2006 HONDA ELEMENT Owners Manual

To lock or unlock the hatch.Lock the hatch by pushing down
the lock tab on the driver’s door
(see page ), or by using the
master key in the driver’s door
lock.
Lock or unlock the hatch with the
master door lock switch.
With the hatch unlocked, open it by
pulling the handle and lif ting up.
To close the hatch, lower it, then
press down on the back edge.
When both the hatch and tailgate are
open, the hatch cannot be latched
without f irst closing the tailgate.
Useyourmasterkeytolockand
unlock the hatch. Turn the key
clockwise to lock the hatch, and
counterclockwise to unlock it. 70
Door L ocks
Hatch
Inst rument s and Cont rols
71
UNLOCK
LOCK

Youcanopenthetailgateonlywhen
the hatch is open. To open the
tailgate, slide the lock lever to the
lef t and swing down the tailgate. To
close the tailgate, lif t it up and push
it f irmly until it latches.
Bef ore closing the tailgate, make
sure the hatch is raised. Closing the
tailgate on the lowered hatch can
damage the hatch and the tailgate.See page for information on
cargo loading. Keep the tailgate and
the hatch closed at all times while
driving to avoid damaging them, and
to prevent exhaust gas f rom getting
into the interior. See
on page .47
132
Door L ocks
Tailgate
Carbon
Monoxide Hazard
72

µ
See pages f or important saf ety
inf ormation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs. 12 14
To change the seat-back angle of the
f ront seat, pull up on the lever on the
outside of the seat bottom. Adjust
theseat-backandmakesureitlocks
into position.
Make all seat adjustments bef ore
you start driving.
To adjust the seat forward and
backward, pull up on the bar under
the seat cushion’s f ront edge. Try to
movetheseattomakesureitis
locked in position.
Seats
Seat A djustmentsFront Seat
Inst rument s and Cont rols
73

To adjust the height of the driver’s
seat, turn the dial on the outside of
the seat bottom.To change the angle of the rear seat-
back, pull the strap at the inside
edge of the seat cushion, make sure
the seat-back locks into position.
Each front seat has an armrest on
thesideof theseat-back.Touseit,
pivotitdown.On EX models
Seats
Driver’s Seat Height Adjustment Front Seat ArmrestsRear Seat
74
SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP

See page f or important saf etyinf ormation and a warning about how toproperly position the head restraints. 15
The rear seat passengers can get out
through the passenger’s door. Push
down on the release lever at the base
of the f ront passenger’s seat-back,
and push the seat-back forward. The
seat-back will tilt f orward and the
entire seat will move forward.
Make sure the seat is upright and
f ully latched bef ore sitting in it.
Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints in all seating positions to
help protect you and your
passengers f rom whiplash and other
injuries. They are most ef f ective when you
adjust them so the back of the
occupant’s head rests against the
center of the restraint.
The head restraints in the f ront and
rear seating positions adjust f or
height. You need both hands to
adjust the restraint. To raise it, pull
upward. To lower the restraint, push
the release button sideways and
push the restraint down.
Seats
Head Restraints
Rear Seat Access
Inst rument s and Cont rols
75
RELEASE BUTTON RELEASE LEVER

You can recline the seat-backs on the
f ront seats so they are level with the
rear seat cushions, making a large
cushioned area. To do this:Adjust the front seats forward as
f ar as they will go. Pull up the seat-
back angle adjustment lever and
pivot the seat-back backward until
it is level with the rear seat
cushion.
Move the f ront seat backward
until it touches the rear seat.
Adjust the rear seat-back to the
desired position.
Reverse this procedure to return the
front and rear seats to the upright
position. Make sure you install the
head restraints and the seats are
locked securely bef ore driving.
When you return the seat-back to
the upright position, hold the seat-
back to keep it f rom going up too
quickly.
Remove the head restraints f rom
the f ront seats (see page ), and
store them in the side pockets of
the cargo area.
1. 2.
3.
4.
75
Reclining the Front Seats
Seats
76

To create more cargo space, you can
fold up each rear seat to each side
wall separately.Lower the head restraint to its
lowest position.
Pull the seat-back adjustment
strap at the inside edge of the seat
cushion and push the seat-back
backward as f ar as it will go.Pull the release strap on the seat
support, and pivot the seat toward
the vehicle’s side wall.
1.
2.3.
CONT INUED
Folding the Rear Seats
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols
77
SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP RELEASE STRAP

A fastening strap is attached to the
inside of the seat cushion. While
pushing the seat up and toward
thesidewall,hookthefastening
straptothegrabrail.Fold down the seat support.Reverse this procedure to return the
rear seat to the upright position.
When not in use, store the fastening
strap hook in the f abric pocket on
the bottom of the seat cushion.
Make sure the seat is locked
securely.
4. 5.
Seats
78
GRAB RAIL
FASTENING STRAP SEAT SUPPORT