2006 HONDA ELEMENT roof

Turn of f the engine, and set the
parkingbrake.Thenpulldownthe
lever, squeeze both sides of the pivot
while pushing up the red tab in the
lever, and pull the lever assembly
away from the ceiling.Push up the rear of the skylight.
Standing on the tailgate with the
hatch down, hold both sides of the
skylight and pull it toward you to
remove it f rom the vehicle roof .
To remove the skylight:
Skylight
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Bef ore lif ting the skylight, make sure
the roof of the vehicle is dry. Rain or
remaining water af ter car-washing may
get into the f rame of the skylight. In
winter, remove the buildup of snow on
the roof . If you try to tilt up the skylight in
below-f reezing temperatures, or when
it is covered with snow or ice, you can
damage it.
The maximum weight on the tailgate is
440 lbs (200 kg).

The XM satellites are in orbit over
the equator; therefore, objects south
of the vehicle may cause satellite
reception interruptions. To help
compensate f or this, ground-based
repeaters are placed in major
metropolitan areas.
Satellite signals are more likely to be
blocked by tall buildings and
mountains the f arther north you
travel f rom the equator. Carrying
large items on a roof rack can also
block the signal.
Playing the XMSatellite Radio
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Signal may be
blocked by
mountains or
large obstacles
to the south.
SATELLITE
GROUND
REPEATER

Depending on where you drive, you
may experience reception problems.
Interf erence can be caused by any of
these conditions:Driving on the north side of an
east/west mountain road.
Driving on the north side of a
large commercial truck on an
east/west road.
Driving in tunnels.
Driving on a road beside a vertical
wall, steep clif f , or hill to the south
of you.
Driving on the lower level of a
multi-tiered road.
Driving on a single lane road
alongside dense trees taller than
50 ft. (15 m) to the south of you.
Large items carried on a roof rack.
There may be other geographic
situations that could af f ect XM radio
reception. If your XM Radio service has expired
or you purchased your vehicle f rom
a previous owner, you can listen to a
sampling of the broadcasts available
on XM Satellite Radio. With the
ignition switch in the ACCESSORY
(I) or ON (II) position, push the
PWR/VOL knob to turn on the audio
system and press the XM button. A
variety of music types and styles will
play.
If you decide to purchase XM
satellite radio service, contact XM
Radio at
, or at
1-800-852-9696. You will need to give
them your radio I.D. number and
your credit card number. To get your
radio I.D. number, turn the TUNE knob until ‘‘0’’ appears in the display.
Your I.D. will appear in the display.
While waiting f or activation, make
sure your vehicle remains in an open
area with good reception. Once your
audio system is activated, you’ll be
able to listen to XM radio broadcasts.
XM Radio will continue to send an
activation signal to your vehicle f or
at least 12 hours from the activation
request. If the service has not been
activated after 36 hours, contact XM
Radio. Af ter you have registered with XM
Radio, keep your audio system in the
satellite radio mode while you wait
f or activation. This should take about
30 minutes.As required by the FCC:
Changes or modif ications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.
www.xmradio.com
Playing the XMSatellite Radio
Receiving Satellite Radio ServiceFeatures
105

Your vehicle has several convenient
storage areas:Cargo area side pockets
Glove box
Ceiling pocket (U.S. EX models
and Canadian Y package)
Door pockets
Seat-back pocket (U.S. EX models
and Canadian Y package)
Cargo area (including rear seats
when they are f olded down, f olded
to the side, or removed)
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your vehicle’s handling, stability,
stopping distance, and tires, and
make it unsaf e. Bef ore carrying any
type of cargo, be sure to read the
f ollowing pages. Roof rack (if installed) Seat-back bungees (U.S. EX
models and Canadian Y package)
Carrying Cargo
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CARGO AREA SIDE POCKET DOOR POCKETS
CARGO AREA GLOVE BOX
CEILING POCKET
SEAT-BACK BUNGEES SEAT-BACK POCKET

In addition, the total weight of the
vehicle, all passengers, accessories,
cargo, and trailer tongue load must
not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Both
areonalabelonthedriver’s
doorjamb.Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
under the seats and interf ere with
the driver’s ability to operate the
pedals or the proper operation of
the seats.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop. Theseparationnetcanbeusedto
hold back sof t, lightweight items
stored in the cargo area. Heavy
items should be properly secured on
the f loor of the cargo area. The net
may not prevent heavy items f rom
being thrown f orward in a crash or a
sudden stop. If you use an accessory roof rack,
the roof rack weight limit may be
lower. Ref er to the inf ormation that
came with your roof rack.
If you carry any items on a roof
rack,besurethetotalweightof
the rack and the items does not
exceed 165 lbs (75 kg).
If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the
tailgate or the hatch, exhaust gas
can enter the passenger area. To
avoid the possibility of , f ollow the
instructions on page . Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible. Tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop. If youfoldtherearseatsdown,
f old them up, or remove them, tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.
47
Carrying Cargo
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment Optional Separation Net
carbon
monoxide poisoning
Carrying Cargo in the Cargo A rea
or on a Roof Rack
134

Because your vehicle rides higher
of f the ground, it has a high center
of gravity that can cause it to roll
over if you make abrupt turns. Utility
vehicles have a signif icantly higher
roll over rate than other types of
vehicles.
To prevent rollovers or loss of
control:Take corners at slower speeds
than you would with a passenger
vehicle.
Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers whenever possible. Do not carry heavy cargo on the
roof . Do not modif y your vehicle in any
way that would raise the center of
gravity.
Your vehicle is equipped with a f our-
wheel drive (4WD) system. When
the system senses a loss of front-
wheel traction, it automatically
transf ers some power to the rear
wheels. This gives you better
traction and mobility.
You still need to exercise the same
care when accelerating, steering, and
brakingthatyouwouldinatwo-
wheel drive vehicle.
Your vehicle has a higher ground
clearance that allows you to travel
over bumps, obstacles, and rough
terrain. It also provides good
visibility so you can anticipate
problems earlier.
Four-wheel drive models
See page f or of f -highway drivingguidelines. 157
Driving Guidelines
138

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Avoid exceeding your vehicle’s
load limit. This puts excess stress
on the engine, brakes, and many
other vehicle parts. The load limit
is shown on the tire inf ormation
label on the driver’s doorjamb.
Driving less than 5 miles (8 km)
per trip, or in f reezing
temperatures, driving less than 10
miles (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot [over
90°F (32°C)] conditions.
Used primarily as a delivery
vehicle or taxi that is driven
mostly in stop-and-go traf f ic and/
or parked with the engine idling.
Operate your vehicle on
reasonable roads within the legal
speed limit.
Always use unleaded gasoline with
theproperoctanerating(seepage
).
Drive your vehicle regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers).
The maintenance schedule assumes
you will use your vehicle as normal
transportation for passengers and
their possessions. You should also
f ollow these recommendations:
Trailer towing, driving with a
loaded roof rack, or driving in
mountainous conditions.
Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-
iced roads.
Service your vehicle according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the maintenance schedules on the
f ollowing pages.
Follow the
maintenance schedule f or severe
conditions if you drive your vehicle
MAINLY under one or more of the
f ollowing conditions. If you only
drive under a ‘‘severe’’ condition, you
should f ollow the normal conditions
maintenance schedule.
Follow the
maintenance schedule f or severe
conditions.
124
OCCASIONALLY
Maintenance Schedule
Which Schedule to Follow
U.S. Owners Canadian Owners
Maint enance
163
NOTE:

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We recommend the use of Honda
parts and f luids whenever you have
maintenance done. U.S. Vehicles:
Youshouldcheckthefollowing
items at the specif ied intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perf orm
any check, turn to the appropriate
page listed.Engine oil level Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page .
Engine coolant level Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you f ill the f uel tank. See page .
Automatic transmission Check
the f luid level monthly. See page .
Brakes Check the f luid level
monthly. See page .
Tires Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread f or
wear and foreign objects. See page .
Lights Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
and license plate lights monthly.
See page .
According to state and federal
regulations, f ailure to perf orm
maintenance on the items marked
with will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all
maintenance services should be
perf ormed at the recommended time
or mileage period to ensure long-
term reliability.
Your authorized dealer knows your
vehicle best and can provide
competent, ef f icient service.
However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties
in effect. Maintenance may be done
by any qualif ied service f acility or
skilled person to keep your
warranties in ef f ect. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion, and
have the person who does the work
f ill out the maintenance record.
Check your warranty booklet f or
more inf ormation.
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177
188
179
128
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Maintenance Schedule
Servicing Your Vehicle Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of emissions control
devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using
parts that are ‘‘certif ied’’ to EPA
standards.Owner’s Maintenance Checks
164