2009 HONDA ELEMENT change time

ABS Indicator
If this indicator comes on, the anti-
lock function 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 page297.
If the ABS indicator and the brake
system indicator come on together,
and the parking brake is fully
released, the EBD system may also
be shut down. Test your brakes as instructed on
page297.If the brakes feel 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
along with the ABS indicator.
Important Safety Reminders
ABS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the
vehicle.
It only helps with steering
control during braking. ABS will not prevent a skid that
results from changing direction
abruptly,
such as trying to take a
corner too fast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe
speed for the road and weather
conditions.
ABS cannot prevent a loss of
stability. 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.
A vehicle with ABS may require a
longer distance to stop on loose or
uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)226
2009 Element

Tongue Load: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. 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.
●Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR):
The maximum allowable weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, all
accessories, all cargo, and the
tongue load is:
4,450 lbs (2,020 kg)●Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR):
The maximum allowable weight of
the vehicle axles is:2,300 lbs (1,045 kg)
on the front axle
2,205 lbs (1,000 kg)
on the rear axle Checking Loads
The best way to confirm that all loads
are within limits is to check them at a
public scale. For public scales in your
area, check your local phone book,
or contact your trailer dealer or
rental agency for assistance.
If you cannot get to a public scale,
you can estimate the total trailer
weight by adding the weight of your
trailer (as quoted by the
manufacturer) with everything in or
on the trailer.
If you normally pull the same load
each time you tow a trailer, you can
use a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge to check the
tongue load the first time you set up
a towing combination (a fully loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.
CONTINUED
Towing a Trailer
233
Driving
2009 Element

The maintenance item code or codes
indicate the main and sub items
required at the time of the oil change
(see page246).
You can switch the information
display from the engine oil life
display to the odometer or the trip
meter. Press and release the select/
reset knob on the instrument panel.
When the engine oil life is 15 to 1
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 information display.
When you see this message, have
the indicated maintenance performed
by your dealer as soon as possible.
When the remaining engine oil life is
0 percent, the engine oil life indicator
will blink. The display comes on
every time you turn the ignition
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.
If you do not perform the indicated
maintenance, negative distance
traveled is displayed and begins to
blink after the vehicle has been
driven 10 miles (10 km) or more.
Negative distance traveled means
your vehicle has passed the
maintenance required point.
Immediately have the indicated
maintenance done by your dealer.
NEGATIVE DISTANCE TRAVELED
U.S. model is shown.
CONTINUED
Maintenance Minder
245
Maintenance
2009 Element

To change the information display
from the engine oil life display to the
odometer or the trip meter, press and
release the select/reset knob.
When the engine oil life is 0 percent
or negative distance traveled, the
maintenance minder indicator (
)
remains on even if you change the
information display.
Immediately have the service
performed, and make sure to reset
the display as described as follows. Maintenance Main Items and Sub
Items
All maintenance items displayed on
the information display are in code.
For an explanation of these
maintenance codes, see page249.Resetting the Engine Oil Life
Display
Your dealer will reset the display
after completing the required
maintenance service. You will see
‘‘
OIL LIFE 100% ’’on the information
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
follows:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position.
2. Press the select/reset knob repeatedly until the engine oil life
is displayed.
MAINTENANCE MAIN ITEM
MAINTENANCE SUB ITEM(S)
Maintenance Minder246
2009 Element

Heating and Cooling
..................
104
Hood, Opening and Closing the
..........................................
200
Horn
............................................
69
Hydraulic Clutch
........................
258
I
Identification Number, Vehicle
...................................
306
Ignition Keys
.........................................
75
Switch
......................................
79
Immobilizer System
.....................
76
Important Safety Precautions
.........
6
Indicators, Instrument Panel
........
57
ABS (Anti-lock Brake)
..............
59
Brake (Parking and Brake System)
.........................
58,297
Charging System
..............
58,295
Cruise Control
..........................
60
Cruise Main
.............................
60
Door and Tailgate Open
...........
61
DRL (Daytime Running Lights)
..................................
60 High Beam
...............................
61
Key (Immobilizer System)
.......
60
Lights On
.................................
61
Low Fuel
..................................
61
Low Oil Pressure
..............
58,295
Low Tire Pressure
.............
62,227
Maintenance Minder
.........
59,243
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
.............................
58,296
Passenger Airbag Off
...............
32
Seat Belt Reminder
.............
18,58
Side Airbag Off
....................
32,59
SRS
.....................................
31,59
TPMS
................................
63,228
Turn Signal and Hazard Warning
...............................
60
VSA OFF
..................................
62
VSA System
.............................
62
Washer Level
...........................
61
Individual Map Lights
..................
95
Infant Restraint
............................
40
Infant Seats
..................................
40
Tether Anchorage Point
...........
48
Inflation, Proper Tire
..................
271
Recommended Pressures
.......
272
Inside Mirror
...............................
93 Inspection, Tire
..........................
273
Installing a Child Seat
..................
43
Instrument Panel
..........................
57
Instrument Panel Brightness
.......
72
Instruments and Controls
.............
55
Interior Lights
..............................
95
Introduction
...................................
i
iPod
®Error Messages
................
172
J
Jacking up the Vehicle
...............
283
Jack, Tire
...................................
283
Jump Starting
.............................
291
K
Keys
.............................................
75
L
Label, Certification
.....................
306
Lane Change, Signaling
...............
71
Lap/Shoulder Belt
.................
14,19
CONTINUED
Index
V
INDEX
2009 Element

How Your Side Curtain AirbagsWork
....................................
30
SRS Indicator
.........................
31,59
START (Ignition Key Position).....
79
Starting the Engine
....................
216
In Cold Weather at High Altitude
................................
216
With a Dead Battery
................
291
State Emissions Testing
.............
319
Steam Coming from Engine
.......
293
Steering Wheel Adjustment
...............................
74
Anti-theft Column Lock
............
79
Buttons
...........................
191,193
Stereo Sound System
.................
109
Storing Your Vehicle
..................
278
Sun Visor
...................................
100
Supplemental Restraint System
..............................
9,22
Servicing
..................................
33
SRS Indicator
......................
31,59
System Components
................
22
Synthetic Oil
..............................
252 T
Tachometer
..................................
64
Tailgate
........................................
82
Open Indicator
.........................
61
Opening the
.............................
82
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in
.....
266
Taking Care of the
Unexpected
............................
281
Technical Descriptions DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
.............................
311
Emissions Control Systems
.....
316
Three Way Catalytic Converter
............................
318
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) －Required Federal
Explanation
......................
314
Temperature Gauge
.....................
67
Tensioners, Seat Belts
..................
20
Tether Anchorage Points
.............
48
Theft Protection, Radio
..............
188
Three Way Catalytic Converter
...............................
318
Tilt the Steering Wheel
................
74 Time, Setting the
........................
189
Tire Chains
................................
276
Tire, How to Change a Flat
........
283
Tire Information
.........................
313
Tire Labeling
..............................
313
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
...........................
227,314
Tires
..........................................
271
Air Pressure
............................
272
Chains
.....................................
276
Checking Wear
.......................
273
Compact Spare
........................
282
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
.............................
311
Inflation
...................................
271
Inspection
...............................
273
Labeling
..................................
313
Low Tire Pressure Indicator
........................
62,227
Maintenance
...........................
274
Pressure Monitoring System
...
227
Replacing
................................
274
Rotating
..................................
274
Snow
.......................................
275
Specifications
..........................
310
CONTINUED
Index
IX
INDEX
2009 Element

OWNER_________________________________________________________
______________________________________________ ________________________________
ADDRESS_______________________________________________________
STREET
_________________________________ __________ _______________________ ___________________
CITYSTATE/PROVINCE/TERRITORY ZIP CODE/
POSTAL CODE
V. I. N. ___________________________________________________________
DELIVERY DATE__________________________________________________
(Date sold to original retail purchaser)
DEALER NAME___________________ DEALER NO. ___________________
ADDRESS _______________________________________________________
STREET
_________________________________ __________ _______________________ ___________________
CITYSTATE/PROVINCE/TERRITORY ZIP CODE/
POSTAL CODE
OWNER'S SIGNATURE___________________________________________
DEALER'S SIGNATURE ___________________________________________
This owner's manual should be considered a
permanent part of the vehicle and should
remain with the vehicle when it is sold.
This owner's manual covers all models of the
Element. You may find descriptions of
equipment and features that are not on your
particular model.
The information and specifications included
in this publication were in effect at the time of
approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
reserves the right, however, to discontinue or
change specifications or design at any time
without notice and without incurring any
obligation whatsoever.
POUR CLIENTS CANADIEN
AVIS IMPORTANT: Si vous avez
besoin d'un Manuel du Conducteur
en français, veuillez demander à
votre concessionnaire de
commander le numéro de pièce
33SCVC60
Owner's Identification
2009 Element