2009 HONDA ELEMENT audio

Check the condition of the battery
monthly by looking at the test indicator
window. The label on the battery
explains the test indicator's colors.
Check the terminals for corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To remove
it, cover the terminals with a solution of
baking soda and water. It will bubble
up and turn brown. When this stops,
wash it off with plain water. Dry off the
battery with a cloth or paper towel.
Coat the terminals with grease to help
prevent future corrosion.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualified technician.
WARNING:Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
Wash your hands after handling.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle's
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative (－ ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
If your vehicle's battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the time
setting may be lost. To reset the
time, see page189.
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt
you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
technician do the battery
maintenance.
On EX and SC modelsIf your vehicle's battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the audio
system may disable itself. The next
time you turn on the radio, you will
see ‘‘ENTER CODE ’’in the
frequency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the code (see page
188).
NEGATIVE TERMINAL
TEST INDICATOR
WINDOW
POSITIVE TERMINAL
CONTINUED
Checking the Battery
277
Maintenance
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

If you cannot drive the vehicle
without fixing the problem, and you
do not have a spare fuse, take a fuse
of the same rating or a lower rating
from one of the other circuits. Make
sure you can do without that circuit
temporarily (such as the accessory
power socket or radio).
If you replace the blown fuse with a
spare fuse that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
fuse with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.
Replacing a fuse with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a
replacement fuse with the proper rating
for the circuit, install one with a lower
rating.6. If the replacement fuse of the same
rating blows in a short time, there
is probably a serious electrical
problem in your vehicle. Leave the
blown fuse in that circuit and have
your vehicle checked by a
qualified technician.
On EX and SC modelsIf the radio fuse is removed, the
audio system will disable itself. The
next time you turn on the radio you
will see ‘‘ENTER CODE ’’in the
frequency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the specific digit
code (see page188).On vehicles with navigation systemIf the navigation system fuse is
removed, the navigation system will
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.
Fuses300
2009 Element

A
Accessories andModifications
..........................
205
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)
...................................
79
Accessory Power Sockets
..........
100
Additives, Engine Oil
.................
252
Adjusting the Steering Wheel
......
74
Advanced Airbags
........................
27
Airbag (SRS)
............................
9,22
Air Conditioning System
............
104
Air Pressure, Tires
..............
271,272
Alcohol in Gasoline
....................
198
Antifreeze
...................................
254
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Indicator Light
..................
59,225
Operation
................................
225
Anti-theft, Audio System
.............
188
Anti-theft Steering Column Lock
.........................................
79
Audio System
.............................
109
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners...
20
Automatic Speed Control
...........
193 Automatic Transmission
............
219
Capacity, Fluid
........................
309
Checking Fluid Level
..............
256
Shifting
...................................
219
Shift Lever Position Indicators
............................
219
Shift Lock Release
...................
221
Automatic Transmission Fluid
...
256
Auxiliary Input Jack
...................
192
B
Battery Charging System
Indicator
........................
58,295
Jump Starting
..........................
291
Maintenance
...........................
277
Specifications
..........................
310
Before Driving
...........................
197
Belts, Seat
................................
8,18
Beverage Holders
........................
99
Booster Seats
...............................
50
Brakes
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...........
225
Break-in, New Linings
.............
198 Bulb Replacement
...................
266
Fluid
.......................................
258
Parking
....................................
94
System Design
........................
224
System Indicator
...............
58,297
Wear Indicators
.......................
225
Braking System
..........................
224
Break-in, New Vehicle
................
198
Brightness Control, Instruments
..............................
72
Bulb Replacement Back-up Lights
........................
266
Brake Lights
...........................
266
Daytime Running Lights
.........
262
Front Parking/Turn Signal Lights
..................................
263
Front Side Marker Lights
........
265
Headlights
..............................
261
High-mount Brake Lights
........
267
Rear Bulbs
..............................
266
Rear License Plate Lights
........
267
Side Turn Signal Lights
...........
264
Specifications
..........................
310
Taillights
.................................
266
Turn Signal Lights
..................
266
CONTINUED
Index
I
INDEX
2009 Element

Bulbs, Halogen
..........................
261
Bungee Cords
............................
211
C
Capacities Chart
.........................
309
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
............
52
Cargo
.........................................
207
Cargo Area Light
..........................
96
Cargo Hook
................................
212
Cargo, How to Carry
..................
207
Carrying Cargo
..........................
207
CAUTION, Explanation of
............
iii
CD Care
.....................................
183
CD Error Messages
............
125,148
CD Player
...........................
119,140
Certification Label
......................
306
Chains, Tires
..............................
276
Changing a Flat Tire
..................
283
Changing Oil How to
....................................
252
When to
..................................
243
Charging System
Indicator
...........................
58,295
Check Fuel Cap Message
............
66 Checklist, Before Driving
...........
215
Child Safety
..................................
35
Booster Seats
...........................
50
Child Seats
....................
40,41, 42
Important Safety Reminders
.....
39
Infants
......................................
40
Large Children
.........................
49
LATCH
.....................................
44
Risks with Airbags
...................
36
Small Children
.........................
41
Tethers
....................................
48
Warning Labels
........................
37
Where Should a Child Sit?
........
36
Child Seats
.............................
35,42
LATCH Anchorage Points
........
44
Tether Anchorage Points
.........
48
Cleaning the Seat Belts
..............
268
Clock
..........................................
189
Clutch Fluid
...............................
258
Code, Audio System
...................
188
CO in the Exhaust
................
52,316
Cold Weather, Starting in
...........
216
Compact Spare Tire
....................
282
Controls, Instruments and
............
55
Coolant Adding
....................................
254 Checking
................................
201
Proper Solution
.......................
254
Temperature Gauge
.................
67
Cooler Box
...................................
98
Courtesy Light
.............................
96
Crankcase Emissions Control System
...................................
316
Cruise Control Indicator
...............
60
Cruise Control Operation
...........
193
Cruise Main Indicator
..................
60
Cup Holders
.................................
99
Customer Service
.......................
322
D
DANGER, Explanation of
.............
iii
Dashboard
...............................
3,56
Daytime Running Lights
..............
72
Daytime Running Lights Indicator
...................................
60
Dead Battery
..............................
291
Defects, Reporting Safety
...........
324
Defogger, Rear Window
...............
74
Dimensions
................................
308
Dimming the Headlights
..............
71
IndexII
2009 Element

Oxygenated Fuels
......................
198
P
Panel Brightness Control
.............
72
Parking
......................................
223
Parking Brake
..............................
94
Parking Brake and Brake System Indicator
...........................
58,297
Parking Over Things that Burn
................................
223,318
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
....
32
PGM-FI System
..........................
317
Playing a Disc
.....................
119,140
Playing an iPod
®.........................
162
Playing a PC card
.......................
149
Playing a USB Flash Memory Device
....................................
173
Playing the FM/AM Radio
...............................
110,127
Playing the XM
®Radio
........
113,132
Pollen Filter
...............................
269
Power Door Locks
.......................
80
Power Windows
...........................
92
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts
........
16 Preparing to Drive
......................
215
Protecting Adults and Teens
........
11
Additional Safety Precautions
...
16
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
16
Protecting Children
......................
35
General Guidelines
..................
35
Protecting Infants
.....................
40
Protecting Larger Children
......
49
Protecting Small Children
........
41
Using Child Seats with Tethers
.................................
48
Using LATCH
..........................
44
R
Radiator Overheating
.................
293
Radio/CD Sound System
...........
109
Radio Theft Protection
...............
188
Readiness Codes
........................
319
Rear Differential Fluid
................
258
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement
...........................
266
Rear Seat, Folding
........................
88
Rearview Camera and Monitor
..................................
196 Rear View Mirror
.........................
93
Rear Window Defogger
................
74
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
.....................................
70
Reclining the Front Seats
.............
87
Recommended Shift Speeds
.......
218
Refueling
....................................
199
Remote Audio Controls
..............
191
Remote Transmitter
.....................
77
Replacement Information Dust and Pollen Filter
.............
269
Engine Oil and Filter
...............
252
Fuses
......................................
298
Light Bulbs
.............................
261
Schedule
.................................
249
Tires
.......................................
274
Wiper Blades
..........................
269
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash
........................................
20
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Vehicles)
................................
324
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant
............................
201,254
Restraint, Child
............................
35
Reverse Lockout
........................
217
CONTINUED
Index
VII
INDEX
2009 Element