2003 HONDA ELEMENT fuel cap

2003 Element Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Important Handling Information........................................................................\
.............................iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.............................................2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
.........................................63
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
......................117
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................157
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
......................................................................171
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................207
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
......................................................267
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................275
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
.............................................303
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................319
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................323
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
.............................................................................. I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

CONT INUED
Remove the f uel f ill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top of f ’’ the tank, leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.
Your vehicle has an on-board
ref ueling vapor recovery system to
help keep f uel vapors f rom going
into the atmosphere. If the fuel
nozzle keeps clicking of f even
though the tank is not full, there
maybeaproblemwiththissystem.
Consult your dealer.
Because the f uel f ill cap is on the
driver’s side of the vehicle, park
with that side closest to the
service station pumps.
Open the f uel f ill door by pulling
out the notched edge.
1.
2. 3.
4.
Filling the Fuel Tank
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving159
FUEL FILL CAP
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.
Stop the engine and keep
heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.

Thediagramsinthissectiongive
you the dimensions and capacities of
your Honda, and the locations of the
identif ication numbers. It also
includes inf ormation you should
know about your vehicle’s tires and
emissions control systems.................
Identif ication Numbers . 304
................................
Specif ications .306
DOT Tire Quality Grading ......................
(U.S. Vehicles) .308
Unif orm Tire Quality ..................................
Grading .308
.................................
Treadwear .308
......................................
Traction .308
.............................
Temperature .309
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .310
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .311
......
Driving in Foreign Countries . 312.......................
Emissions Controls .313
.....................
The Clean Air Act .313
Crankcase Emissions Control ....................................
System .313
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System .313
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery .313
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls . 314
....................
PGM-FI System .314
Ignition Timing Control ................................
System .314
Three Way Catalytic ...........................
Converter .314
....................
Replacement Parts . 314
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 315
..............
State Emissions Testing . 316
T echnical Inf ormat ion
T echnical Inf ormation303

ÎÎ
ÎÎ
Î
Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation306
Dimensions
Weights
Capacities Engine
169.3 in (4,300 mm)
71.5 in (1,815 mm)
70.4 in (1,788 mm)
101.4 in (2,575 mm)
62.1 in (1,577 mm)
62.3 in (1,582 mm)
1.88 US gal (7.1
)
1.90 US gal (7.2
)
3.3 US qt (3.1
)
7.6 US qt (7.2
)
2.0 US qt (1.9
)
Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track
Gross vehicle weight rating
1.43 US gal (5.4
)
3.1 US qt (2.9
)
1.45 US gal (5.5
)
6.9 US qt (6.5
)
5.6 US qt (5.3
)
4.2 US qt (4.0)
4.4 US qt (4.2)
15.9 US gal (60
)
Fuel tank
Engine oil Type
BorexStroke
Displacement
Compression ratio
Spark plugs 9.7 : 1
144 cu-in (2,354 cm
)
3.43 x 3.90 in (87.0 x 99.0 mm) Water cooled 4-stroke DOHC
VTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine
See the certification label attached
to the driver’s doorjamb (front
edge of rear door).
See spark plug maintenance
section page 239 .
0.145 US gal (0.55
)
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity: Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.
Engine
coolant
Automatic
transmission
fluid
Manual
transmission
fluid
Rear
differential
fluid (4WD)
Windshield
washer
reservoir
4.8 US qt (4.5
)
2.6 US qt (2.5)
1.3 US qt (1.2
)
1.1 US qt (1.0)
2.4 US qt (2.3
)
2.3 US qt (2.2)
Approx.
Front
Rear
Change
Without filter
Total 1:
2:Change
Total
Change
Total
Change
4WD
2WD
Total 4WD
2WD
Change
Total 4WD
2WD
Change
Total
U.S. Vehicles
Canada
Vehicles
Automatic Transmission
Manual Transmission
1 2
2
Including filter

.............
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

Î
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 168
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .306
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 304
.............................
Vehicle Storage .266
.....................................
Ventilation .121
.................................................
VIN .304
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .271
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .222
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .273
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .275
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 308
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .158
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .271
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 224
.....................................
Tachometer .72
Tailgate ............................
Open Indicator .70
.................................
Opening the .90
..........
Taillights, Changing Bulbs . 261
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 275
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 308
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 313
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .311
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .315
.......................
Temperature Gauge .74
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 46
............................
Thef t Protection .152
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 315
..................
Time, Setting the . 130,142
....................................
Tire Chains .255
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 277
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .310
...............................................
Tires .249
..............................
Air Pressure .249
.........................
Checking Wear .251
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 308......................................
Inf lation .249
..................................
Inspection .251
..............................
Maintenance .251
...................................
Replacing .253
......................................
Rotating .252
...........................................
Snow .254
............................
Specif ications .307
................................
Tire Chains .255
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 277
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .191
...............
Behind a Motorhome . 198
................................
Emergency .301
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .231
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .232
..................
Fluid Selection . 231,232
..............
Identif ication Number . 304
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 178
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 176
.....................................
Treadwear .308
.......................................
Trip Meter .73
....................................
Turn Signals .77 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 61
..................
Warranty Coverages .321
Index
T U
V
W
VIII

Service Inf ormat ion Summary
Gasoline:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:5-speed Manual Transmission
Fluid:
Rear Differential Fluid:Brake Fluid:
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Automatic Transmission Fluid: Power Steering Fluid:SpareTirePressure:
15.9 US gal (60
)
Unleaded gasoline, pump octane
number of 86 or higher.
Capacity (including differential): 32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ).
2.0 US qt (1.9
)
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page ).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
4.4 US qt (4.2
)
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) preferred, or
aDEXRON
III ATF as a
temporary replacement (see page ). Honda Dual Pump Fluid. Do not
use ATF (see page ).
Capacity:
1.1 US qt (1.0
)
Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page ). Honda Manual Transmission
Fluid preferred, or an SAE 10W-30
or 10W-40 motor oil as a
temporary replacement (see page ). Front:
Rear:34 psi (235 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm
)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
221
231 232
233
235 234