2008 HONDA ELEMENT key

The lock tab on the passenger’s door
locks and unlocks only that door.
Pulling up on the driver’s door lock
tab only unlocks the driver’s door.
To lock the driver’s door, remove the
key f rom the ignition switch, pull the
outside door handle and push the
lock tab down or push the door lock
switch down. Release the handle,
then close the door.
To unlock the driver’s door f rom the
outside, turn the key and release it.
To lock all of the doors and hatch,
press the door lock switch on the
driver’s door, or press the lock tab
down on the driver’s door, or use the
keyontheoutsidelock.Pressingup
on the door lock switch will unlock
all of the doors and the hatch.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the LOCK (0) or
the ACCESSORY (I) position and
open the driver’s door. Remove the
key to turn of f the beeper.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shif t lever must be
in Park bef ore you can remove the
key f rom the ignition switch.
Power Door L ocks
Ignit ion Swit ch, Door L ocks
80
DOOR LOCK SWITCH
LOCK TAB
Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle.
Remove the key from the
ignition switch only when
parked.
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2008 Element

Lock the hatch by pushing down
the lock tab on the driver’s door
(see page ), or by using the
master key in the driver’s door
lock.
Lock or unlock the hatch with the
master door lock switch.
Useyourmasterkeytolockand
unlock the hatch. Turn the key
counterclockwise to lock the hatch,
and clockwise to unlock it.
To lock or unlock the hatch.
To open the rear door, pull the rear
door handle located in the rear door
edge. The rear door can be opened
only when the f ront door is open.
To close the doors, close the rear
door first, then the front door. The
f ront door cannot be latched without
f irst closing the rear door. Closing
the rear door on the f ront door will
damage both doors. 80
CONT INUED
Door L ocks
Hatch
Rear Doors
Inst rument s and Cont rols
81
UNLOCK
LOCK
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2008 Element

The ceiling light has a three-position
switch: ON, Door Activated, and
OFF.
In the Door Activated (center)
position, the light comes on when
you:Open any door.
Remove the key from the ignition.
If you do not open a door, the light
f ades out in about 30 seconds.
Unlock the doors with the key or
remote transmitter. Turn on the spotlight by pushing the
lens. Push the lens again to turn it
of f . You can use the spotlights at all
times. The cargo area light has a three-
position switch. In the center
position, the light comes on when
you open the hatch.
The ignition switch light comes on
when you unlock the driver’s door,
and f ades out about 30 seconds af ter
you close the door.
On EX and SC models
Interior Lights
Ceiling L ight Spotlights Cargo A rea L ight
Ignition Switch L ight
96
ON
OFF DOOR ACTIVATED
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2008 Element

Be caref ul when you are using the
beverage holders. A spilled liquid
that is very hot can scald you or your
passengers. Spilled liquids can also
damage the upholstery, and
electrical components in the interior.Your vehicle has one, two, or three
accessory power sockets, depending
on the model. All models have a
f ront accessory power socket on the
dashboard above the glove box.
EX and SC models have an accessory
power socket in the cargo area on
the passenger’s side.
The SC model has one additional
socket in the center console.
The f ront beverage holder is
removable. To remove it, push the
tab and pull it up. These sockets are intended to supply
power f or 12 volt DC accessories
that are rated 120 watts or less (10
amps). None of the sockets will
power an automotive type cigarette
lighter element. When more than
one socket is being used, the
combined power rating of the
accessories should be 120 watts or
less (10 amps).Open the glove box by pulling the
bottom of the handle. Close it with a
f irm push. Lock or unlock the glove
box with the master key.
On SC model
Beverage Holders A ccessory Power Sockets Glove Box
Interior Convenience Items
98
An open glove box can cause
serious injury to your passenger
inacrash,evenifthe
passenger is wearing the seat
belt.
Always keep the glove box
closed while driving.
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2008 Element

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
down, and hold it there while
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in the START (III)
position f or more than 15 seconds
at a time. If the engine does not
start right away, pause for at least
10 seconds bef ore trying again.
Press the clutch pedal down all the
way. The START (III) position
does not f unction unless the clutch
pedal is pressed.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
1.
2.
3.
4. 6.
5.
Manual transmission:
Automatic transmission:
Starting the Engine
158
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page .
76
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2008 Element

µ
µ µ
µ
Use neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from neutral to
another gear.
Press the brake
pedal and press the release button to
shif t f rom Park to reverse. To shif t
f rom reverse to neutral, come to a
completestop,andthenshift.
To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. You must also press the
release button to shift into Park. The
shif t lever must be in Park bef ore
you can remove the key f rom the
ignition switch.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page . Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear (1 through 5) f or your
speed and acceleration. You may
notice the transmission shifting up at
higher engine speeds when the
engine is cold. This helps the engine
warm up f aster.
To use D , press the
D buttonwhentheshiftleverisin
the ‘‘D’’ position. This position is simi-
lartoD,exceptonlythefirstthree
gears are selected instead of all f ive.
Use D when towing a trailer in hilly
terrain, or to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D can
also keep the transmission f rom
cycling between third and f ourth
gears in stop-and-go driving.
163
3
3
3 3
Automatic Transmission
Neutral (N)
Reverse (R) Shif t L ock Release
Drive (D)
Drive (D )
3
162
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2008 Element

µµThis position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop.
Use second gear:
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills.
For starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow.
To help reduce wheel spin.
When driving downhill with a
trailer. This position locks the
transmission in f irst gear. By
upshif ting and downshif ting through
1, 2, D , and D, you can operate the
transmission much like a manual
transmission without a clutch pedal.
If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
rpm below the red zone. This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.
For more power when climbing. Set the parking brake. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
1.
2.
3
CONT INUED
Second (2) First (1)
Engine Speed L imiterShif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission
Driving
163
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2008 Element

Insert the key in the shift lock
release slot.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to neutral.
Put a cloth on the edge of the shif t
lock release slot cover next to the
shif t lever. Using a f lat-tip
screwdriver, caref ully pry on the
edge of the cover to remove it. Remove the key from the shift
lock release slot, then reinstall the
cover. Make sure the notch on the
cover is on the right side. Press
the brake pedal, and restart the
engine.
If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by your dealer.
3. 4. 5.6.
Automatic Transmission
164
COVER
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT
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2008 Element