2007 HONDA ELEMENT steering

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to
perform more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer. This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance minder messages on
the information display, a
maintenance record, and instructions
for simple maintenance tasks you
may want to take care of yourself. ......................
Maintenance Saf ety .178
....................
Maintenance Minder .179
....................
Maintenance Record .186
..............................
Fluid Locations .188
........................
Adding Engine Oil .189
Changing the Engine Oil and
...........................................
Filter .190
..............................
Engine Coolant .192
....................
Windshield Washers .193
.......................
Transmission Fluid .194
Automatic Transmission .......................................
Fluid .194
...
Manual Transsmission Fluid .195
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid .196
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid .196
....................
Power Steering Fluid .197
............
Cleaning the Body Panels .197
.............................................
Lights .198
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts .205
.....................................
Floor Mats .205
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .206
.................................
Wiper Blades .206
...........................................
Wheels .208
...............................................
Tires .208
...................
Checking the Battery .214
.............................
Vehicle Storage .215
261
Maintenance
Maint enance
177

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Maintenance Minder
185
: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty on page .
Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 km).
Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 only if they are noisy.
If the message ‘‘SERVICE’’ does not appear more than 12 months after the
display is reset, change the engine oil every year.
Independent of the maintenance items in the information display, replace
the brake fluid every 3 years.
NOTE: 1:
2:
186
Maintenance Main Items
Replace engine oil
Replace engine oil and oil filter
Inspect front and rear brakes
Check parking brake adjustment
Inspect these items: Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots
Suspension components
Driveshaft boots
Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Exhaust system
Fuel lines and connections Maintenance Sub Items
Rotate tires
Replace air cleaner element If you drive in dusty conditions, replace
every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
Replace dust and pollen filter If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high
concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
Inspect drive belt
Replace transmission fluid Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle
speeds results in higher transmission temperatures.
This requires transmission fluid changes more
frequently than recommended by the maintenance
minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under
these conditions, have the transmission fluid
changed at 60,000 miles (100,000 km), then every
30,000 miles (48,000 km) .
Replace spark plugs
Inspect valve clearance
Replace engine coolant
Replace rear differential fluid (4WD models only)
A
B
Symbol
Symbol
1
2
3
4
5
Automatic transmission
61
1
2
Maintenance Minder

Fluid Locations
188
RADIATOR CAP
ENGINE
COOLANT
RESERVOIR WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
POWER
STEERING FLUID
(Red cap) ENGINE OIL
DIPSTICK
(Orange tab)
BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
CLUTCH FLUID
(Manual
Transmission only)
(Gray cap)
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)

A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently, and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
To clean the gray composite body
panels, wash them with soap and
water only. Do not apply wax to the
panels; it will cause discoloration. Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. You may use another power
steering f luid as an emergency
replacement, but have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
Check the level on the side of the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
The f luid should be between the
UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL.
If not, add power steering f luid to the
UPPER LEVEL.
Pour the f luid slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill any. Clean up any
spill immediately; it could damage
components in the engine
compartment.
The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If it is not, add
brake f luid to bring it up to that level.
Use the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
A low f luid level can indicate a leak
in the clutch system. Have this
system inspected as soon as possible.
If equipped with body panels
Manual Transmission only
Cleaning the Body Panels
Power Steering Fluid
Clutch Fluid
Brake and Clutch Fluid, Power Steering Fluid, Cleaning the Body Panels
Maint enance
197
UPPER LEVEL
LOWER LEVEL
MAX
MAX
Turning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.

Replace your tires with radial tires of
the same size, load range, speed
rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall).
Mixing radial and bias-ply tires on
your vehicle can reduce braking
ability, traction, and steering
accuracy. Using tires of a dif f erent
size or construction can cause the
ABS to work inconsistently.
TheABSworksbycomparingthe
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally
supplied with the vehicle. Tire size
and construction can affect wheel
speed and may cause the system to
activate.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires according to the
maintenance messages displayed on
the information display. Move the
tires to the positions shown in the
chart each time they are rotated. If
you purchase directional tires, rotate
only f ront-to-back.
In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you f eel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed f rom the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance.
CONT INUED
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tire Rotation
T ire Maintenance
Tires
Maint enance
211
Front
Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
On vehicles with aluminum wheels,
improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle’s wheels. Use only Honda
wheel weights f or balancing.

Turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Make sure the
headlights and all oth er
accessories are off.
If
something electrical in your
vehicle stops working, check for a
blown fuse first. Determine from the
chart on pages and , or the
diagram on the f use box lid, which
f use or f uses control that device.
Check those f uses f irst, but check all
the f uses bef ore deciding that a
blown f use is the cause. Replace any
blown f uses, and check if the device
works.
The interior f use box is underneath
the steering column. To remove the
f use box lid, turn the knobs
counterclockwise and pull the lid out
of its hinges.
The vehicle’s f uses are located in
two f use boxes. The under-hood f use
box is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side. To
open it, push the tabs as shown.
Remove the cover f rom the f use
box.
1.
2. 237 238
Checking and Replacing Fuses
Fuses
234
TAB
UNDER-HOOD
INTERIOR
KNOBS

µ
µ µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
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Specifications
T
echnical Inf ormat ion
245
Air Conditioning Fuses
Battery Lights Tires Alignment
HFC-134a
(R-134a)
12 V 60/55 W (H4/HB2)
0°13’
0.08
in (2.0 mm)
0.0in(0mm)
Refrigerant
type
Charge quantity
Lubricant type Interior
Under-hood
Capacity 12 V 45 AH/20 HR
Headlights
Headlights
High Beam
Headlights Low Beam
Front turn signal/parking
lights
Front side marker lights
Rear turn signal lights
Brake/Taillights
Back-up lights
License plate lights
Ceiling light
Spotlights
Cargo area light
High-mount brake light 12 V
12
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
21 W
10
W
8W 10
W
3CP
18
W (21 CP)
21/5
W
21
W
3CP 21/5
W
12
V 60 W
12 V 55 W
12 V
12 V 5 W
P215/70R16 99S
0°24’ 1°00’
Size
Pr essure
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
35
psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm
)
33
psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm
)
P225/55R18
97H
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm)
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
28/8 W
See page237or the fuse label
attached to the inside of the fuse
box door under the steering
column.
See page238or the fuse box
cover.
1°50’
Toe-in
Camber
Caster
1°06’
Front/Rear
Front
Rear
Spare
All models except SC
SC model
1:
2:
(HB3)
(H11) Front
Rear
Front
Rear
Front
1
12
1
1
2
1
2 2
2
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
17.6
µ19.4 oz (500 µ550 g)
12 V µND-OIL8

CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .143
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) .79
..............
Accessory Power Sockets .97
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .190
.........
Advice f or Pregnant Women .18
.............................
Airbag (SRS) . 11, 24
...
Airbags, Additional Information .24
...
Additional Safety Precautions .36
.............................
Airbag Service .35
How the Passenger Airbag Of f
......................
Indicator Works .34
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .34
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .33
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .27
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .31
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work .32
........................
SRS Components .24
..............
Air Conditioning System .102
.........................................
Usage .103
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .209 ......................................
Alignment .245
......................................
Antif reeze .192
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator . 61, 162
...................................
Operation .161
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 129
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 79
......................
Armrests, Front Seat .84
................................
Audio System .107
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 22
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 133
..............
Automatic Transmission . 155
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .244
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 194
.......................................
Shif ting .155
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 155
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 155
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 158
......................
Auxiliary Input Jack .125
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 60, 231
............................
Jump Starting .227 ..............................
Maintenance .214
............................
Specif ications .245
..............................
Bef ore Driving .137
..................................
Belts, Seat . 10, 20
...........................
Beverage Holders .97
...................................
Body Panels .197
..................................
Booster Seats .52
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 161
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 138
....................
Bulb Replacement . 203
...........................................
Fluid .196
.........................................
Parking .93
.................
System Indicator . 60, 233
........................
Wear Indicators .161
.............................
Braking System .160
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 138
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 72
........................
Brights, Headlights .72
Index
A
B
INDEX
I