2008 HONDA ELEMENT battery

2008 Element Online Reference Owner's Manual
Contents

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety .............................................................................................................................. iii Important Handling Information .................................................................................................................... iv
Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) .................................................................................................... 4
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) .................................................... 7
Instruments and Controls
(indicators, gauges, dashboard, and steering column)
............................................ 57
Features (heating and cooling
, audio, steering wheel, and cruise control)
........................................................... 101
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ..................................................................... 139
Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 155
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 183
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) ............................. 221
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 245
Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ... 261
Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 265
Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)
1 00X31-SCV-6502

The instrument panel has many
indicators that give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle.
See page .
If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For more inf ormation,
see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more information, see page .This indicator has two f unctions:
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. It reminds you and your
passengers to f asten your seat belts.
A beeper also sounds if you have not
f astened your seat belt.
If you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position bef ore f astening
your seat belt, the beeper sounds
and the indicator f lashes. If you do
notfastenyourseatbeltbeforethe
beeper stops, the indicator stops
f lashing but remains on.
If your f ront passenger does not
f asten their seat belt, the indicator
comes on about 6 seconds af ter the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.
Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It is a reminder to check
the parking brake. A beeper
sounds if you drive with the
parking brake not f ully released.
Driving with the parking brake not
fully released can damage the
brakes and tires.
If it remains on af ter you have
fully released the parking brake
while the engine is running, or if it
comes on while driving, there
could be a problem with the brake
system. For more inf ormation, see
page .
2.
1.
236
235
235 237
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
Parking Brake and
Brake System
Indicator (Red)
Instrument Panel Indicators
60
U.S. Canada
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´
Ü
Õ
To replace the battery, remove the
round cover on the back of the
transmitter by turning it
counterclockwise with a coin. Insert
a new battery with the side facing
up, and reinstall the cushion ring.
Align the mark on the cover
with the mark on the
transmitter. Set the cover in place
andturnitclockwise.
If it takes several pushes on the
button to lock or unlock the doors
and the hatch, replace the battery as
soon as possible.
Battery type: CR2025
Avoid dropping or throwing the
transmitter.
Protect the transmitter from
extreme temperature.
Do not immerse the transmitter in
any liquid.
If you lose a transmitter, the
replacement needs to be
reprogrammed by your dealer.
Remote Transmitter
Replacing the Transmitter
BatteryRemote Transmitter Care
78
ROUND
COVER
BATTERY
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µµ
If the MAIN switch is OFF, the
passenger’s window cannot be raised
or lowered. Keep the MAIN switch
off whenyouhavechildreninthe
vehicle so they do not injure
themselves by operating the
passenger’s window unintentionally. To open/close the driver’s
window, push the window switch
f irmly down or up to the second
detent, and release it. The window
will automatically go up or down all
the way. To stop the window, pull/
push on the window switch brief ly. If the driver’s
window senses any obstacle while it
is closing automatically, it will
reverse direction, and then stop. To
close the window, remove the
obstacle, then use the window switch
again.
If the power windows do not operate
properly af ter resetting, have your
vehicle checked by your dealer. Pull and hold the driver’s window
switch to close the window
completely, then hold the switch
f or about 2 seconds.
Start the engine. Push down and
hold the driver’s window switch
until the window is f ully open.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position to raise or lower either
window. To open the window, push
the switch down and hold it. Release
the switch when you want the
window to stop. Pull back on the
switchandholdittoclosethe
window. If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, or the
driver’s window f use is removed, the
AUTO f unction may be disabled. If
this happens, the power window
system will need to be reset af ter
reconnecting the battery or installing
the fuse.
1.
2.
AUTO AUTO REVERSE
Power Windows
Inst rument s and Cont rols
91
DRIVER’S WINDOW SWITCH
MAIN SWITCH
Closing a power window on
someone’s hands or fingers can
cause serious injury.
Make sure your passenger is
away from the window before
closing it.
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If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, or the
radio f use is removed, the audio
system will disable itself . If this
happens, you will see ‘‘ENTER
CODE’’ in the f requency display the
nexttimeyouturnonthesystem.
Use the preset buttons to enter the
code. The code is on the radio code
card included in your owner’s
manual kit. When it is entered
correctly, the radio will start playing.
Your vehicle’s audio system may
disable itself if it is disconnected
f rom electrical power f or any reason.
To make it work again, you must
enter a specif ic f ive-digit code in the
preset buttons. Because there are
hundreds of number combinations
possible f rom f ive-digits, making the
system work without knowing the
exact code is nearly impossible.
If you lose the card, you must obtain
the code number f rom a dealer. To
do this, you will need the system’s
serial number.
You should have received a radio
code card that lists your audio
system’s code and serial numbers. It
is best to store this card in a saf e
place at home. In addition, you
should write the audio system’s
serial number in this owner’s manual.
If you make a mistake entering the
code, do not start over; complete the
sequence, then enter the correct
code. You have 10 tries to enter the
correct code. If you are unsuccessf ul
in 10 attempts, you must then leave
the system on f or 1 hour bef ore
trying again.On EX and SC models
Radio T hef t Protection
Features
131
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You can use the R button to quickly
set the time to the nearest hour.
Press the R button while pressing
the CLOCK button. If the displayed
time is before the half hour, pressing
Rsetstheclockbacktotheprevious
hour. If the displayed time is af ter
the half hour, pressing R sets the
clock f orward to the beginning of the
next hour.
For example:
1:06 will reset to 1:00
1:53 will reset to 2:00
To set the hour, press the H button
while pressing the CLOCK (SCAN/
RPT) button until the hour advances
to the desired time. Change the
minute by pressing the M button
while pressing the CLOCK (SCAN/
RPT) button until the minute
advances to the desired time.
Press and hold the CLOCK button
until the numbers f lash and you hear
abeep.Changethehourbypressing
the H button until the numbers
advance to the desired time. Change
the minute by pressing the M button
until the numbers advance to the
desired time.
If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, you may
need to set the clock.
LX model
On U.S. EX and SC models
Setting the Clock
132
CLOCK
BUTTON
H BUTTON R BUTTON TIME DISPLAY
M BUTTON R BUTTON
CLOCK BUTTON
TIME DISPLAY
H BUTTON M BUTTON
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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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This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm 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, and
instructions f or simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself .......................
Maintenance Saf ety .184
....................
Maintenance Minder .185
..............................
Fluid Locations .192
........................
Adding Engine Oil .193
Changing the Engine Oil and
...........................................
Filter .194
..............................
Engine Coolant .196
....................
Windshield Washers .197
.......................
Transmission Fluid .198
Automatic Transmission .......................................
Fluid .198
...
Manual Transsmission Fluid .199
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid .200
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid .200
....................
Power Steering Fluid .201
............
Cleaning the Body Panels .201
.............................................
Lights .202
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts .209
.....................................
Floor Mats .209
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .210
.................................
Wiper Blades .210
...........................................
Wheels .212
...............................................
Tires .212
...................
Checking the Battery .218
.............................
Vehicle Storage .219
265
Maintenance
Maint enance
183
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