2004 HONDA ELEMENT Owners Manual

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This manual covers maintenance and recommended
procedures f or repair to engine and chassis components.
It is written f or the journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough f or most mechanically-inclined owners to under-
stand.
This manual describes the procedures involved in the
replacement of damaged body parts.
This manual complements the Service Manual by
providing in-depth troubleshooting inf ormation f or each
electrical circuit in your vehicle.
Authorized Manuals
Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
218 NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name,
and also the name of the person to whose attention the shipment should
be sent. For purchases outside U.S.A. please write to the address shown
below for a quotation.
P.O. BOX 07280·DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207·1-800-782-4356
Customer Name Attention
Apartment Number
State & Zip Code
City
Daytime Telephone Number
Check or money order enclosed payable to Helm Inc U.S. funds only.
Do not send cash
Master
Card VISA Check here if your billing address is different
from the shipping address shown above.
Account Number Expiration: Mo. Yr.
CUSTOMER SIGNATURE DATE
Street Address No P.O. Box Number
()
These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14
days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.
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CONT INUED
BatteryCharging System ...........................
Indicator . 54, 192
............................
Jump Starting . 188
..............................
Maintenance . 177
............................
Specif ications . 205
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 109
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,19
...........................
Beverage Holders . 87
...................................
Body Panels . 165
..................................
Booster Seats . 45
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 133
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 110
....................
Bulb Replacement . 166 ...........................................
Fluid . 164
.........................................
Parking . 83
.................
System Indicator . 54, 194
........................
Wear Indicators . 133
.............................
Braking System . 132
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 110
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 63
........................
Brights, Headlights . 62
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights . 169
..............................
Brake Lights . 169
................
Front Parking Lights . 167
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 168
.................................
Headlights . 166
............................
Specif ications . 205
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 167
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 166
............................
Capacities Chart . 204
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 48
..............................................
Cargo . 117
........................
Cargo, . 117
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 115
................................
Accessories . 115
............................
Modif ications . 116
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) . 69
..............
Accessory Power Sockets . 87
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 157
.............................
Airbag (SRS) . 10, 22
................
Air Conditioning System . 91
............................................
Usage . 91
.........................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 92
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 172
.........................
Normal Driving . 173
......................................
Antif reeze . 160
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator . 55, 134
...................................
Operation . 133
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 104
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 69
......................
Armrests, Front Seat . 74
..................................
Audio System . 94
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 20
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 107 ..............
Automatic Transmission . 127
..........................
Capacity, Fluid . 204
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 162
.......................................
Shif ting . 127
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 127
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 127
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 130
......................
Auxiliary Input Jack . 106
how to carry
Index
A
B C
I
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..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
.........................................
CD Care . 101
...................................
CD Changer . 100
.......................
CD Error Message . 102
.......
CD Changer Error Message . 103
.......................................
CD Player . 100
.................................
Ceiling Pocket . 86
........................
Certif ication Label . 202
...................................
Chains, . 176
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 181
.................................
Changing Oil . 158
........................................
How to . 158
......................................
When to . 149
...
Charging System Indicator . 54, 192
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 123
.....................................
Child Saf ety . 29
...................................
Child Seats . 37
.......
Important Saf ety Reminder . 29
..........................................
Inf ants . 34
............................
Large Children . 44
.........................................
LATCH . 37
...........................
Lower Anchors . 39
......................
Risks with Airbags . 30
.............................
Small Children . 36
.........................................
Tethers . 39
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 43 ............
Where Should Child Sit? . 30
............
Cleaning the Body Panels . 165
..............................................
Clock . 105
.........................
Clock, Setting the . 105
...................................
Clutch Fluid . 164
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 211
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 124
..............................
Compact Spare . 180
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 214
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 51
Coolant
........................................
Adding . 160
....................................
Checking . 113
.........................
Proper Solution . 160
...................
Temperature Gauge . 59
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System . 209
................
Cruise Control Indicator . 56
............
Cruise Control Operation . 107
.............
Customer Service Of f ice . 214
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard . 2, 52 Daytime Running Lights
.......................................
Indicator . 56
.................................
Dead Battery . 188
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 216
..........................
Def og and Def rost . 91
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 63
................
Def rosting the Windows . 93
....................................
Dimensions . 204
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 62
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission . 162
..................................
Engine Oil . 113
..........................
Directional Signals . 62
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 133
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 159
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 70
......................
Power Door Locks . 70
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 206
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission . 125
...........................................
Driving . 121
....................................
Economy . 114
........................
Driving Guidelines . 122
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 170
tires
Index
D
II
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CONT INUED
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 114
..................................
Emergencies . 179
............................
Jump Starting . 188
...........
Brake System Indicator . 194
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 181
.....
Charging System Indicator . 192
..................
Checking the Fuses . 196
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers . 63
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 192
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 193
..................
Overheated Engine . 190
.......................................
Towing . 195
...........................
Emergency Brake . 83
......................
Emergency Flashers . 63
.......................
Emissions Controls . 209
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 212 Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 59
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 126, 129
.............................. 186
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp . 54, 193
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 54, 192
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 157 ...............................
Overheating . 190
............................
Specif ications . 204
.......................................
Starting . 124
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 110
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 209
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 48
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 17
.....................................
Fan, Interior . 90
Features, Comfort and
................................
Convenience . 89
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 111
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 170
...............................................
Oil . 158
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 163
................................
Shif ting the . 125
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 63
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 181
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 162
..........................................
Brake . 164 .........................................
Clutch . 164
..............
Manual Transmission . 163
..........................
Power Steering . 165
..................
Windshield Washer . 161
FM Stereo Radio .....................................
Reception . 97
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 77
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 63
Front Seat
......................................
Adjusting . 11
.........................................
Airbags . 22
.................................................
Fuel . 110
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 111
...........................................
Gauge . 58
................
Octane Requirement . 110
........................
Reserve Indicator . 56
........................
Tank, Filling the . 111
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 196
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 114
..........................................
Gasohol . 110
If it won’t start
Index
E
F
G
III
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Gasoline . 110
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 56
...........................................
Gauge . 58
................
Octane Requirement . 110
........................
Tank, Filling the . 111
................
Gas Station Procedures . 111
Gauges
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 59
...............................................
Fuel . 58
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 127
5-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission . 126
........................................
Glove Box . 87
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 166
................................................
Hatch . 71
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 63
Headlights
........................................
Aiming . 166
............
Daytime Running Lights . 62
..................
High Beam Indicator . 56
........................
Reminder Beeper . 62
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 166 ...................................
Turning on . 62
..............................
Head Restraints . 75
.......................
Heating and Cooling . 90
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 62
.......................
Hood, Opening the . 112
..............................................
Horn .3,60
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch . 164
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 202
Ignition
..............................................
Keys . 65
...........................................
Switch . 69
............
Timing Control System . 210
........................
Immobilizer System . 66
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
Indicators
..............
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake) . 55
Brake (Parking and Brake
............................
System) . 54, 194
........................
Charging System . 54
.............................
Cruise Control . 56
DRL (Daytime Running
......................................
Lights) . 56
...................................
High Beam . 56 ........
Key (Immobilizer System) . 55
......................................
Low Fuel . 56
........................
Low Oil Pressure . 54
...........................
Side Airbag Of f . 55
...............................................
SRS . 55
Turn Signal and Hazard
...................................
Warning . 56
..............................
Washer Level . 57
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 53
...............................
Inf ant Restraint . 34
......................................
Inf ant Seats . 34
......
LATCH Anchorage System . 39
...........................
Lower Anchors . 39
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 43
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 172
.........................
Normal Driving . 173
...................................
Inside Mirror . 82
.............................
Inspection, Tire . 174
............................
Instrument Panel . 53
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 63
........................................
Introduction . i
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 183
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 181
Index
H I
J
IV
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CONT INUED
................................
Jump Starting . 188
..................................................
Keys . 65
.......................
Label, Certif ication . 202
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 62
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 14, 19
...........
LATCH Anchorage System . 39
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement . 166
.......................................
Indicator . 53
.........................................
Parking . 62
..................................
Turn Signal . 62
.....................................
Load Limit . 118
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 69
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 69
............................
Fuel Fill Door . 111
....................................
Glove Box . 87
.................................
Power Door . 70
........................................
Tailgate . 72
........................
Low Coolant Level . 113 .........................
Low Fuel Indicator . 56
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 54, 192
................................
Lower Anchors . 39
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 204
..............
Luggage, . 117
..................................
Maintenance . 147
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 151
.................................
Record . 154-155
......................
Required Indicator . 57
..........................................
Saf ety . 148
.............................
Schedule . 152-153
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 54, 193
...................
Manual Transmission . 125
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 163
.........................
Meters, Gauges . 53, 58
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 82
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 116
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 128
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 110
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds . 126 ...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 202
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 110
.........................................
Odometer . 58
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 58
....................
Of f -Highway Driving . 143
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 158
......................
Change, When to . 152
......................
Checking Engine . 113
..............
Pressure Indicator . 54, 192
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart . 157
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 69
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery . 209
..............................
Outside Mirrors . 82
.......................................
Overdrive . 129
....................
Overheating, Engine . 190
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 151
Storing (Cargo)
Index
M N O
K L
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Panel Brightness Control . 63
........................
Park Gear Position . 127
...........................................
Parking . 131
.................................
Parking Brake . 83
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator . 54, 194
.................................
Parking Lights . 62
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 131
.............................
PGM-FI System . 210
.................
Power Socket Locations . 87
..............................
Power Windows . 81
..........................
Power Door Locks . 70
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 11
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
........................
Protecting Children . 29
.......................
Protecting Inf ants . 34
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 44
.........
Protecting Small Children . 36
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers . 39
.............................
Using LATCH . 39 ...................
Radiator Overheating . 190
...............
Radio/CD Sound System . 94
...........................
Readiness Codes . 193
.......................................
Rear Doors . 70
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 169
............................
Rear Seat Access . 75
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding . 77
............................
Rear View Mirror . 82
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 63
.
Rear Window Wiper and Washer . 61
...............
Reclining the Seat-Backs . 73
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 126
.............................
Reminder Lights . 53
...............
Removing the Rear Seats . 79
.......................
Remote Transmitter . 67
Replacement Inf ormation
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 170
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 158
..........................................
Fuses . 196
................................
Light Bulbs . 166
....................................
Schedule . 152
...........................................
Tires . 172
.............................
Wiper Blades . 171 Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a
............................................
Crash . 21
Reserve Tank, Engine ...............................
Coolant . 113, 160
...............................
Restraint, Child . 29
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 128
...........................
Reverse Lockout . 130
......................................
Roof Rack . 119
................................
Rotation, Tire . 175
..................................
Saf ety Belts . 8, 19
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 216
.................................
Saf ety Features . 7
.........................................
Airbags . 10
..................................
Door Locks . 11
..........................
Head Restraints . 14
.......................................
Seat Belts . 8
...........
Seats and Seat-Backs . 11, 13
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 49
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
.....................................
Seat Belts . 8, 19
...............
Additional Information . 19
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
Index
R
P
S
VI
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CONT INUED
Automatic Seat Belt...............................
Tensioners . 20
.....................................
Cleaning . 170
................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 14, 19
................................
Maintenance . 21
.....................
Reminder Light . 19, 54
...................
System Components . 19
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 17
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 14
........................
Seats, Adjusting the . 73
...............................
Serial Number . 202
...........................
Service Intervals . 152
...........................
Service Manual . 217
...........
Service Station Procedure . 111
..........................
Setting the Clock . 105
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 127
........................
Shif t Lock Release . 130
....................................
Side Airbags . 25
................................
Of f Indicator . 27
Side Marker Lights, Bulb ..............................
Replacement . 168
...............................
Signaling Turns . 62
............................................
Skylight . 83
.....................................
Snow Tires . 176
..................................
Sound System . 94 .....................................
Spare Tyre . 180
......................................
Inf lating . 180
....................
Specif ications Charts . 204
................................
Speed Control . 107
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 22
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 28
.............................
Airbag Service . 27
How the Side Airbag Of f
...........
Indicator Light Works . 27
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 26
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work . 22
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 25
........................
SRS Components . 22
.............................
SRS Indicator . 26, 55
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 69
..............
State Emissions Testing . 212
.......................
Starting the Engine . 124
................
With a Dead Battery . 188
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 190
Steering Wheel
..................................
Adjustment . 64
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 69
.....................
Stereo Sound System . 94
....................
Storing Your Vehicle . 178 Supplemental Restraint
................................
System . 10, 22
......................................
Servicing . 27
.........................
SRS Indicator . 26, 55
...................
System Components . 22
..................................
Synthetic Oil . 158
Tailgate
............................
Open Indicator . 57
.................................
Opening the . 72
..........
Taillights, Changing Bulbs . 169
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 179
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 206
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 209
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter . 211
.......................
Temperature Gauge . 59
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 43
............................
Thef t Protection . 104
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 211
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel . 64
Index
T
VII
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