2003 HONDA ELEMENT hood open

If your vehicle’s battery has run
down,youmaybeabletostartthe
engine by using a booster battery.
Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.To jump start your vehicle, f ollow
these directions closely:
Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery
(see page ). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.
Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
You cannot start a Honda with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. 1.
2.240
CONT INUED
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed285
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine.If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point, then continue driving.
The pointer of your vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange under most conditions.
Itmaygohigherif youaredrivingup
a long steep hill on a very hot day. If
it climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn of f the heating and cooling
system and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning
indicators.If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
Your vehicle can overheat for several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action. 1.
2.3.
4.
5.
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed288
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.

Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the light
does not go out within ten seconds,
turn of f the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired bef ore you can
continue driving. (Seeon page .)
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).
This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
af ter the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low f or a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows
that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action. Saf ely pull of f the road and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
Let the vehicle sit f or a minute.
Open the hood and check the oil
level (see page ). Although oil
levelandoilpressurearenot
directly connected, an engine that
is very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
1.
2.
4.
3.
162 221
301 Emergency
Towing
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed290
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the vehicle stopped.

All the electrical circuits in your
vehicle have fuses to protect them
f rom a short circuit or overload.
These f uses are located in two f use
boxes.The under-hood f use box is located
in the engine compartment on the
driver’s side. To open it, push the
tabs as shown.The interior f use box is underneath
the steering column. To remove the
f use box lid, turn the knobs
counterclockwise and pull the lid out
of its hinges.
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed295
UNDER-HOOD
TAB INTERIOR

.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 258
................................................
Hatch .89
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 81
Headlights ........................................
Aiming .258
............
Daytime Running Lights . 77
..................
High Beam Indicator . 69
........................
Reminder Beeper .76
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 258
...................................
Turning on .76
..............................
Head Restraints .94
.....................
Heating and Cooling .118
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 175
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 76
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 263
....................................
Hood Latch .237
.......................
Hood, Opening the .160 ..............................................
Horn .3,75
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch .235
.................................
Hydroplaning .190
..........................
Four-way Flashers .81
............................
Front Airbags .10, 54
.................................................
Fuel .158
......................
Fill Door and Cap .159
...........................................
Gauge .73
................
Octane Requirement . 158
...............................
Oxygenated .311
........................
Reserve Indicator .69
........................
Tank, Filling the .159
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .296
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 164
..........................................
Gasohol .311
.........................................
Gasoline .158
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 69
...........................................
Gauge .73
................
Octane Requirement . 158
........................
Tank, Filling the .159
................
Gas Station Procedures . 159
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 74
...............................................
Fuel .73
...............................
Speedometer .72
.................................
Tachometer .72 Gearshif t Lever Positions
..........
Automatic Transmission . 179
5-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .177
..............................
Glass Cleaning .272
........................................
Glove Box .91
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 304
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .83
...........................................
Switch .85
............
Timing Control System . 314
........................
Immobilizer System .84
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 65
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .34
......................................
Inf ant Seats .34
......
LATCH Anchorage System . 47
...........................
Lower Anchors .47
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 46
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 249
.........................
Normal Driving .250
.................................
Inside Mirror .106
.............................
Inspection, Tire .251
............................
Instrument Panel .65
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 77
...........................
Interior Cleaning .271
Index
G H
I
IV