2006 HONDA ELEMENT Owners Manual

This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates a potential
problem with your f ront airbags or
automatic seat belt tensioners. On
models equipped with side airbags,
this indicator will also alert you to a
potential problem with your side
airbags or passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system. For
complete inf ormation, see page .This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom the ON (II) position to
the ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0)
position. This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. It will
then go of f if you have inserted a
properly-coded ignition key. If it is
not a properly-coded key, the
indicator will blink, and the engine
will not start (see page ).
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, and when the ignition
switch is turned to the START (III)
position. If it comes on at any other
time, there is a problem with the
ABS. If this happens, have your
vehicle checked at a dealer. With the
indicator on, your vehicle still has normal braking ability but no anti-
lock brakes. For more inf ormation,
see page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates that the
passenger’s side airbag has
automatically shut off. For more
inf ormation, see page .
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Standard on U.S. EX models andCanadian Y package
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
Immobilizer System
Indicator
Anti-lock Brake System
(A BS) Indicator
Side Airbag Of f Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
55
Canada
U.S.

This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position with the headlight
switch of f and the parking brake set.
It should go of f if you turn on the
headlights or release the parking
brake. If it comes on at any other
time, it means there is a problem
withtheDRL.Theremayalsobea
problem with the high beam
headlights.This indicator comes on with the
high beam headlights. For more
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator comes on as a
reminder that you must ref uel soon.
The lef t or right turn signal indicator
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If the indicators do not blink
or they blink rapidly, it usually
means one of the turn signal bulbs is
burned out (see page ). Replace
the bulb as soon as possible, since
other drivers cannot see that you are
signaling.
Whenyouturnonthehazard
warning button, both turn signal
indicators blink. All turn signals on
the outside of the vehicle should
flash. On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the daytime running lights
(DRL) are on (see page ).
When the indicator comes on, there
is about 1.6 U.S. gal (6
)of fuel
remaining in the tank bef ore the
needle reaches E. There is a small
reserve of f uel remaining in the tank
when the needle does reach E.
This indicator comes on when you
set the cruise control. See page
f or inf ormation on operating the
cruise control.
180
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62
120
Canadian models only
If equippedTurn Signal and Hazard Warning
Indicators ‘‘Daytime Running
Lights’’ Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Low Fuel Indicator
Cruise Control Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
56

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Canadian models onlyThis indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for
scheduled maintenance.
This indicator comes on if any door
is not closed tightly. This indicator comes on if the
tailgate or the hatch is not closed
tightly. This indicator comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
f luid when you see this indicator
come on (see page ). Ref er to the maintenance schedules
f or normal and severe driving
conditions on pages
.
For the f irst 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
af ter the maintenance required
indicator is reset, it will come on f or
2 seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.
Between 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
and 10,000 miles (16,000 km), this
indicator will come on f or 2 seconds
when you first turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position, and
then f lash f or 10 seconds. Hold the button for about 10
seconds until the indicator goes
of f . Press and hold the Select/Reset
button on the instrument panel,
then turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. Turn of f the engine.
Your dealer will reset this indicator
af ter completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is
notdonebyyourdealer,resetthe
indicator as f ollows. If you exceed 10,000 miles (16,000
km) without having the scheduled
maintenance perf ormed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder.
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2.
3.
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Washer L evel Indicator
Maintenance Required
Indicator
Door-open Indicator Tailgate and Hatch Open
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
57

This shows the number of miles (U.S.)
or kilometers (Canada) driven since
you last reset it.
There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays and the odometer by
pressing the Select/Reset button
repeatedly.Each trip meter works independently,
so you can keep track of two
dif f erent distances.
To reset a trip meter, display it, and
then press and hold the Select/Reset
button until the number resets to
‘‘0.0.’’ Both trip meters will reset if
the vehicle’s battery goes dead or is
disconnected.The odometer shows the total
distance your vehicle has been
driven. It measures miles in U.S.
models and kilometers in Canadian
models. It is illegal under U.S.
federal law and Canadian provincial
regulations to disconnect, reset, or
alter the odometer with the intent to
change the number of miles or
kilometers indicated. Odometer
Trip Meter
Gauges
58
TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGE
ODOMETER/TRIP METER TEMPERATURE GAUGE SELECT/RESET
BUTTON

This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, the pointer
may rise to the upper zone. If it
reaches the red (hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. Turn to
page f or instructions and
precautions on checking the engine’s
cooling system. If the system still detects a loose or
missing f uel cap, the malf unction
indicator lamp (MIL) comes on.
Turn the engine of f , and check or
retighten the f uel cap at least 3 clicks.
The MIL goes out af ter several days
of normal driving once the cap is
tightened or replaced. If it does not
go out, have your dealer inspect the
vehicle. For more inf ormation, see
page .
If your f uel cap is loose or missing, a
‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’ message
appears as text in the odometer/trip
meter display after you start the
engine. Turn the engine of f and
conf irm the f uel cap is installed. If it
is, loosen the cap, then retighten it at
least 3 clicks. When you restart the
engine, the message appears again.
To clear the message, press and hold
the select/reset button until the
message is replaced the odometer/
trip meter display.
This shows how much f uel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount. Driving
uphill or making turns can cause the
needle to f luctuate or the low f uel
indicator to come on early. The
needle returns to the bottom after
you turn of f the ignition.
210
207
Gauges
Temperature Gauge
Check Fuel Cap Indicator
(odometer/trip meter message)
Fuel Gauge
Inst rument s and Cont rols
59
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.

Î
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To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
:
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
60
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
SHIFT LEVER (A/T)
STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT HAZARD WARNING BUTTON
HORN
(P.62)
(P.64)(P.61)
(P.63)
(P.63)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
A/T model is shown. CRUISE CONTROL
MASTER BUTTON
CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS
(P.120)
(P.120)(P.143)

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Push the right lever up or down to
select a position.
The wipers are not activated.
The wipers run at low speed.
The wipers run at high speed. Rotate the switch clockwise to
turn the rear window wiper ON.
OFF
Rotate the switch
counterclockwise to spray the
window washer without activating
the wiper.
MIST
OFF
INT Intermittent
LO Low speed
HI High speed
Windshield washers The wipers run at high
speed until you release the lever.
The wipers operate every
f ew seconds.
Pull the
wiper control lever toward you, and
hold it. The washers spray until you
release the lever. The wipers run at
low speed, then complete one more
sweep after you release the lever. Hold past ON to turn the window
wiper on and the window washer
on.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. 1.
2.
3.
4.
Windshield Wiper
OFF
LO
HIRear Window Wiper and Washer
MIST
INT
Windshield Washer
Windshield Wipers and Washers
Inst rument s and Cont rols
61

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Push down on the
lever to signal a lef t turn and up to
signal a right turn. To signal a lane
change, push lightly on the lever,
and hold it. The lever will return to
center when you release it or
complete a turn. To f lash the high beams, pull the
lever back lightly, then release it.
The high beams will stay on as long
as you hold the lever back.
Turn Signal
OFF
Parking and interior lights
Headlights on
High Beams
Flashhighbeams Turning switch to the
position turns on the parking
lights, taillights, instrument panel
lights, side-marker lights, and rear
license plate lights. Turning the
switch to the position turns on
the headlights. If you leave the lights
on with the key removed from the
ignition switch, you will hear a
reminder tone when you open the
driver’s door. Push the lever back
untilyouhearaclicktoturnonthe
high beams. The blue high beam
indicator will come on (see page ).
Pull the lever back again to low
beams.
With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position and release the parking
brake. They remain on until you turn
the ignition switch of f , even if you
set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. 56
Turn Signal
Daytime Running L ights
Headlights High Beams
(Canadian Models)
Turn Signal and Headlights
62