2004 HONDA ELEMENT service

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This section gives you important
inf ormation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts
properly. It explains how your
airbags work. And it tells you how to
properly restrain infants and
children in your vehicle.
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Important Safety Precautions . 6
.......
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features . 7
.......................................
Seat Belts . 8
.........................................
Airbags . 10
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Protecting Adults and Teens . 11
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1. Close and Lock the Doors . 11
...........
2. Adjust the Front Seats . 11 ............
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 13
...
4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 14
5. Fasten and Position the
..
Lap/Shoulder Seat Belts . 14
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6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 16
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
................................
Position . 16
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Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 18
Additional Inf ormation About Your .................................
Seat Belts . 19
..
Seat Belt System Components . 19
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 19
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners . 20
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 21
Additional Inf ormation About Your .....................................
Airbags . 22
......
Airbag System Components . 22
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work . 22
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 25
How the SRS Indicator
.......................................
Works . 26
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works . 27 .............................
Airbag Service . 27
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 28
Protecting Children General ................................
Guidelines . 29
All Children Must Be ...............................
Restrained . 29
All Children Should Sit in the .................................
Back Seat . 30
The Passenger’s Front Airbag ...............
Poses Serious Risks . 30
If You Must Drive with Several ...................................
Children . 32
If a Child Requires Close ..................................
Attention . 32
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 32
Protecting Inf ants and .........................
Small Children . 34
.......................
Protecting Inf ants . 34
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Protecting Small Children . 36
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Selecting a Child Seat . 37
....................
Installing a Child Seat . 38
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Protecting Larger Children . 44
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Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 48
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Saf ety Labels . 49
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Driver and Passenger Saf ety5
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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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Bef ore you begin driving your Honda,
youshouldknowwhatgasolineto
use, and how to check the levels of
important f luids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage
or packages. The inf ormation in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your vehicle,
please read the inf ormation in this
section f irst..............................
Break-in Period . 110
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Gasoline Type . 110
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Service Station Procedure . 111
...............................
Fuel Economy . 114
....................................
Accessories . 115
.................................
Modif ications . 116
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 117
.........................
Seat-Back Bungee . 119
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
109
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Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
During this period:
Your Honda is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy, metallic rapping
noise in the engine that can lead to
mechanical f ailure.
We recommend using gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Do not tow a trailer.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on your instrument panel to come on. If this happens, contact
your authorized Honda dealer f or
service.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 percent ethanol
by volume and up to 15 percent
MTBE by volume. Do not use
gasoline containing methanol.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Premium f uel is recommended when
towing in certain conditions (see
page ).
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
.
139
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period Gasoline Type
Quick Start Guide
Break-in Period, Gasoline T ype
110
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Screw the f uel f ill cap back on
until it clicks at least three times.
If you do not properly tighten the
cap, the Malfunction Indicator
Lampmaycomeon(seepage).
even though the tank is not f ull,
there may be a problem with your
vehicle’s fuel vapor recovery
system. The system helps keep
f uel vapors f rom going into the
atmosphere. Consult your dealer.
Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank. Leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.
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.
Push the f uel f ill door closed.
Park with the driver’s side closest
to the gas pump.
Open the f uel f ill door by pulling
on the notched edge.
1. 2.
3. 4.5. 6.
193
If the f uel nozzle keeps clicking of f
Service Station Procedure
Bef ore Driving
Ref ueling
111
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.
Stop the engine and keep
heat, sparks, and flamesaway.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.
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To Open the Hood:To Close the Hood:
Park the vehicle, and set the
parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.Pull the support rod out of its clip
and insert the end into the hole in
the hood.
If the hood latch handle moves
stif f ly, or if you can open the hood
without lifting the handle, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated.
Lif t it up slightly to remove the
support rod f rom the hole. Put the
support rod back into its holding clip.
Lower the hood to the fender, then
let it drop. Make sure it is securely
latched.
Put your f ingers under the f ront
edge of the hood. The hood latch
handle is above the ‘‘H’’ logo. Push
this handle up to release it. Lif t up
the hood.
1. 2.
3.
Service Station Procedure
Bef ore Driving
Opening and Closing the Hood
112
LATCH
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
SUPPORT ROD
CLIP
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Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.Remove the dipstick (orange tab).
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its tube. Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page . Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see
on page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant.
Refer to on page f or inf ormation
on checking other items in your
Honda.
1. 2. 3.
157
151160
4.
Service Station Procedure
Bef ore Driving
Oil Check
A dding OilEngine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
113
DIPSTICK
UPPER MARKLOWER MARK RESERVE TANK
MAX
MIN
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The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly.
Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inf lated (see page ),
and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
If you tow f requently, f ollow the
Severe Conditions maintenance
schedule.
The trailer has been properly
serviced and is in good condition.
All weights and loads are within
limits (see page ).
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure.
Allitemsonandinthetrailerare
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive.
Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.
136172
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Pre-T ow ChecklistTrailer Mirrors
138
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