2004 HONDA ELEMENT engine overheat

The manual transmission is syn-
chronizedinallforwardgearsfor
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth
to Reverse. When shif ting up or
down,makesureyoupushtheclutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the
next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shif ting,
do not rest your f oot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster.Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shif t into
Reverse with the vehicle moving.
Push down the clutch pedal, and
pause f or a f ew seconds bef ore
shif ting into Reverse, or shif t into
one of the f orward gears f or a
moment. This stops the gears so
they won’t ‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking f rom the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure engine speed will not go
into the tachometer’s red zone in the
lower gear.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving125
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.
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The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance,
so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques.Make turns more slowly and wider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses. Allow more time and
distance f or braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If youmuststopwhenfacinguphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others,taketimetopracticedriving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
discussed below. Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or vehicles with trailers.
If you have an automatic
transmission, use overdrive (O/D)
when towing a trailer on level roads.
Turn of f the overdrive (O/D) mode
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain.
(see ‘‘ ’’ in the next
column f or additional gear
inf ormation.)
If the automatic transmission shif ts
f requently between 3rd and 4th
gears while going up a hill, turn of f
the overdrive (O/D) mode (see page
).
129
Trailer Driving Tips
Driving
Driving Saf ely With a T railerT owing Speeds and Gears
Making T urns and Braking Driving on Hills
Driving on Hills
139
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This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire . 180
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 181
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start . 186
................................
Jump Starting . 188
..............
If the Engine Overheats . 190
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 192
..........
Charging System Indicator . 192
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 193
...............
Brake System Indicator . 194
......................
Emergency Towing . 195
..............................................
Fuses . 196
..............................
Fuse Locations . 199
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed179
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If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running, and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn of f all accessories, and turn
on the hazard warning lights.
If the vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
1. 2.3. 4.
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed190
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.
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Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (seeon page ).
If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page ). Using gloves or large heavy cloth,
turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. Af ter the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off. Start the engine, and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (see
on page ).
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge or lower
bef ore checking the radiator. 9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
11.
10.
195
113
195
Emergency
Towing
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed191
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
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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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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
V
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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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