2006 HONDA ELEMENT maintenance

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

Calif ornia Proposition 65 WarningThis product contains
or emits chemicals known to the
state of California to cause cancer
and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with one or
more recording devices commonly
ref erred to as event data recorders
or sensing and diagnostic modules.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Af terwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so
youcanrefertoitatanytime.
Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual
helps to keep your driving trouble-f ree while it preserves your investment.
When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your dealer’s staf f
is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your vehicle.
Your dealer is dedicated to your satisf action and will be pleased to answer
any questions and concerns. As you read this manual, you will
f ind inf ormation that is preceded by
a
symbol. This
inf ormation is intended to help you
avoid damage to your vehicle, other
property, or the environment.
Congratulations! Your selection of a 2006 Honda Element was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.
Introduction
WARNING:
i

µ
This section gives you important
inf ormation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts. It
explains how your airbags work. And
it tells you how to properly restrain
inf ants and children in your vehicle.
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 8
.......
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features . 9
.....................................
Seat Belts .10
.........................................
Airbags .11
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 12
.....
1 . Close and Lock the Doors . 12
...........
2 . Adjust the Front Seats . 12
............
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 14
...
4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 15
5. Fasten and Position the ............................
Seat Belts .15
6 . Maintain a Proper Sitting
................................
Position .17
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 19Additional Inf ormation About Your
.................................
Seat Belts .20
..
Seat Belt System Components . 20
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .20
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .21
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 21
Additional Inf ormation About Your .....................................
Airbags .23
......
Airbag System Components . 23
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .24
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 26
How the SRS Indicator .......................................
Works .27
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .28
.............................
Airbag Service .28
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 29
Protecting Children General ................................
Guidelines .30
All Children Must Be ...............................
Restrained .30
All Children Should Sit in a .................................
Back Seat .31 The Passenger’s Front Airbag
...............
Poses Serious Risks . 31
If You Must Drive with Several ...................................
Children .33
If a Child Requires Close ..................................
Attention .33
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 34
Protecting Inf ants and .........................
Small Children .35
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .35
.........
Protecting Small Children . 36
.....................
Selecting a Child Seat .37
....................
Installing a Child Seat .38
...............................
With LATCH .39
.........
With a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 41
..............................
With a Tether .43
...........
Protecting Larger Children . 44
...............
Checking Seat Belt Fit . 44
..................
Using a Booster Seat . 45
When Can a Larger Child Sit in .........................................
Front .45
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 46
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 47
...................................
Saf ety Labels .48
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
7

µ
You’ll f ind many saf ety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Therecommendationsonthispage
are the ones we consider to be the
most important.
A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags are
designed to supplement seat belts,
not replace them. So even though
your vehicle is equipped with airbags,
make sure you and your passengers
always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly (see page ).
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical f ailure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility
of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition f requently,
and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance (see page ). Excessive speed is a major f actor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed, the greater the
risk, but serious injuries can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
f aster than is saf e f or current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your f riends
drink and drive, either.
While airbags can save lives, they
can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Inf ants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to f ollow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. Children age12and under should
ride properly restrained in a back
seat. Infants and small children
should be restrained in a child seat.
Larger children should use a booster
seat and a lap/shoulder belt until
they can use the belt properly
without a booster (see pages ).
15
163
46
30
Important Saf ety Precautions
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
K eep Your Vehicle in Saf e
Condition Control Your Speed
Don’t Drink and Drive Be Aware of Airbag Hazards Restrain All Children
8

CONT INUED
For added protection, the f ront seat
belts are equipped with automatic
seat belt tensioners. When activated,
the tensioners immediately tighten
the belts to help hold the driver and
a f ront passenger in place.For saf ety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out f ully, and look f or
f rays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
the belts retract easily. If a belt does
not retract easily, cleaning the belt
may correct the problem (see page
). Any belt that is not in good
condition or working properly will
not provide good protection and
should be replaced as soon as
possible.
Honda provides a lif etime warranty
on seat belts f or U.S. models. See
your
booklet f or details.
The tensioners are designed to
activate in any collision severe
enough to cause f ront airbag
inf lation.
The tensioners can also be activated
during a collision in which the f ront
airbags
. In this case, the
airbags would not be needed, but the
additional restraint could be helpf ul.
When the tensioners are activated,
the seat belts will remain tight until
they are unbuckled in the normal
manner.
If the f ront seat belt tensioners ever
activate, they must be replaced as
the belts will no longer retract
properly. 185
Honda Warranty Inf ormation
do not deploy
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt Maintenance
A utomatic Seat Belt T ensioners
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
21

Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance f ree, and there are no
parts you can saf ely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. If a
f ront airbag inf lates, the seat belt
tensioners must also be replaced.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by a dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on brief ly and go of f
(see page ). If it doesn’t come on,
stays on, or comes on while driving
without a passenger in the f ront seat,
have the system checked. This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does
mean there is a problem with your
side airbags. 55
Standard on U.S. EX models andCanadian Y package
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Airbag Service
How the Side Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
An airbag ever inf lates. T he SRS indicat or alert s you t o a
problem.
not
28
U.S. Canada

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)

µ
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.
1.
2.
3.
174
165 166
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