2003 HONDA ELEMENT dashboard

Front airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate to
severe f rontal collision. To do this,
the passenger’s f ront airbag is quite
large, and it inf lates with tremendous
speed.
According to accident statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
saf er when they are restrained in the
back seat, not the f ront seat. The
National Highway Traf f ic Saf ety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
ages 12 and under be properly
restrained in the back seat.
In the back seat, children are less
likely to be injured by striking hard
interior parts during a collision or
hard braking. Also, children cannot
be injured by an inf lating airbag
when they ride in the back.
If you are not wearing a
seat belt in a crash, you could be
thrown f orward into the
dashboard and crush the child.
During a
crash, the belt could press deep
into the child and cause very
serious injuries. If youarewearingaseatbelt,the
child can be torn f rom your arms
during a crash. For example, if
your vehicle crashes into a parked
vehicleat30mph(48km/h),a
20-lb (9 kg) inf ant will become a
600-lb (275 kg) f orce, and you will
not be able to hold on.
CONT INUED
The Passenger’s Front Airbag
Poses Serious Risks to Children
Children Should Sit in the Back
SeatA ddit ional Precaut ions t o Parent s
Neverholdaninfantorchildonyour lap.
Never put a seat belt over yourselfand an inf ant or child.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety25

To remind you of the passenger’s
f ront airbag hazards, and that
children must be properly restrained
in the back seat, your vehicle has
warninglabelsonthedashboardand
on the driver’s and f ront passenger’s
visors. Please read and f ollow the
instructions on these labels.To remind you of the f ront airbag
hazards, your vehicle has warning
labels on the driver’s and f ront
passenger’s visors. Please read and
f ollow the instructions on these
labels.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Protecting Children
U.S. Models
Canadian Models
27

Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Two f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’
Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page ).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, and driver and
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is ON (II). If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inf late the
front airbags and activate the
automatic seat belt tensioners. Your vehicle is equipped with dual-
stage, dual-threshold airbags to help
reduce the chance of airbag-caused
injuries.
52 57
SRS Components
How Your Front A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety54

These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels caref ully.
If a label comes of f or becomes hard
to read, contact your Honda dealer
f or a replacement.
CONT INUED
U.S. models onlyU.S. models
Canadian modelsU.S. models only
Saf ety L abels
Driver and Passenger Saf ety61
SUN VISOR
DASHBOARD

Î
Î
Thetwoleversonthesteering
column contain controls f or driving
f eatures you use most of ten. The lef t
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
The hazard warning lights switch is
on the dashboard beside the shif t
lever.
The control under the lef t air vent is
f or the cruise control.
The tilt adjustment lever on the
underside of the steering column
allows you to tilt the steering wheel.
:
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols75
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/
WASHERS
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS
(P.76,
77)
(P.78,79) SHIFT LEVER (A/T)
HAZARD WARNING
LIGHTS
A/T model is shown. CRUISE CONTROL (P.179)
(P.81)
(P.153)
HORN
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
(P.81)
TILT ADJUSTMENT
(P.82)

Your vehicle has one or two
accessory power sockets, depending
on the model. All models have a
f ront accessory power socket on the
dashboard above the glove box.
To use the accessory power socket,
pull up the cover.The EX model has another
accessory power socket in the cargo
area on the right side.These sockets are intended to supply
power f or 12 volt DC accessories
that are rated 120 watts or less (10
amps). To power an accessory, the
ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).
They will not power an automotive
type cigarette lighter element.
When both sockets are being used,
the combined power rating of each
accessory should be 120 watts or less
(10 amps).
On EX models
A ccessory Power Socket s
Inst rument s and Cont rols113

Proper use of the Heating and
Cooling system can make the
interior dry and comf ortable, and
keep the windows clear f or the best
visibility.
Turning this dial clockwise increases
the f an’s speed, which increases air
flow.
Turning this dial clockwise increases
the temperature of the air flow.This button controls the source of
the air going into the system. When
the indicator in this button is lit, air
f rom the vehicle’s interior is sent
through the system again (Recircula-
tion mode). When the indicator is off,
air is brought in f rom outside the
vehicle (Fresh Air mode).
This button turns the rear window
def ogger on and of f (see page ).Use the MODE control dial to select
the vents the air flows from. Some
air will f low f rom the dashboard
vents in all modes.
This button turns the air condi-
tioning ON and OFF. The indicator
in the button lights when the A/C is
on. 81
On U.S. EX models, and Canadian DXand EX models
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Heating and Cooling
What Each Control Does
Fan Control Dial
T emperature Control Dials
Air Conditioning (A/C) Button Recirculation Button
Rear Window Def ogger ButtonMode Control Dial
118
FAN CONTROL
DIAL
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL DIAL
MODE CONTROL DIAL
RECIRCULATION
BUTTON AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
BUTTON

In these two modes, the A/C stays
on, but the indicator in the A/C
button stays off.
When you select or ,
the system automatically switches to
Fresh Air mode and turns on the
A/C.
Air f lows f rom the def roster
vents at the base of the windshield. Air f low is divided between
the f loor vents and the def roster
vents at the base of the windshield. Air f lows f rom the f loor
vents. Air f low is divided between
the vents in the dashboard and the
f loor vents. Air flows from the center
and side vents in the dashboard. The system automatically
turns on the A/C and switches to
Recirculation mode. Air f lows f rom
the center and side vents in the
dashboard.
EX models
EX models
Heating and Cooling
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures119