2004 HONDA ELEMENT wiper blades

This section explains the importance
of keeping your vehicle well
maintained and why you should
f ollow basic maintenance saf ety
precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 148
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 149
....................
Maintenance Record . 154
..............................
Fluid Locations . 156
........................
Adding Engine Oil . 157
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter . 158
..............................
Engine Coolant . 160
....................
Windshield Washers . 161
.......................
Transmission Fluid . 162
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 164
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 165
............
Cleaning the Body Panels . 165
.............................................
Lights . 166
.......................................
Seat Belts . 170
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 170
.................................
Wiper Blades . 171
...............................................
Tires . 172
...................
Checking the Battery . 177
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 178
217
Maintenance
Maint enance147
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When the radiator and engine are
cool, relieve any pressure in the
cooling system by turning the
radiator cap counterclockwise,
without pressing down.
Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Pourthecoolantslowlyand
caref ully so you do not spill. Clean
up any spill immediately; it could
damage components in the engine
compartment.
Put the radiator cap back on and
tighten it.
Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to half way between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your vehicle’s
cooling system. They may not be
compatible with the coolant or
engine components. Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal use.
The low washer
level indicator will light when the
level is low (see page ).
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer f luid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
3. 4. 5.
2.
1. 57
Canadian Models:
Maint enance
Engine Coolant, Windshield Washers
Windshield Washers
161
RADIATOR CAP
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir. Antif reeze
can damage your vehicle’s paint, while
a vinegar/water solution can damage
the windshield washer pump. Use only
commercially-available windshield
washer f luid.
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Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every six months.
Replace them if you f ind signs of
cracking in the rubber, areas that are
getting hard, or if they leave streaks
and unwiped areas when used.Disconnect the blade assembly
fromthewiperarmbypushingin
the lock tab. Hold the lock tab in
while you push the blade assembly
toward the base of the arm.
If you are changing the rear wiper
blade, go to step 6.
Front:
Raise the wiper arm of f the
windshield.
Remove the blade f rom its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull f irmly until the tabs
come out of the holder.Examine the new wiper blades. If
they have no plastic or metal
reinf orcement along the back
edge, remove the metal
reinf orcement strips f rom the old
wiper blade, and install them in
the slots along the edge of the new
blade.
Rear:
Raise the wiper arm of f the hatch
glass and hold it.
1.
3.
2.
4.
CONT INUED
Maint enance
Wiper Blades
171
LOCK TABBLADE
Do not open the hood when the wiper
arms are raised, or you will damage
the hood and the arms.
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Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
Slide the wiper blade assembly
onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
Lower the wiper arm down against
the windshield or the hatch glass.To saf ely operate your vehicle, your
tires must be the proper type and
size, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inf lated.
The f ollowing pages give more
detailed inf ormation on how to take
care of your tires and what to do
when they need to be replaced.
Keeping the tires properly inf lated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread lif e, and riding
comf ort.
Underinf lated tires wear unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to
fail from being overheated.
Overinf lated tires can make your
vehicleridemoreharshly,are
more prone to damage f rom road
hazards, and wear unevenly.
We recommend that you visually
check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.
5. 6. 7. Tires Inf lation
Wiper Blades, Tires
Maint enance172
REINFORCEMENT
BLADE
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.
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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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Vehicle Capacity Load . 118
......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 204
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 202 .............................
Vehicle Storage . 178
........................................
Ventilation . 92
.................................................
VIN . 202
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 157
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the . 179
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 206
........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 110
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 159 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 49
..................
Warranty Coverages . 215
Washers, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 161
.....................................
Operation . 61
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 64
............
Alignment and Balance . 174
......................................
Wrench . 183
Windows ..................
Operating the Power . 81
...........................
Rear, Def ogger . 63
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning . 61
.....................................
Def roster . 91
.....................................
Washers . 161
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades . 171
..........................
Time, Setting the . 105
....................................
Tire Chains . 176
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 181
...........................
Tire Inf ormation . 208
...............................................
Tires . 172
..............................
Air Pressure . 173
.........................
Checking Wear . 174
..........................
Compact Spare . 180
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 206
......................................
Inf lation . 172
..................................
Inspection . 174
..............................
Maintenance . 174
...................................
Replacing . 175
......................................
Rotating . 175
...........................................
Snow . 176
............................
Specif ications . 205
................................
Tire Chains . 176
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 181
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 135
...............
Behind a Motorhome . 141
................................
Emergency . 195
...
Equipment And Accessories . 137
.............................
Weight Limit . 135
.............................
Trailer Loading . 136
......................
Trailer Towing Tips . 139 Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic . 162
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual . 163
..................
Fluid Selection . 162, 163
..............
Identif ication Number . 202
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 127
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 125
.....................................
Treadwear . 206
.......................................
Trip Meter . 58
....................................
Turn Signals . 62
Index
U V W
VIII
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