2010 HONDA ELEMENT hood open

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

Before you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use and how to check the
levels of important fluids. You also
need to know how to properly store
luggage or packages. The
information 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........................... 198
Fuel Recommendation ................
198
Service Station Procedures .........199
Refueling .................................
199
Opening and Closing the Hood ................................... 200
Oil Check ................................ 201
Engine Coolant Check ............201
Fuel Economy .............................
202
Accessories and Modifications .......................... 205
Carrying Cargo ........................... 207
Before Driving
197
Before Driving

Opening and Closing the Hood
1. Park the vehicle, and set theparking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
2. Put your fingers under the frontedge of the hood near the center.
The hood latch handle is above the‘‘H ’’logo. Push this handle up to
release it. Lift up the hood.
If the hood latch handle moves
stiffly, or if you can open the hood
without lifting the handle, the
mechanism should be cleaned andlubricated.3. Pull the support rod out of its clip and insert the end into the
designated hole in the hood.
To close the hood, lift it up slightly to
remove the support rod from the
hole. Put the support rod back into
its holding clip. Lower the hood to
about a foot (30 cm) above the
fender, then let it drop. Make sure it
is securely latched.
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
LATCH
SUPPORT ROD
CLIP
Service Station Procedures
200
Table of Contents

Synthetic Oil
You may use a synthetic motor oil if
it meets the same requirements
given for a conventional motor oil, it
displays the API Certification Seal,
and it is the proper weight. You must
follow the oil and filter change
intervals shown on the maintenance
minder display.
Engine Oil Additives
Your vehicle does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
affect the engine or transmission
performance and durability.Changing the Engine Oil andFilter
Always change the oil and filter
according to the maintenance
messages shown on the information
display. The oil and filter collect
contaminants that can damage your
engine if they are not removedregularly.
Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from
underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
should be raised on a service station-
type hydraulic lift for this service.
Unless you have the knowledge and
proper equipment, you should have
this maintenance done by a skilledtechnician.
1. Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
2. Open the hood, and remove the engine oil fill cap. Remove the oil
drain bolt and washer from the
bottom of the engine. Drain the oil
into an appropriate container.
OIL DRAIN BOLT WASHER
Adding Engine Oil, Changing the Engine Oil and Filter
252
Table of Contents

Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
cargo area or pull a trailer,
readjustment may be required.
Adjustments should be done by your
dealer or another qualifiedtechnician.Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Your vehicle has halogen headlight
bulbs. Handle it by its steel base and
protect the glass from contact with
your skin or hard objects. If you
touch the glass, clean it with
denatured alcohol and a clean cloth.
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.
1. Open the hood.
If you need to change the
headlight bulb on the driver's side,
remove the front end of the air
intake duct by pulling it out.
AIR INTAKE DUCT
CONTINUED
Lights
261
Maintenance
Table of Contents

2. Remove the electrical connectorfrom the bulb by pulling the
connector straight back.
3. Remove the rubber weather seal by pulling on the tab.
4. Unclip the end of the hold-down wire from its slot. Pivot the wire
out of the way, then remove thebulb. 5. Install the new bulb into the hole,
making sure the tabs are in their
slots. Pivot the hold-down wire
back in place, and clip the end into
the slot.
6. Install the rubber seal over the back of the headlight assembly.
Make sure one of the three arrows
on the rubber seal is facing up; it ismarked ‘‘
’’.
7. Push the electrical connector onto the new bulb. Make sure it is
connected securely. Turn on the
headlights to test the new bulb.
8. (Driver's side) Install the front end of the air
intake duct. Replacing a Daytime Running
Light Bulb
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the electrical connector
from the bulb by pushing on the
tab and pulling the connectordown.
3. Remove the bulb by turning it one- quarter turn counterclockwise.
TAB
Lights
262
Table of Contents

4. Insert the new bulb into the hole,and turn it one-quarter turn
clockwise to lock it in place.
5. Push the electrical connector back onto the bulb. Make sure it is on
all the way.
6. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working. Replacing a Front Parking/Turn
Signal Light Bulb
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
3. Remove the bulb from the socket by pushing the bulb in and turning
it counterclockwise until itunlocks. 4. Install the new bulb in the socket
by pushing the bulb in and turning
it clockwise until it locks.
5. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
CONTINUED
Lights
263
Maintenance
Table of Contents

9. Put the inner fender cover in place.Install the holding clip.
Lock the clip in place by pushing
on the center.
Install the wheel arch protector
and tighten the screws securely. Replacing a Front Side Marker
Light Bulb
1. Open the hood.
To change the driver's side,
remove the front end of the air
intake duct by pulling it out (see
page 261).
2. Remove the socket from the light assembly by turning it one-quarter
turn counterclockwise. 3. Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. Push the new bulb straight
into the socket until it bottoms.
4. Reinstall the socket into the light assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
5. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
6. Install the front end of the air intake duct.
CONTINUED
Lights
265
Maintenance
Table of Contents