2004 HONDA ELEMENT airbag

If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, the sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inf late
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag.Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection f rom the
side airbags, occupants should wear
their seat belts and sit upright and
well back in their seats.
The passenger’s side airbag has a
cutof f system designed to turn of f
the passenger’s side airbag if a child’s
head is in the airbag’s deployment
path (see page ).
If the side airbag of f indicator comes
on, have the passenger sit upright.
Once the passenger is out of the
deployment path of the side airbag,
the system will turn the airbag back
on and the indicator will go out
within a f ew seconds.
A f ront seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutof f
system f rom working properly.
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Optional on EX models
How Your Side A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety25
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If you see any of these indications,
airbags and seat belt tensioners may
not work when you need them.
If the indicator comes on at any
other time, or does not come on at all,
you should have the system checked
by your dealer. For example:
If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition to
ON (II).
If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.
If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoff whileyoudrive.
The SRS indicator alerts
you to a potential problem
with your f ront airbags, side airbags,
or f ront seat belt tensioners (see
page ).
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), this indicator will come on
brief ly then go out. This tells you
that the system is working properly. 55
How the SRS Indicator Works
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety26
Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.
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If a short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the deployment path,
the system may also shut of f the side
airbag.Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance-f ree, and there are no
parts you can saf ely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:
Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. If a
f ront airbag inf lates, the seat belt
tensioners must also be replaced.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by a Honda dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), the indicator should light
brief ly and go out. If it doesn’t light,
stays on, or comes on while driving
without a passenger or object in the
f ront seat, have the system checked.
Take your vehicle to an
authorized Honda dealer as soon
as possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
This indicator alerts you
that the passenger’s side
airbag has been automatically shut
of f . It does mean there is a
problem with your side airbags.
To reduce the risk of injury f rom an
inf lating side airbag, your vehicle has
an automatic cutoff system for the
passenger’s side airbag.
Although Honda does not encourage
children to ride in f ront, this system
is designed to shut of f the side
airbag if a child leans sideways and
the child’s head is in the side airbag
deployment path.
Optional on EX models
Airbag Service
How the Side Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
An airbag ever inf lates.
T he SRS indicat or alert s you t o aproblem.
not
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety27
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Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
If water or another liquid
soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag cutof f
system f rom working properly. Improperly
replacing or covering f ront seat-
back covers can prevent your side
airbags f rom inf lating during a
side impact. (see pages ).
(see pages ). 34 43
44 47
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Do not t amper wit h airbagcomponent s or wiring f or any
reason.
Do not expose t he f ront seat -backsto liquid. Do not cover or replace f ront seat -
back covers wit hout consult ing aHonda dealer. Inf ant s and small children must be
rest rained in an approved child seatt hat is properly secured t o t hevehicle
Larger children must be restrainedwit h a lap/shoulder belt and ride on
a boost er unt il t he seat belt f it s t hemproperly
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety28
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According to accident statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
saf er when they are restrained in the
back seat. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration and
Transport Canada recommend that
all children age 12 and under be
properly restrained in the back seat.
Children who ride in back are less
likely to be injured by striking
interior vehicle parts during a
collision or hard braking. Also,
children cannot be injured by an
inf lating airbag when they ride in the
back.Front airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate to
severe f rontal collision. To do this
the passenger’s f ront airbag is quite
large and it can inf late with enough
f orce to cause very serious injuries.
If
the airbag inf lates, it can hit the back
of the child seat with enough force
to kill or very seriously injure an
inf ant. If the vehicle seat is
too far forward, or the child’s head is
thrown f orward during a collision, an
inflating front airbag can strike the
child with enough f orce to kill or
very seriously injure a small child.
Whenever possible,
larger children should sit in the back
seat, in a booster seat if needed, and
be properly restrained with a seat
belt (see page f or important
inf ormation about protecting larger
children). 44
All Children Should Sit in the
Back Seat
The Passenger’s Front Airbag
Poses Serious Risks
Protecting Children General Guidelines
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Inf ant s
Never put a rear-f acing child seat int he f ront seat of a vehicle equippedwit h a passenger’s f ront airbag. Placing a f orward-f acing child seat in
t he f ront seat of a vehicle equippedwit h a passenger’s f ront airbag canbe hazardous.
Small Children
Larger ChildrenChildren who have outgrown childseat s are also at risk of being injured
or killed by an inf lat ing passenger’sfront airbag.
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To remind you of the passenger’s
f ront airbag hazards, and that
children must be properly restrained
in the back seat, your vehicle has
warninglabelsonthedashboardand
on the driver’s and f ront passenger’s
visors. Please read and f ollow the
instructions on these labels.To remind you of the f ront airbag
hazards, your vehicle has warning
labels on the driver’s and f ront
passenger’s visors. Please read and
f ollow the instructions on these
labels.
U.S. Models Canadian Models
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Protecting Children General Guidelines
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Place the largest child in the f ront
seat, provided the child is large
enough to wear the lap/shoulder
belt properly (see page ).
Move the vehicle seat as far to the
rear as possible (see page ).
Have the child sit upright and well
backintheseat(seepage ).
Make sure the seat belt is properly
positioned and secured (see page). Many parents say they pref er to put
an inf ant or small child in the f ront
passenger seat so they can watch the
child, or because the child requires
attention.
Neverholdaninfantorchildon
your lap. If you are not wearing a
seat belt in a crash, you could be
thrown f orward and crush the
child against the dashboard or a
seat-back. If you are wearing a
seat belt the child can be torn
from your arms and be seriously
hurt or killed.
Never put a seat belt over yourself
or a child. During a crash, the belt
could press deep into the child and
cause serious or f atal injuries.
Never let two children use the
same seat belt. If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.
Placing a child in the f ront seat
exposes the child to hazards f rom
the passenger’s f ront airbag, and
paying close attention to a child
distracts the driver f rom the
important tasks of driving, placing
both of you at risk.
If a child requires close physical
attention or f requent visual contact,
we strongly recommend that another
adult ride with the child in the back
seat. The back seat is far safer for a
child than the front.
Your vehicle has two seating
positions in the back seat where
children can be properly restrained.
If you ever have to carry more
children, and a child must ride in
front:
441130
14
If You Must Drive with Several
Children
If a Child Requires Close
AttentionAdditional Saf ety Precautions
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Protecting Children General Guidelines
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An inf ant must be properly
restrained in a rear-f acing, reclining
child seat until the child reaches the
seat maker’s weight or height limit
f or the seat, and the child is at least
one year old.Two types of seats may be used: a
seat designed exclusively f or inf ants,
or a convertible seat used in the rear-
f acing, reclining mode.
If placed
f acing f orward, an inf ant could be
very seriously injured during a
f rontal collision.
Only a rear-f acing child seat provides
proper support f or a baby’s head,
neck, and back.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Do not put a rear-f acing child seat in a f orward-f acing position.
Child Seat T ype
Protecting Inf ants and Small Children
Protecting Inf ants
34
Placing a rear-facing child seat
in the front seat can result in
serious injury or death if the
passenger’s front airbag inflates.
Always place a rear-facing child
seat in the back seat, not thefront.
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