2006 HONDA ELEMENT fuel

2006 Element Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents

Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Important Handling Information........................................................................\
.............................iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.............................................4
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................7
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
.........................................51
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
...................... 89
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................123
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
......................................................................137
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................161
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................195
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................219
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada )...............................................................
.233
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................237
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
.............................................................................. I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Accord Value Package Audio System

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .52
............................
Instrument Panel .53
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators .54
.............................................
Gauges .58
...................................
Trip Meter .58
.....................................
Odometer .58
..................................
Fuel Gauge .59
..........
Check Fuel Cap Indicator .59
...................
Temperature Gauge .59
Controls Near the Steering .......................................
Wheel .60
.
Windshield Wipers and Washers .61
...........
Turn Signal and Headlights .62
........
Instrument Panel Brightness .63
.................
Hazard Warning Button .63
.................
Rear Window Def ogger .63
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment .64
...............................
Keys and Locks .65
........................
Immobilizer System .66
.......................
Remote Transmitter .67
................................
Ignition Switch .69
......................................
Door Locks .70
......................
Power Door Locks .70
..................................
Rear Doors .70
............................................
Hatch .71
........................................
Tailgate .72.................................................
Seats .73
........................
Seat Adjustments .73
Driver’s Seat Height ..............................
Adjustment .74
...................
FrontSeatArmrests .74
..........................
Head Restraints .75
........................
Rear Seat Access .75
..........
Reclining the Front Seats .76
...............
Folding the Rear Seats .77
..........
Removing the Rear Seats .79
..............................
Power Windows .81
.............................................
Mirrors .82
....
Adjusting the Power Mirrors .82
.................................
Rear Windows .83
.................................
Parking Brake .83
............................................
Skylight .83
...........
Interior Convenience Items .86
.......................
Beverage Holders .87
..........
Accessory Power Sockets .87
....................................
Glove Box .87
.................................
Interior Lights .88
................................
Ceiling Light .88
........................
Cargo Area Light .88
.....................................
Spotlights .88
..................
Ignition Switch Light .88
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
51

Î
ÎThe U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
53
IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR DOOR-OPEN
INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR LOW FUEL INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
TAILGATE AND HATCH
OPEN INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR
SEAT BELT
REMINDER
INDICATOR
SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
(P.57)
(P.55)(P.
56)
(P.55)
(P.55)(P.57)
(P.57)
(P.55)
(P.56)
(P.56)
(P.54)
(P.54,
210)
(P.54, 209)
(P.54,
211)
(P.54,
209)
CHECK FUEL CAP
INDICATOR(P. 59)

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
62
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

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.

Bef ore you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to 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 information in this section
first..............................
Break-in Period .124
.................
Fuel Recommendation .124
.........
Service Station Procedures .126
....................................
Ref ueling .126
Opening and Closing the .......................................
Hood .127
...................................
Oil Check .128
.............
Engine Coolant Check .128
...............................
Fuel Economy .129
...
Accessories and Modif ications .130
.............................
Carrying Cargo .132
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
123

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).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not tow a trailer.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Your vehicle is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 87 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise that can lead to engine damage.
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 may hear a knocking noise from
the engine if you drive the vehicle at
low engine speed (below about 1,000
rpm) in a higher gear. To stop this,
raise the engine speed by shif ting to
a lower gear. We recommend quality gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
On vehicles with manual transmission
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
124