2007 HONDA ELEMENT traction control

Because your vehicle rides higher
off the ground, it has a high center
of gravity that can cause it to roll
over if you make abrupt turns. Utility
vehicl es have a signifi cantly higher
roll over rate than other types of
ve hicles.
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 modify your vehicle in any
way that would raise the center of
gravity. Your
vehicle is equipped with a four-
wheel drive (4WD) system. When
the system senses a loss of front-
wheel traction, it automatically
transfers 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. 173
Driving Guidelines
150

The VSA system cannot enhance the
vehicle’s driving stability in all
situ ations and does not control your
vehicle’s entire braking system. It is
still your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety.
The
vehicle stability assist (VSA)
system helps to stabilize the vehicle
during cornering if the vehicle turns
more or less than desired. It also
assists you in maintaining traction
while accelerating on loose or
slippery road surfaces. It does this
by regulating the engine’s output and
by selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA activates, you may notice
that the engine does not respond to
the accelerator in the same way it
does at other times. You will also see
the VSA activation indicator blink. When
VSA activates, you will see the
VSA activation indicator blink (see
page ).
The VSA system indicator (see page
) comes on and stays on when
there is a problem with the VSA
system. The VSA activation indicator
will also come on. If this indicator comes on while
driving, pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e, and turn of f the
engine. Reset the system by
restarting the engine. If the VSA
system indicator stays on, or comes
back on while driving, have the VSA
system inspected by your dealer.
If the indicator does not come on
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON (II) position, there may be a
problem with the VSA system. Have
your dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible.
Without VSA, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability,
but it will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement.
64
64 VSA A ctivation Indicator
Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
Driving
165

VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if you turn ed it
off the last time you drove the
vehicle.
Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malfunction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page ).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would if
your vehicle was not equipped with
VSA.
Immediately af ter f reeing your
vehicle, be sure to switch the VSA on
again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA and
traction control systems switched off. In certain unusual conditions when
your vehicle gets stuck in shallow
mud or f resh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA temporarily
switched of f . When the VSA system
is of f , the traction control system is
alsooff.Youshouldonlyattemptto
f ree your vehicle with the VSA of f if
you are not able to f ree it when the
VSA is on.
This button is under the driver’s side
vent. Press it to turn the VSA system
on or of f .
When VSA is off, the VSA activation
indicator comes on as a reminder.
Pressing the switch again turns the
system back on. 209
VSA and Tire Sizes
VSA Of f Switch
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
166
VSA OFF SWITCH

Your vehicle has been designed
primarily to carry passengers and
their cargo. You can also use it to
tow a trailer if you carefully observe
the load limits, use the proper
equipment, and follow the guidelines
in this section.
The weight that
the tongue of a fully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be
approximately 10 % of the total
trailer weight. Too much tongue
load reduces front-tire traction and
steering control. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway.
Be sure to read the
on page
if you plan to tow of f paved
surf aces.
The
maximum allowable weight of the
trailer and everything in or on it
must not exceed 1,500 lbs (680 kg).
Towing a trailer that is too heavy
can seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. It can
also damage the engine and
drivetrain.
173
Driving Of f -
Highway Guidelines section
CONT INUED
Load Limits
Tongue Load:
T otal T railer Weight:
Towing a Trailer
Driving
167
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.

Thediagramsinthissectiongive
you the dimensions and capacities of
your vehicle and the locations of the
identif ication numbers. It also
includes inf ormation you should
know about your vehicle’s tires and
emissions control systems.................
Identif ication Numbers .242
................................
Specif ications .244
DOT Tire Quality Grading
......................
(U.S. Vehicles) .246
Unif orm Tire Quality ..................................
Grading .246
.................................
Treadwear .246
......................................
Traction .246
.............................
Temperature .247
.................................
Tire Labeling .248
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)-Required .............
Federal Explanation .249 .......................
Emissions Controls .251
.....................
The Clean Air Act .251
Crankcase Emissions Control
....................................
System .251
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System .251
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery .251
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls .252
....................
PGM-FI System .252
Ignition Timing Control
................................
System .252
Three Way Catalytic ...........................
Converter .252
....................
Replacement Parts .252
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .253
Emissions Testing ......................... 254
T echnical Inf ormation
Technical Inf ormation
241

µ
Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For
example: The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
All passenger vehicle tires must
conf orm to Federal Saf ety
Requirements in addition to these
grades. Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A Treadwear Traction AA, A, B, C
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
246

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
Tailgete............................................
Locks .82
..............................
Open Monitor .63
..........
Taillights, Changing Bulbs .203
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected .217
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .246
.....
Emissions Control Systems .251
..........
State Emissions Testing .254
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .253
.....................
Tensioners, Seat Belt .22
.......................
Temperature Gauge .68
..............
Tether Anchorage Points .50 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
..................................
(TPMS) .163
.......................................
Indicator .65
................
Thef t Protection, Radio .129
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .253
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel .74
..........................
Time, Setting the .130
....................................
Tire Chains .213
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .219
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .246
.................................
Tire Labeling .248
...............................................
Tires .208
..............................
Air Pressure .209
.........................
Checking Wear .210
..........................
Compact Spare .218
....
DOT Tire Quality Grading .246
......................................
Inf lation .208
..................................
Inspection .210
.....
Low Pressure Indicator . 64, 163
..............................
Maintenance .211
...................................
Replacing .211
......................................
Rotating .211
...........................................
Snow .213
............................
Specif ications .245
................................
Tire Chains .213
...................
VSA and Tire Sizes .166 ...................
Tools, Tire Changing .219
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer .167
................................
Emergency .239
...
Equipment And Accessories .169
.............................
Weight Limit .167
.....
Trailer, Driving Saf ely With a .171
.............................
Trailer Loading .168
...........................
Traction Devices .213
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .194
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .195
..................
Fluid Selection . 194, 195
..............
Identif ication Number .243
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 155
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 153
......................
Transmitter, Remote .77
...................................
Treadwear .246
.......................................
Trip Meter .66
....................................
Turn Signals .71
...................
Stereo Sound System . 107
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .215
Supplemental Restraint ................................
System . 11, 24
......................................
Servicing .35
.........................
SRS Indicator . 33, 61
...................
System Components . 24
..................................
Synthetic Oil .190
Index
T
VIII
Turn Signal and Hazard
Warning Indicators .................. 62