2008 HONDA ELEMENT change time

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.
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.
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.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your authorized dealer f or service.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 % ethanol by
volume and up to 15 % MTBE by
volume. Do not use gasoline
containing methanol.
On vehicles with manual transmission
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period Fuel Recommendation
140
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If this indicator comes on, the anti-
lock f unction of the braking system
has shut down. The brakes still work
like a conventional system, but
without anti-lock. You should have
your dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible.
If the indicator comes on while
driving, test the brakes as instructed
on page .Test your brakes as instructed on
page . If the brakes f eel normal,
drive slowly and have your vehicle
repaired by your dealer as soon as
possible. Avoid sudden hard braking
which could cause the rear wheels to
lock up and possibly lead to a loss of
control.
The VSA indicator will come on
alongwiththeABSindicator.
It only helps with steering
control during braking. such as trying to take a
corner too f ast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe
speed f or the road and weather
conditions.
Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe
or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your vehicle to veer
into oncoming traffic or off the road.
on loose or
uneven surf aces, such as gravel or
snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock.
If the ABS indicator and the brake
system indicator come on together,
and the parking brake is f ully
released, the EBD system may also
be shut down. 237 237
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
ABS Indicator
Important Saf ety Reminders
A BS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the
vehicle. A BS will not prevent a skid that
results f rom changing direction
abruptly,
A BS cannot prevent a loss of
stability.
A vehicle with A BS may require a
longer distance to stop
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CONT INUED
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.
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 surf aces. 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.
The VSA system cannot enhance the
vehicle’s driving stability in all
situations 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.
When VSA activates, you will see the
VSA activation indicator blink (see
page ).
64
64
Changes or modif ications not expressly approved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with IndustryCanada Standard RSS-210.Operation is subject to the f ollowing twoconditions: (1) this device may not causeinterf erence, and (2) this device mustaccept any interf erence that may causeundesired operation of the device.Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator
VSA A ctivation Indicator
Driving
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Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA) System
2008 Element

To achieve a proper tongue load,
start by loading 60 % of the load
toward the front of the trailer and
40 % toward the rear, then re-adjust
the load as needed.The maximum allowable weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, all
accessories, all cargo, and the
tongue load is: The maximum allowable weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, all
accessories, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed:
Thebestwaytoconfirmthatall
loads are within limits is to check
them at a public scale.
Using a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge, check the tongue
load the f irst time you set up a
towing combination (a f ully-loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.
on the f ront axle
on the rear axle Checking L oads
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR): Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GA WR):
Towing a Trailer
174
2,300 lbs (1,045 kg)
2,205 lbs (1,000 kg)
4,450 lbs (2,020 kg)
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If you do not perf orm the indicated
maintenance, negative mileage is
displayed and begins to blink af ter
the vehicle has been driven 10 miles
(10 km) or more.
When the remaining engine oil lif e is
0 percent, the engine oil lif e indicator
will blink. The display comes on
everytimeyouturntheignition
switch to the ON (II) position. The
maintenance minder indicator
( ) also comes on and remains
on in the instrument panel. When
you see this message, immediately
have the indicated maintenance done
by your dealer.
The maintenance item code or codes
indicate the main and sub items
required at the time of the oil change
(see page ).
You can switch the information
display f rom the engine oil lif e
display to the odometer or the trip
meter. Press and release the select/
reset knob on the instrument panel.
Whentheengineoillifeis15to1
percent, the maintenance minder
indicator ( ) comes on every
time you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, then it goes out
if you switch the inf ormation display.
When you see this message, have
the indicated maintenance
perf ormed by your dealer as soon as
possible.
Negative mileage means your
vehicle has passed the maintenance
required point.
Immediately have the indicated
maintenance done by your dealer.
188
CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
187
NEGATIVE MILEAGE
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Your dealer will reset the display
af ter completing the required
maintenance service. You will see
‘‘OIL LIFE 100%’’ on the inf ormation
display the next time you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
If maintenance service is done by
someone other than your dealer,
reset the maintenance minder as
f ollows:Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position.
Press the select/reset knob
repeatedly until the engine oil lif e
is displayed.
All maintenance items displayed on
the inf ormation display are in code.
For an explanation of these
maintenance codes, see page .
To change the inf ormation display
f rom the engine oil lif e display to the
odometer or the trip meter, press
and release the select/reset knob.
When the engine oil lif e is 0 percent
or negative mileage, the
maintenance minder indicator
( )remainsonevenif you
change the inf ormation display.
Immediately have the service
perf ormed, and make sure to reset
the display as described on the
f ollowing.
1.
2.
191
Maintenance Minder
Resetting the Engine Oil Lif e
Display
Maintenance Main Items and Sub
Items
188
MAINTENANCE MAIN ITEM
MAINTENANCE SUB ITEM(S)
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ÎÎÎ
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .207
..............................
Brake Lights .207
................
Front Parking Lights .204
........
Front Side Marker Lights .205
.................................
Headlights .202
....................
High-mount Brake .208
....................
Rear License Plate .208
............................
Specif ications .250
....................
Turn Signal Lights .204
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .202
................................
Bungee Cords .153
............................
Capacities Chart .249
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .54
.............................
Carrying Cargo .149
.............
CAUTION, Explanation of .iii
.........................................
CD Care .128
...................................
CD Changer .125
.......................
CD Error Message .126
.......
CD Changer Error Message .127
.......................................
CD Player .119
.................................
Ceiling Pocket .97
........................
Certif ication Label .246 ............................................
Chains .217
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .223
.................................
Changing Oil .194
........................................
How to .194
......................................
When to .185
...
Charging System Indicator .60,235
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .157
.....................................
Child Saf ety .37
Child Seats
......
LATCH Anchorage System .46
...........................
Lower Anchors .46
..........
Tether Anchorage Points .50
..........
Children, Protecting Larger .51
............
Cleaning the Body Panels .201
..............................................
Clock .132
.........................
Clock, Setting the .132
...................................
Clutch Fluid .201
........................
CO in the Exhaust .256
............
Cold Weather, Starting in .158
..............................
Compact Spare .222
.................
Consumer Inf ormation .262
.............
Controls, Instruments and .57
Coolant
........................................
Adding .196
....................................
Checking .143
.........................
Proper Solution .196 ...................
Temperature Gauge .68
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .256
................
Cruise Control Indicator .62
............
Cruise Control Operation .135
................
Cup (Beverage) Holders .98
.............
Customer Service Of f ice .262
...............
DANGER, Explanation of .iii
...................................
Dashboard .4,58
............
Daytime Running Lights .72
.......................................
Indicator .62
.................................
Dead Battery .231
.........
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .264
........................
Def og and Def rost .105
................
Def ogger, Rear Window .73
..............
Def rosting the Windows .105
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .200
....................................
Dimensions .248
...............
Dimming the Headlights .71
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .198
..................................
Engine Oil .143
..........................
Directional Signals .71
Index
D
C
II
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CONT INUED
...................
Stereo Sound System .107
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .219
Supplemental Restraint
................................
System .11,24
......................................
Servicing .35
.........................
SRS Indicator .33,61
...................
System Components .24
..................................
Synthetic Oil .194
Tailgate
............................................
Locks .82
..............................
Open Monitor .63
..........
Taillights, Changing Bulbs .207
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected .221
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .251
.....
Emissions Control Systems .256
....................
Emissions Testing .259
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .258
.....................
Tensioners, Seat Belt .22
.......................
Temperature Gauge .68
..............
Tether Anchorage Points .50 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
..................................
(TPMS) .169
.......................................
Indicator .65
................
Thef t Protection, Radio .131
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .258
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel .74
..........................
Time, Setting the .132
....................................
Tire Chains .217
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .223
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .251
.................................
Tire Labeling .253
...............................................
Tires .212
..............................
Air Pressure .213
........................................
Chains .217
.........................
Checking Wear .214
..........................
Compact Spare .222
....
DOT Tire Quality Grading .251
......................................
Inf lation .212
..................................
Inspection .214
.....
Low Pressure Indicator .64,169
..............................
Maintenance .215
...................................
Replacing .215
......................................
Rotating .215
...........................................
Snow .216
............................
Specif ications .250
...................
VSA and Tire Sizes .172 ...................
Tools, Tire Changing .223
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer .173
................................
Emergency .243
...
Equipment And Accessories .175
.............................
Weight Limit .173
.....
Trailer, Driving Saf ely With a .177
.............................
Trailer Loading .174
...........................
Traction Devices .216
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .198
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .199
..................
Fluid Selection .198,199
..............
Identif ication Number .247
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .161
..................
Shif ting the Manual .159
......................
Transmitter, Remote .77
...................................
Treadwear .251
.......................................
Trip Meter .66
....................................
Turn Signals .71
Index
T
VIII
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