2009 HONDA ELEMENT brake

3. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket. Push the new bulb straight
into the socket until it bottoms.
4. Press the brake pedal to make sure the new bulb is working.
5. Put the socket back into the light assembly, and turn it clockwise to
lock it in place.
6. Put the cover back onto the light assembly. Push it on until it locks
in place. Cleaning the Seat Belts
If your seat belts get dirty, use a soft
brush with a mixture of mild soap
and warm water to clean them. Do
not use bleach, dye, or cleaning
solvents. Let the belts air-dry before
you use the vehicle.
Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to
retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth
dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol. Floor Mats
If equippedThe floor mats that came with your
vehicle hook over the floor mat
anchors. This keeps the floor mats
from sliding forward, possibly
interfering with the pedals, or
backwards, making the front
passenger's weight sensors
ineffective.
BULB
SOCKET
LOOP
Lights, Cleaning the Seat Belts, Floor Mats268
2009 Element

Tire Chains
Mount tire chains on your tires when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Install them only on the
front tires.On all models except SCBecause your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, use only SAE Class‘‘S ’’
cable-type traction devices, with
rubber chain tensioners, on the front
tires. Use traction devices only when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size for your tires. Metal link-
type ‘‘chains ’’should not be used.
Traction devices that are the wrong size
or improperly installed can damage
your vehicle's brake lines, suspension,
body, and wheels. Stop driving if they
are hitting any part of the vehicle.On SC modelBecause your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, Honda strongly
recommends using the chains listed
below, made by Security Chain
Company (SCC).
Cable-type: SCC Super Z6 SZ 139 When installing cables, follow the
manufacturer's instructions, and
mount them as tight as you can.
Make sure they are not contacting
the brake lines or suspension. Drive
slowly with them installed. If you
hear them coming into contact with
the body or chassis, stop and
investigate. Remove them as soon as
you begin driving on cleared roads.
Using the wrong chains, or not
properly installing chains, can
damage the brake lines and
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously injured or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding the
selection and use of tire chains.
Tires276
2009 Element

On vehicles with navigation systemThe navigation system will also
disable itself. The next time you turn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter a PIN before
it can be used. Refer to the
navigation system manual.Vehicle Storage
If you need to park your vehicle for
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.
●Fill the fuel tank.●Wash and dry the exterior
completely.●Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.●Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic).
●Block the rear wheels.●If the vehicle is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.●Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).●Disconnect the battery.●Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch the
windshield.●To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals.
Checking the Battery, Vehicle Storage278
2009 Element

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If
not, you will also find instructions on
getting your vehicle towed.Compact Spare Tire
....................
282
Changing a Flat Tire
...................
283
If the Engine Won't Start
.............
289
Jump Starting
..............................
291
If the Engine Overheats
..............
293
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
.........
295
Charging System Indicator
.........
295
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
........
296
Brake System Indicator
...............
297
Fuses
..........................................
298
Fuse Locations
............................
301
Emergency Towing
.....................
303
Taking Care of the Unexpected
281
Taking Care of the Unexpected
2009 Element

If you have a flat tire while driving,
stop in a safe place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.1. Park the vehicle on firm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
the trailer.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights, and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
3. Open the hatch and the tailgate.
4. The spare tire, jack, and tools areunder the cargo area floor.
TOOLS
SPARE TIRE
JACK
CONTINUED
Changing a Flat Tire
283
Taking Care of the Unexpected
2009 Element

On LX modelDo not attempt to forcibly pry the
wheel cover off with a screwdriver
or other tool. The wheel cover
cannot be removed without first
removing the wheel nuts.
12. Before mounting the spare tire,wipe any dirt off the mounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully; it may be hot from
driving. 13. Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on finger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel nut wrench
until the wheel is firmly against the
hub. Do not try to tighten the
wheel nuts fully.
WHEEL NUTS
WHEEL NUTS
WHEEL COVER
BRAKE HUB
Changing a Flat Tire286
2009 Element

Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct
procedure, seriously injuring
anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
You cannot start your vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it.
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:1. Open the hood, and check the physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or frozen, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze. Attempting
to jump start with a frozen battery can
cause it to rupture.
2. Turn off all the electricalaccessories: heater, A/C, audio
system, lights, etc. Put the
transmission in neutral (manual)
or Park (automatic), and set the
parking brake.
The numbers in the illustration
show you the order to connect the
jumper cables.
BOOSTER BATTERY
CONTINUED
Jump Starting
291
Taking Care of the Unexpected
2009 Element

The pointer of the vehicle's
temperature gauge should stay in the
midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If the vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or spray
coming from under the hood.Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to the engine.
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road. Put the transmission in neutral
(manual) or Park (automatic), and
set the parking brake. Turn off all
the accessories, and turn on the
hazard lights.
2. If you see steam and/or spray coming from under the hood, turn
off the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood. 3. If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to
overloading, the engine should
start to cool down almost
immediately. If it does, wait until
the temperature gauge comes
down to the midpoint, then
continue driving.
4. If the temperature gauge stays at the red mark, turn off the engine.
CONTINUED
If the Engine Overheats
293
Taking Care of the Unexpected
2009 Element