2003 HONDA ELEMENT door lock

If you leave any door open with the
keynotintheignitionswitch,the
ceiling light will go of f af ter three
minutes.
The ceiling light (with the switch in
the center position) comes on when
you remove the key f rom the ignition
switch. If you do not open a door, the
light f ades out in about 30 seconds.
The ceiling light has a three-position
switch. In the OFF position, the light
does not come on. In the center
position, the ceiling light comes on
when you open any door. Af ter all
doors are closed tightly, the light
f ades out in about 30 seconds. In the
ON position, the ceiling light stays
on continuously. The ceiling light (with the switch in
the center position) also comes on
when you unlock the door with the
key, the lock tab on the driver’s door,
or the master door lock switch. Turn on the spotlight by pushing the
lens. Push the lens again to turn it
of f . You can use the spotlights at all
times.
On EX models
Ceiling L ight Spotlights
Interior Lights
Inst rument s and Cont rols114
ON
OFF DOOR ACTIVATED

The ignition switch light comes on
when you unlock the driver’s door,
and f ades out about 30 seconds af ter
you close the door.
The cargo area light has a three-
position switch. In the OFF position,
the light does not come on. In the
center position, the light comes on
when you open the hatch. In the ON
position, the light stays on
continuously. Cargo A rea L ight
Ignition Switch L ight
Interior Lights
Inst rument s and Cont rols115
ON
OFF IGNITION SWITCH LIGHT
HATCH ACTIVATED

If a side airbag
inflates,acupholderorotherhard
object attached on or near the
door could be propelled inside the
vehicle and hurt someone.
Covering the outside edge of a
f ront seat-back, with a non-Honda
seat cover for example, could
prevent the side airbag f rom
inf lating properly.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with non-
Honda (af termarket) components
could seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, and reliability.
Some examples are:
Lowering the vehicle with an
aftermarket suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to impact speed
bumps or other raised objects,
which could cause the airbags to
deploy.
Raising the vehicle with an
af termarket suspension kit can
af f ect the handling and stability.
Af termarket wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components. Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Do not modif y your steering wheel
or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modif ications could make the
system inef f ective.
Any object
attached to or placed on the covers
marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG,’’ in the
center of the steering wheel and
on top of the dashboard, could
interf ere with the proper operation
of the airbags. Or, if the airbags
inf late, the objects could be
propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult with your Honda dealer.
Only on models equipped with side
airbagsModif ications
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Do not at t ach hard object s on ornear a f ront door.
Do not place any object s over t heoutsideedgeof afront seat-back.
Do not at t ach or place object s on the f ront airbag covers.
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving166

Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your vehicle.Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
steering wheel (see page ).Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
Start the engine (see page ).
Check the gauges and indicator
lights in the instrument panel (see
page ).
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or f astened down
securely. Make sure the doors, the hatch,
and the tailgate are securely
closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
Check that the hood, tailgate, and
hatch are f ully closed.
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
17 65
92
106 82 174
Driving
Preparing to Drive
173

µ
Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. The indicator
on the instrument panel shows that
the parking brake is not f ully
released; it does not indicate that the
parking brake is f irmly set. Make
sure the parking brake is set f irmly
or your vehicle may roll if it is
parked on an incline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park. This keeps the vehicle f rom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the curb.
If you have a manual transmission,
putitinfirstgear.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill, turn
the f ront wheels toward the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the cargo area or take them
with you. Turn of f the lights.
Lock the doors and the hatch with
the key.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire. Make sure the skylight and the
windows are closed.
Parking T ips
Driving
Parking
184

If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Nonporous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter
(see page ).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry. To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals. Support the f ront and rear wiper
blade arms with a f olded towel or
ragsotheydonottouchthe
windshield. Disconnect the battery.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse
(5-speed manual) or Park
(automatic). If possible, run the engine f or a
while periodically (pref erably once
amonth).
If you store your vehicle f or 12
months or longer, have your Honda
dealer perf orm the inspections called
f or in the 24 months maintenance
schedule (Normal Conditions) as
soon as you take it out of storage
(see page ). The replacements
called f or in the maintenance
schedule are not needed unless the
vehicle has actually reached that
time or mileage.
223
212
St oring Your Vehicle
Maint enance266

µ
µ
µ
No.Circuits Protected
Amps.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 Condenser Fan
Small Light
Interior Light
Cooling Fan Motor
Hazard
IGP
Horn, Stop
Not Used
Back Up
ABS Motor
Rear Defroster
Heater Motor
Power Window
Option
Lef t Headlight
Door Lock
Right Headlight
ABS F/S
Battery
Ignition 1
Spare Fuses
30 A
15 A
7.5 A 20 A
15 A
15 A
15 A
10 A
30 A
20 A
40 A
40 A
40 A
15 A
20 A
15 A
30 A
100 A 50 A
21 257.5A 30A
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Fuses
300
UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX

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