion Protection .273
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .313
............
Cruise Control Operation . 153
........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 320
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
.......................................
Dashboard .64
................
Daytime Running Lights . 77
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 322
........................
Def og and Def rost .124
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 81
..............
Def rosting the Windows . 124
....................................
Dimensions .306
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 76
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 231
..................................
Engine Oil .162
..........................
Directional Signals .77
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 185
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .224
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 87
Index
C
D
II

CONT INUED
......................
Power Door Locks .87
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 308
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission .176
.......................................
Drive Belt .248
...........................................
Driving .171
....................................
Economy .164
.........................
In Bad Weather .189
................
In Foreign Countries . 312
........................
Driving Guidelines .172
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 246
..............................
Economy, Fuel .164
............
Emergencies on the Road . 275
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 285
...........
Brake System Indicator . 294
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 277
.....
Charging System Indicator . 291
..................
Checking the Fuses . 296
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 290
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 292
..................
Overheated Engine . 288
.........................
Emergency Brake .111
......................
Emergency Flashers .81 ......................
Emergency Towing .301
.......................
Emissions Controls .313
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 316
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 74
...................................
Drive Belt .248
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 177,182
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .66, 292
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 66,290
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 221
...............................
Overheating .288
............................
Specif ications .306
.......................................
Starting .174
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .311
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 313
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .60
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .21
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 268
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .271
...................................
Fan, Interior .118 Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience .117
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 159
Filters ................................
Air Cleaner .236
.........................
Dust and Pollen .246
...............................................
Oil .223
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 232
................................
Shif ting the .176
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 81
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 277
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 231
..........................................
Brake .234
.........................................
Clutch .235
..............
Manual Transmission . 232
..........................
Power Steering .235
.......................
Rear Differential .233
..................
Windshield Washer . 230
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .143
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .99
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 312
Index
E
F
III

Î
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor....................................
Recovery .313
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 312
............................
Outside Mirrors .106
.......................................
Overdrive .181
....................
Overheating, Engine .288
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 219
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .311
..............................
Paint Touch-up .270
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 77
........................
Park Gear Position .179
...........................................
Parking .184
...............................
Parking Brake .111
Parking Brake and Brake .................
System Indicator . 66,294
.................................
Parking Lights .76
Parking Over Things that ....................................
Burn .184, 314
.............................
PGM-FI System .314
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 269
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 12
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 21
............................
Protecting Adults .13 ...
Additional Safety Precautions . 22
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 21
........................
Protecting Children .24
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .34
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 42
.........
Protecting Small Children . 38
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .46
.............................
Using LATCH .47
...................
Radiator Overheating . 288
.....
Radio/CD Sound System . 126,137
...........................
Readiness Codes .293
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid . 233
.......................................
Rear Doors .88
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 261
............................
Rear Seat Access .95
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding .99
..........................
Rear View Mirror .106
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 81
.
Rear Window Wiper and Washer . 80
...............
Reclining the Seat-Backs . 92
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 177
.............................
Reminder Lights .65 ............
Removing the Rear Seats . 101
Replacement Inf ormation .................
Air Cleaner Element . 236
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 246
..........................
Engine Coolant .227
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 223
..........................................
Fuses .296
................................
Light Bulbs .258
....................................
Schedule .210
................................
Spark Plugs .238
...........................................
Tires .253
.............................
Wiper Blades .242
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .53
Reserve Tank, Engine ...............................
Coolant .163, 225
...............................
Restraint, Child .24
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 180
...........................
Reverse Lockout .183
................................
Rotation, Tire .252
..................................
Saf ety Belts .8, 50
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 322
...........
Saf ety Checklist, Pre-Drive . 12
Index
R
P
S
VI

Service Inf ormat ion Summary
Gasoline:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:5-speed Manual Transmission
Fluid:
Rear Differential Fluid:Brake Fluid:
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Automatic Transmission Fluid: Power Steering Fluid:SpareTirePressure:
15.9 US gal (60
)
Unleaded gasoline, pump octane
number of 86 or higher.
Capacity (including differential): 32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ).
2.0 US qt (1.9
)
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page ).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
4.4 US qt (4.2
)
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) preferred, or
aDEXRON
III ATF as a
temporary replacement (see page ). Honda Dual Pump Fluid. Do not
use ATF (see page ).
Capacity:
1.1 US qt (1.0
)
Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page ). Honda Manual Transmission
Fluid preferred, or an SAE 10W-30
or 10W-40 motor oil as a
temporary replacement (see page ). Front:
Rear:34 psi (235 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm
)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
221
231 232
233
235 234