2005 HONDA ELEMENT automatic transmission

Your Vehicle at a Glance
4
POWER DOOR
LOCK SWITCHMIRROR CONTROLS
GAUGES
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
A/T model is shown. HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE INSTRUMENT PANEL
HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLSPARKING BRAKE
(P.70)
(P.81) (P.82)
(P.58)
(P.90)(P. 83)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (P.53)
AIRBAGS
(P.125) (P.11,
23)
(P.141)
(P.139)

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The ignition switch has f our
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III).
You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To turn the key, push it in slightly. If
your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shif t lever must
also be in park. If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may make it difficult
to turn the key. Firmly turn the
steering wheel to the lef t or right as
you turn the key.
You can
operate the audio system and the
accessory power sockets in this
position.
This is the normal key
position when driving. Several of the
indicators on the instrument panel
come on as a test when you turn the
ignition switch f rom ACCESSORY
(I) to ON (II).
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key. You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
the driver’s door. Remove the key to
turn of f the beeper.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shif t lever must be
in Park bef ore you can remove the
key f rom the ignition switch.
Ignition Switch
LOCK (0)
A CCESSORY (I)
ON (II)
ST A RT (III)
Inst rument s and Cont rols
69
Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle.
Remove the key from the
ignition switch only when
parked.

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important
information on parking your vehicle,
the braking system, and f acts you
need if you are planning to tow a
trailerordriveoff-highway.........................
Driving Guidelines .136
........................
Preparing to Drive .137
.......................
Starting the Engine .138
...................
Manual Transmission . 139
..............
Automatic Transmission . 141
..................................
Parking Tips .145
.............................
Braking System .146
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 147
...........................
Towing a Trailer .149
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a ................................
Motorhome .155
Of f -Highway Driving ..................................
Guidelines .157
Driving
Driving
135

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Push the clutch pedal down all the
way.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in START for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start right away, pause
f or at least 10 seconds bef ore
trying again.If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
downandholdittherewhile
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
6. 5.
Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission: 66
Starting the Engine
138
Immobilizer System
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. See
on page .

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These indicators on the instrument
panel show which position the shif t
lever is in. To shif t f rom any position, press
f irmly on the brake pedal, push the
release button, and pull the lever
toward you. You cannot shif t out of
Park when the ignition switch is in
the LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position. This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page .
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If it
f lashes while driving (in any shif t
position), it indicates a possible
problem in the transmission. Avoid
rapid acceleration, and have the
transmission checked by your dealer
as soon as possible.
144
CONT INUED
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoN
NtoD Dto2 2to1
1to2
2toD
DtoN NtoR RtoP Do this:
Press the brake pedal, and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.Shif t L ever Position Indicators Shif ting
Park (P)Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission
Driving
141
SHIFT LEVER

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To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. The shif t lever must be in
Park bef ore you can remove the key
from the ignition switch.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear for the vehicle speed
and acceleration. You may notice the
transmission shif ting up at higher
speeds when the engine is cold. This
helps the engine warm up f aster.
Press the brake
pedal and press the release button to
shif t f rom Park to reverse. To shif t
f rom reverse to neutral, come to a
completestopandthenshift. Your vehicle has a reverse lockout so
you cannot accidentally shif t to
reverse when the vehicle speed
exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h).
If you cannot shif t to reverse when
the vehicle is stopped, press the
brake pedal and slowly shift to
neutral. Then press the release
button, and shift to reverse.
If there is a problem in the reverse
lockout system, or your vehicle’s
battery is disconnected or goes dead,
you cannot shif t to reverse. (Ref er to
on page ).
Use neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from neutral to
another gear. 144
Automatic Transmission
Drive (D)
Reverse (R)
Shif t L ock Release
Neutral (N)
142

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This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop. This position locks the
transmission in f irst gear. By
upshif ting and downshif ting through
1, 2, and D, you can operate this
transmission much like a manual
transmission without a clutch pedal.
For more power when climbing.
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills.
For starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow.
To help reduce wheel spin.
When driving downhill with a
trailer. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
Overdrive (O/D) is on whenever you
turn the ignition to ON (II). Press
theO/Dswitchonthesideof the
shift lever to turn it off; the O/D
OFF indicator comes on.
Overdrive can be turned on or of f
only when the ignition switch is in
the ON (II) position. When overdrive is of f , the
transmission selects only the f irst
three gears. Use it to provide engine
braking when going down a steep hill,
or to keep the transmission f rom
cycling between third and f ourth
gear in stop-and-go driving.
Use second gear:
If you shif t into f irst when the
vehiclespeedisabove31mph(50
km/h), the transmission shif ts into
second gear f irst to avoid sudden
engine braking.
Automatic Transmission
Overdrive (O/D) Mode
Second (2)First (1)
Engine Speed L imiter
Driving
143

Do this if pushing on the brake pedal
and pulling the shif t lever does not
shif t the transmission out of Park:Set the parking brake.
Make sure the ignition switch is in
the LOCK (0) position.
To release the reverse lockout,
make sure the ignition switch is in
the ACCESSORY(I) position.
Put a cloth on the edge of the shif t
lock release slot cover next to the
shif t lever. Using a f lathead
screwdriver, caref ully pry on the
edge of the cover to remove it. Insert the f lathead screwdriver
into the shif t lock release slot.
Remove the screwdriver f rom the
shif t lock release slot, then replace
thecover.Makesurethenotchon
the cover is on the right side.
Press the brake pedal and restart
the engine.
Push down on the screwdriver
while you press the release button
and move the shif t lever out of
Park to neutral.
To release the reverse lockout,
move the shift lever from neutral
to reverse, then to Park. If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by your dealer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release
144
COVER
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT