2003 HONDA ELEMENT cooling

Your Vehicle at a Glance
2
POWER DOOR
LOCK SWITCHMIRROR CONTROLS
GAUGES INDICATORS (P.65)
(P.72) AUDIO SYSTEM
HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS PARKING BRAKE
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
A/T model is shown. HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.87)
(P.103) (P.160) (P.106)
(P.126,137)
(P.118) (P.111)

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side. If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system as f ollows:
Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
With the tailgate/hatch open, air
f low can pull exhaust gas into your
vehicle’s interior and create a
hazardous condition. If you must
drive with the tailgate/hatch open,
openallthewindowsandsetthe
heating and cooling system as shown
below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety60
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

Control L ocations
Inst rument s and Cont rols64
POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCHMIRROR CONTROLS AUDIO SYSTEM
PARKING BRAKE
A/T model is shown. HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
(P.87)
(P.103)
(P.160)
(P.118)(P.126,
137)
(P.106)
(P.111)

This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about
the middle of the gauge. In severe
driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the pointer may rise to the
upper white zone. If it reaches the
red (Hot) mark, pull saf ely to the
side of the road. Turn to page f or
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system.288
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Temperature Gauge
74

.....................
Heating and Cooling .118
.........
What Each Control Does . 118
............
How to Use the System . 121
..........
To Turn Everything Of f . 125
................................
Audio System .126
Audio System ..........
(Canadian DX model) . 126
....
AM/FM/CD Audio System . 126
.................
Operating the Radio . 126
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 129
..............................
Digital Clock .130
............
Audio System Lighting . 132
.........
Operating the CD Player . 132
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 134
....
CD Player Error Indications . 135
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .136 ...........
Audio System (EX model) . 137
....
AM/FM/CD Audio System . 137
.................
Operating the Radio . 138
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 141
..............................
Digital Clock .142
............
Audio System Lighting . 143
....................
Radio Frequencies . 143
........................
Radio Reception .143
.........
Operating the CD Player . 145
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 147
....
CD Player Error Indications . 148
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .149
.......
Protecting Compact Discs . 150
..................
Auxiliary Input Jack . 151
.......................
Thef t Protection .152
...............................
Cruise Control .153
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures117

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

The direction of air f low f rom the
vents in the center and each side of
the dashboard is adjustable.
To adjust the air flow from each
center vent, move the tab up-and-
down and side-to-side.To adjust the air f low f rom each side
vent,movethetabinthecenterof
each vent side-to-side, and rotate the
vent with the tab.
Each side vent can be opened and
closed with the tab underneath the
vent.
Heating and Cooling
Vent Controls
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures120
CENTER VENTS
PASSENGER’S SIDE VENT
DRIVER’S SIDE VENT
Close Open Close
Open