2003 HONDA ELEMENT steering

It is best to replace all f our tires at
thesametime.If thatisnotpossible
or necessary, then replace the two
f ront tires or the two rear tires as a
pair. Replacing just one tire can
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s han-
dling.
The tires that came with your
vehicle were selected to match the
perf ormance capabilities of the
vehicle while providing the best
combination of handling, ride
comfort,andlonglife.Youshould
replace them with radial tires of the
same size, load range, speed rating,
and maximum cold tire pressure
rating (as shown on the tire’s
sidewall). Mixing radial and bias-ply
tires on your vehicle can reduce its
braking ability, traction, and steering
accuracy.
TheABSworksbycomparingthe
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally
supplied with the vehicle. Tire size
and construction can affect wheel
speed and may cause the system to
work inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your vehicle. Re-
placement wheels are available at
your Honda dealer.
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tires
Maint enance253
Installing improper tires on your
vehicle can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash
in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this
owner’s manual.

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

µµµ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation307
Air Conditioning
Tires Alignment Fuses
Battery Lights HFC-134a (R-134a)
16.9 18.7 oz (480 530 g) SP-10
12 V 60/55 W (H4/HB2)
12 V 12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
8W
4CP
8W
5W
18 W (21 CP)
21/5 W
21 W
Refrigerant type
Charge quantity
Lubricant type
P215/70R16 99S
Size
Pressure Toe-in
Camber
Caster 1°50’1°
0°13’
0.08 in (2.0 mm) 0.0in(0mm)
Interior
Under-hood
12 V 21/5 W
12 V 3 CP
12 V 21 W
Capacity See page
299or the fuse label
attached to the inside of the fuse
box door under the steering
column.
See page 300or the fuse box
cover.
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
34 psi (235 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm)
Headlights
Front turn signal/parking
lights
Front side marker lights
Rear turn signal lights
Brake/Taillights
Back-up lights
License plate lights
Ceiling light
Spotlights
Cargo area light
High-mount brake light
45 AH/20 HR
12 V Front
Rear
Front
Rear
Front
Front/Rear
Front
Rear

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

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

CONT INUED
...............................
Interior Lights .114
........................................
Introduction .i
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 279
.......................................
Jack, Tire .277
................................
Jump Starting .285
..................................................
Keys .83
..................................
Maintenance .207
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 219
.................................
Record .217-218
......................
Required Indicator .70
..........................................
Saf ety .208
.............................
Schedule .212-216
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 66,292
...................
Manual Transmission . 176
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 232
.........................
Meters, Gauges .65, 72
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 310........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .106
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 180
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 158
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .177
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 304
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 158
.........................................
Odometer .73
...............................
Odometer, Trip .73
..............
Of f -Highway Guidelines . 200
Oil ........................
Change, How to .223
......................
Change, When to .212
......................
Checking Engine .162
..............
Pressure Indicator . 66,290
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .222
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 86
.......................
Label, Certif ication .304
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 77
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 17,50
...........
LATCH Anchorage System . 47
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .258
.......................................
Indicator .65
.........................................
Parking .76
..................................
Turn Signal .77
.....................................
Load Limit .168
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 85Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 85
............................
Fuel Fill Door .159
....................................
Glove Box .91
.................................
Power Door .87
........................................
Tailgate .90
........................
Low Coolant Level .163
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .69
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 66,290
................................
Lower Anchors .47
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 306
.........................................
Luggage .167
Index
LM K J N
O
V

ÎCONT INUED
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
.........................................
Airbags .10
..................................
Door Locks .11
..........................
Head Restraints .11
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .11
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 61
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
.....................................
Seat Belts .8, 50
...............
Additional Information . 50
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 21
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .52
.....................................
Cleaning .271
................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 17,50
................................
Maintenance .53
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .50, 67
................................
Replacement .53
...................
System Components . 50
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 21
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 17
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .92
...............................
Serial Number .304
...........................
Service Intervals .212
...........................
Service Manual .323 .........
Service Station Procedures . 159
..................
Setting the Clock . 130,142
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 178
........................
Shif t Lock Release .183
..............................
Side Airbags .10, 56
....................
Cutof f Indicator .58, 67
Side Marker Lights, Bulb ..............................
Replacement .260
...............................
Signaling Turns .77
..........................................
Skylight .107
..............
Removing and Storing . 108
.....................................
Snow Tires .254
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 268
........................
Sound System .126, 137
......................................
Spare Tire .276
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 238
....................
Specif ications Charts . 306
................................
Speed Control .153
...................................
Speedometer .72
.......................................
Spotlights .114
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 54
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 59
.............................
Airbag Service .59
How the Side Airbag Cutof f ...........
Indicator Light Works . 58
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 57How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .54
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 56
........................
SRS Components .54
.............................
SRS Indicator .57 ,67
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 86
..............
State Emissions Testing . 316
.......................
Starting the Engine .174
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .175
................
With a Dead Battery . 285
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 288
Steering Wheel ..................................
Adjustment .82
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 85
...........
Stereo Sound System . 126,137
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .266
Supplemental Restraint ................................
System .10, 54
......................................
Servicing .59
.........................
SRS Indicator .57 ,67
...................
System Components . 54
..................................
Synthetic Oil .222
Index
VII

Î
Washers, Windshield........
Checking the Fluid Level . 228
.....................................
Operation .79
.........................................
Washing .268
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 269
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 82
............
Alignment and Balance . 251
......................................
Wrench .279
Windows .....................................
Cleaning .272
................
Operating the Power . 103
...........................
Rear, Def ogger .81
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning .78
...................................
Def roster .124
.....................................
Washers .230
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .242
.....................................
Operation .78
....................................
Worn Tires .251
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 301
: U.S. and Canada only
Index
IX