2008 HONDA ELEMENT fuel

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

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .58 ............................
Instrument Panel .59
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators .60
.............................................
Gauges .66
...................................
Trip Meter .66
.....................................
Odometer .66
..................................
Fuel Gauge .67
..........
Check Fuel Cap Message .67
...................
Temperature Gauge .68
..................
Maintenance Minder .68
Controls Near the Steering ...........................................
Wheel .69
.
Windshield Wipers and Washers .70
...........
Turn Signal and Headlights .71
........
Instrument Panel Brightness .72
.................
Hazard Warning Button .73
.................
Rear Window Def ogger .73
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment .74
...............................
Keys and Locks .75
........................
Immobilizer System .76
.......................
Remote Transmitter .77
................................
Ignition Switch .79
......................................
Door Locks .80
......................
Power Door Locks .80
..................................
Rear Doors .81
............................................
Hatch .81
........................................
Tailgate .82 .................................................
Seats .83
........................
Seat Adjustments .83
Driver’s Seat Height
..............................
Adjustment .84
...................
FrontSeatArmrests.84
..........................
Head Restraints .85
..........
Reclining the Front Seats .86
...............
Folding the Rear Seats .87
..........
Removing the Rear Seats .89
..............................
Power Windows .91
.............................................
Mirrors .92
....
Adjusting the Power Mirrors .92
.................................
Rear Windows .93
.................................
Parking Brake .93
............................................
Skylight .93
.................................
Interior Lights .96
................................
Ceiling Light .96
.....................................
Spotlights .96
........................
Cargo Area Light .96
..................
Ignition Switch Light .96
...........
Interior Convenience Items .97
.......................
Beverage Holders .98
..........
Accessory Power Sockets .98
....................................
Glove Box .98
......................................
Sun Visor .99
..............................
Vanity Mirror .99
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
57
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ÎThe U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
:
Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
59
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
(P.61)
(P.64)
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST(VSA) SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P.61)
(P.65)
MAINTENANCE MINDER
INDICATOR (P.61)
LIGHT ON INDICATORSEAT BELT REMINDER
INDICATOR (P.60)
(P.62)
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR
LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P.62) SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
LOW TIRE PRESSURE
INDICATOR
(P.64)
VSA ACTIVATION
INDICATOR
(P.64) (P.63)
(P.63)
(P.60)
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
(P.63)
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
LAMP
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATORDOOR AND TAILGATE
OPEN MONITOR (P.63)TPMS INDICATOR
(P.60,236)
(P.60,237)
(P.60,235)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS) INDICATOR (P.61)
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This indicator reminds you that the
exterior lights are on. It comes on
when the light switch is in either theor position. If you turn the
ignition switch to the ACCESSORY
(I) or LOCK (0) position without
turning of f the light switch, this
indicator will stay on. A reminder
chime will also sound when you open
the driver’s door.
This indicator comes on with the
high beam headlights. For more
inf ormation, see page .
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the daytime running lights
(DRL) are on (see page ). This indicator comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
f luid when you see this indicator
come on (see page ).
When the indicator comes on, there
is about 2.8 U.S. gal (10.5
)of fuel
remaining in the tank bef ore the
needle reaches E. There is a small
reserve of f uel remaining in the tank
when the needle does reach E.
This indicator comes on as a
reminder that you must ref uel soon. The appropriate indicator comes on
in this display if the tailgate or any
door is not closed tightly.
All of the indicators in the monitor
display come on f or a f ew seconds
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position.
72
72 197
Canadian models only
Instrument Panel Indicators
Lights On Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Washer Level Indicator
Door and T ailgate Open Monitor
Low Fuel Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
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This shows the number of miles (U.S.)
or kilometers (Canada) driven since
you last reset it.Each trip meter works independently,
so you can keep track of two
dif f erent distances.The odometer shows the total
distance your vehicle has been
driven. It measures miles in U.S.
models and kilometers in Canadian
models. It is illegal under U.S.
federal law and Canadian provincial
regulations to disconnect, reset, or
alter the odometer with the intent to
change the number of miles or
kilometers indicated.
When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the last
selection is displayed.
To reset a trip meter, display it, and
then press and hold the select/reset
knob until the number resets to ‘‘0.0’’.
There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays by pressing the select/reset
knob repeatedly. Odometer
Trip Meter
Gauges
66
SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGE
TACHOMETER
TEMPERATURE GAUGE
ODOMETER/TRIP METER SELECT/RESET
KNOB
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This shows how much f uel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount. The needle
returns to the bottom after you turn
of f the ignition.Your vehicle’s onboard diagnostic
system will detect a loose or missing
f uel f ill cap as an evaporative system
leak. The f irst time a leak is detected
a ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’ message
appears on the information display.If the system still detects a leak in
your vehicle’s evaporative emissions
system, the malf unction indicator
lamp (MIL) comes on. If the f uel f ill
cap was not already tightened, turn
the engine of f , and check or
retighten the f uel f ill cap until it
clicks at least once. The MIL should
go off after several days of normal
driving once the cap is tightened or
replaced. If the MIL does not go of f ,
have your vehicle inspected by a
dealer. For more inf ormation, see
page .
Turn the engine of f , and conf irm the
f uel f ill cap is installed. If it is, loosen
it, then retighten it until it clicks at
least once. The message should go
off after several days of normal
driving once you tighten or replace
the f uel f ill cap. To scroll to another
display, press the select/reset knob.
The ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’ message
will appear each time you restart the
engine until the system turns the
message of f . 236
Gauges
Fuel Gauge Check Fuel Cap Message
Inst rument s and Cont rols
67
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.
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Bef ore you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use and how to check the
levels of important f luids. You also
need to know how to properly store
luggage or packages. The
inf ormation in this section will help
you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your vehicle, please
read the information in this section
first..............................
Break-in Period .140
.................
Fuel Recommendation .140
.........
Service Station Procedures .141
....................................
Ref ueling .141
Opening and Closing the
.......................................
Hood .142
...................................
Oil Check .143
.............
Engine Coolant Check .143
...............................
Fuel Economy .144
...
Accessories and Modif ications .147
.............................
Carrying Cargo .149
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
139
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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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