2010 HONDA ELEMENT ABS

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 ...........193Automatic Transmission
............
219
Capacity, Fluid ........................309
Checking Fluid Level ..............256
Shifting ................................... 219
Shift Lever Position Indicators ............................ 219
Shift Lever Positions ...............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
CONTINUED
Index
I
INDEX

Trip meter................................ 66
Gearshift Lever Positions
Automatic Transmission ....................... 219
Manual Transmission ..............217
Glove Box .................................. 100
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) ................................. 232
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) .......................... 209, 232
H
Halogen Headlight Bulbs ...........261
Hatch ........................................... 81
Hazard Warning Flashers ............73
Headlights Aiming .................................... 261
Daytime Running Lights ..........72
High Beam Indicator ................61
High Beams, Turning on ..........71
Lights On Indicator ..................61
Low Beams, Turning on ...........71
Reminder Chime ......................71
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ........261 Turning on
............................... 71
Head Restraints ............................ 85
Heating and Cooling ..................104
High Altitude, Starting at ............216
Hood, Opening and Closing the .......................................... 200
Horn ........................................ 4, 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, 226
Brake (Parking and Brake
System) ......................... 58, 297
Charging System ..............58, 295
Cruise Control .......................... 60
Cruise Main ............................. 60Door 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
CONTINUED
Index
V
INDEX

ꭧ: The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian models are noted in the text.
DRL
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
INDICATOR (P. 60)
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
(P. 61)
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 58, 295)
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA)
INDICATOR
(P. 62)
VSA OFF
INDICATOR
(P. 62)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS) INDICATOR (P. 59) LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
(P. 58, 295)
DOOR AND TAILGATE
OPEN INDICATOR (P. 61)SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR (P. 59)
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 60)SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 59)LOW FUELINDICATOR
(P. 61)
MAINTENANCE MINDER
INDICATOR (P. 59)
SEAT BELT REMINDER
INDICATOR (P. 58)
LIGHTS ON INDICATOR (P. 61) PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P. 58, 297)
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR (P. 60)
TPMS INDICATOR
(P. 63) CRUISE MAIN INDICATOR
(P. 60)
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
LAMP (P. 58, 296)
LOW TIRE PRESSURE
INDICATOR (P. 62)
Instrument Panel
57
Instruments and Controls
Table of Contents

If either of you do not fasten your
seat belt while driving, the beeper
will sound and the indicator will flash
again at regular intervals. For more
information, see page 18.
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
This indicator comes on briefly when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates a potential
problem with your front airbags. This
indicator will also alert you to a
potential problem with your side
airbags, passenger's side airbag
cutoff system, side curtain airbags,
automatic seat belt tensioners,
driver's seat position sensor, or the
front passenger's weight sensors.
For more information, see page 31. U.S. Canada
Side Airbag Off Indicator
This indicator comes on briefly when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates that the
passenger's side airbag has
automatically shut off. For more
information, see page 32.
Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Indicator
This indicator normally comes on for a
few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position, and
when the ignition switch is turned to
the START (III) position. If it comes on
at any other time, there is a problem
with the ABS. If this happens, have
your vehicle checked at a dealer. With
this indicator on, your vehicle still has
normal braking ability but no anti-lock
function. For more information, see
page 226.
Maintenance Minder Indicator
This indicator comes on for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. It
reminds you that it is time to take
your vehicle in for scheduled
maintenance. The maintenance main
items and sub items will be displayed
in the information display. See page
243 for more information on the
maintenance minder.
This indicator goes off when your
dealer resets it after completing the
required maintenance service.
CONTINUED
Instrument Panel Indicators
59
Instruments and Controls
Table of Contents

The lock tab on the passenger's door
locks and unlocks only that door.
Pulling up on the driver's door lock
tab only unlocks the driver's door.
To lock the driver's door, remove the
key from the ignition switch, push
the lock tab down or push the door
lock switch down, then close thedoor.
To unlock the driver's door from the
outside, turn the key and release it.
Lockout Prevention
With the driver's door open and the
key in the ignition switch, the master
door lock switch is disabled. It is not
disabled if the driver's door is closed.
If you try to lock the open driver's
door with the key in the ignition
switch by pushing in the lock tab, the
tabs on all doors pop up when you
close the door.Rear DoorsTo open the rear door, pull the rear
door handle located in the rear door
edge. The rear door can be opened
only when the front door is open.
To close the doors, close the rear
door first, then the front door. The
front door cannot be latched without
first closing the rear door. Closing
the rear door on the front door will
damage both doors.HatchTo lock or unlock the hatch.
● Use your master key to lock and
unlock the hatch. Turn the key
counterclockwise to lock the
hatch, and clockwise to unlock it.
Unlock
Lock
CONTINUED
Door Locks
81
Instruments and Controls
Table of Contents

Keep the inside and outside mirrors
clean and adjusted for best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors before
you start driving.
The inside mirror has day and night
positions. The night position reduces
glare from headlights behind you.
Flip the tab on the bottom edge of
the mirror to select the day or nightposition.Adjusting the Power Mirrors
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position.
2. Move the selector switch to L (driver's side) or R (passenger's side). 3. Push the appropriate edge of the
adjustment switch to move the
mirror right, left, up, or down.
4. When you finish, move the selector switch to the center (off)
position. This turns the adjustment
switch off to keep your settings.
TABSELECTOR SWITCH
ADJUSTMENT SWITCH
Mirrors
93
Instruments and Controls
Table of Contents

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important information
on parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the vehicle stability assist(VSA
®) system, the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS), and
facts you need if you are planning to
tow a trailer or drive off-highway.
Driving Guidelines ......................
214
Preparing to Drive ......................
215
Starting the Engine .....................216
Manual Transmission .................
217
Automatic Transmission .............219
Parking .......................................
223
Braking System .......................... 224
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............225
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) ................................... 227
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
®),
aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System .....................230
Towing a Trailer .......................... 232
Off-Highway Driving
Guidelines ............................... 238
Driving
213
Driving

Your vehicle is equipped with disc
brakes at all four wheels. A power
assist helps reduce the effort needed
on the brake pedal. The emergency
brake assist system increases the
stopping force when you depress the
brake pedal hard in an emergency
situation. The anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps you retain steering
control when braking very hard.
Resting your foot on the pedal keeps
the brakes applied lightly, builds up
heat, reduces their effectiveness and
reduces brake pad life. In addition,
fuel economy can be reduced. It also
keeps your brake lights on all the
time, confusing drivers behind you.Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their
effectiveness. Use the engine to
assist the brakes by taking your foot
off the accelerator and downshifting
to a lower gear.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they feel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they do. Be extra
cautious and alert in your driving.
Braking System Design
The hydraulic system that operates
the brakes has two separate circuits.
Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the left-front brake is
connected with the right-rear brake,
etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have braking
at two wheels.
Braking System
224
Table of Contents