2011 HONDA ELEMENT child restraint

Contents
A convenient reference to the
sections in this manual.
Your Vehicle at a Glance
A quick reference to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Important information about the
proper use and care of your vehicle's
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable information on how to
protect children with child restraints.
Instruments and Controls
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and
gauge, and how to use the controls
on the dashboard and steering
column.
Features
How to operate the heating and air
conditioning system, the audio
system, and other convenience
features.Before Driving
What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
Driving
The proper way to start the engine,
shift the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you're
planning to tow a trailer.
Maintenance
The Maintenance Minder
™shows
you when you need to take your
vehicle to the dealer for maintenance
service. There is also a list of things
to check and instructions on how to
check them.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience, and
details how to handle them. Technical Information
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual for detailed
information.
Index
Service Information Summary
A summary of the information you
need when you pull up to the fuel
pump.Overview of Contents210/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

This section gives you important
information about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It shows
you how to use seat belts. It explains
how your airbags work. And it tells you
how to properly restrain infants and
children in your vehicle.
Important Safety Precautions
.............
6
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
..........
7
Seat Belts
.....................................
8
Airbags
........................................
9
Protecting Adults and Teens
...........
11
1. Close and Lock the Doors
........
11
2. Adjust the Front Seats
.............
11
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs
..............
12
4. Adjust the Head Restraints
......
13
5. Fasten and Position the Seat Belts
..................................
14
6. Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
..............................
15
Advice for Pregnant Women
........
16
Additional Safety Precautions
......
16
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
...............................
18
Seat Belt System Components
.....
18 Lap/Shoulder Belt
......................
19
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
.............................
20
Seat Belt Maintenance
................
20
Additional Information About Your Airbags
..................................
22
Airbag System Components
........
22
How Your Front Airbags Work
....
24
How Your Side Airbags Work
......
28
How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work
.....................................
29
How the SRS Indicator Works
.....
30
How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works
.....................
31
How the Passenger Airbag Off Indicator Works
.....................
32
Airbag Service
............................
33
Additional Safety Precautions
......
33
Protecting Children －General
Guidelines
..............................
35
All Children Must Be
Restrained
..............................
35
All Children Should Sit in a Back Seat
.......................................
36
The Passenger's Front Airbag Can Pose Serious Risks
...........
36 If You Must Drive with Several
Children
................................
38
If a Child Requires Close Attention
................................
38
Additional Safety Precautions
......
39
Protecting Infants and Small Children
.................................
40
Protecting Infants
.......................
40
Protecting Small Children
...........
41
Selecting a Child Seat
.....................
42
Installing a Child Seat
.....................
43
Installing a Child Seat with
LATCH
..................................
44
Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Belt
..................
46
Installing a Child Seat with a Tether
...................................
48
Protecting Larger Children
.............
49
Checking Seat Belt Fit
................
49
Using a Booster Seat
...................
50
When Can a Larger Child Sit in
Front
.....................................
50
Additional Safety Precautions
......
51
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
...............
52
Safety Labels
..................................
53
Driver and Passenger Safety
5
Driver and Passenger Safety
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Your airbag system includes:●Two SRS (supplemental restraint
system) front airbags. The driver's
airbag is stored in the center of the
steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked‘‘SRS
AIRBAG ’’(see page 24).●Two side airbags, one for the
driver and one for a front
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG ’’(see page 28).●Two side curtain airbags, one for
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the ceiling,
above the side windows. The front
and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG ’’(see page 29).
●Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page 20).●Sensors that can detect a moderate
to severe front impact, side impact,
or rollover.●Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger's side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag off (see
page 29).●Sensors that can detect whether
the driver's seat belt and the front
passenger's seat belt are latched or
unlatched (see page 18).●A rollover sensor that can detect if
your vehicle is about to roll over
and signal the control unit to
deploy both side curtain airbags
(see page 29).
●A driver's seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will
inflate with less force (see page
26).●Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the front passenger's
seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs
(29 kg) or less (the weight of an
infant or small child), the
passenger's front airbag will be
turned off (see page 26).●A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.
CONTINUED
Additional Information About Your Airbags
23
Driver and Passenger Safety
10/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

Other LATCH-compatible seats have
a flexible-type connector as shown
above.4. Whatever type you have, follow the child seat maker's instructions for
adjusting or tightening the fit.
5. Remove the head restraint (seepage 85). Make sure the removed
head restraints are secured in the
cargo area, and reinstalled when
the child seat is removed.
6. Route the tether strap over the top of the seat-back, making sure the
strap is not twisted.
7. Slide the anchor cover open.
Flexible-type
ANCHOR COVER TETHER ANCHOR
CONTINUED
Installing a Child Seat
45
Driver and Passenger Safety
10/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

Installing a Child Seat with a
TetherA child seat with a tether can be
installed in either back seat, using
one of the anchor points shown
above.
Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.
1. After securing the child seat in thedesired position (see page 46),
remove the head restraint (see
page 85), then route the tether
strap over the top of the seat-back.
2. Slide the anchor cover open as shown.
3. Attach the tether strap hook to theanchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
4. Tighten the strap according to the seat maker's instructions. Make
sure the removed head restraint is
secured in the cargo area. Reinstall
the head restraint in place when
you remove the child seat.
TETHER ANCHORAGE POINTS
TETHER ANCHOR
ANCHOR COVER
TETHER ANCHOR
TETHER STRAP HOOK
Installing a Child Seat4810/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

I
Identification Number,Vehicle
...................................
248
Ignition Keys
.........................................
75
Switch
......................................
79
Immobilizer System
.....................
76
Important Safety Precautions
.........
6
Indicators, Instrument Panel
........
57
ABS (Anti-lock Brake)
.......
59, 168
Brake (Parking and Brake System)
.........................
58, 237
Charging System
..............
58, 235
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, 235
Low Tire Pressure
.............
62, 169 Maintenance Minder
TM
.....
59, 185
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
.............................
58, 236
Passenger Airbag Off
...............
32
Seat Belt Reminder
.............
18, 58
Side Airbag Off
....................
31, 59
SRS
.....................................
30, 59
TPMS
................................
63, 170
Turn Signal and Hazard Warning
...............................
60
VSA OFF
..................................
62
VSA System
.............................
62
Individual Map Lights
..................
95
Infant Restraint
............................
40
Infant Seats
..................................
40
Tether Anchorage Points
.........
48
Inflation, Proper Tire
..................
212
Recommended Pressures
.......
213
Inside Mirror
...............................
93
Inspection, Tire
..........................
214
Installing a Child Seat
..................
43
Instrument Panel
..........................
57
Instrument Panel Brightness
.......
72
Instruments and Controls
.............
55
Interior Lights
..............................
95
Introduction
...................................
i J
Jacking up the Vehicle
...............
223
Jack, Tire
...................................
223
Jump Starting
.............................
231
K
Keys
.............................................
75
L
Label, Certification
.....................
248
Lane Change, Signaling
...............
71
Lap/Shoulder Belt
.................
14, 19
LATCH Anchorage System
..........
44
Light Control Switch
....................
95
Lights Bulb Replacement
...................
202
Indicator
...................................
57
Interior
.....................................
95
Parking
....................................
71
Turn Signal
..............................
71
Load Limit
..................................
152
CONTINUED
Index
V
INDEX
10/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

Parking Brake and Brake SystemIndicator
...........................
58, 237
Parking Over Things that Burn
................................
165, 260
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
....
32
PGM-FI System
..........................
259
Playing a Disc
............................
119
Pollen Filter
...............................
210
Power Door Locks
.......................
80
Power Socket Locations
.............
100
Power Steering Fluid
.................
200
Power Windows
...........................
92
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts
........
16
Preparing to Drive
......................
159
Proper Seat Belt Usage
................
14
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
.................
233
Radio/CD Sound System
...........
109
Radio Theft Protection
...............
132
Readiness Codes
........................
261
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement
...........................
206
Rear Seat, Folding
........................
88
Rearview Mirror
...........................
93
Rear Window Defogger
................
74
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
.....................................
70
Reclining the Front Seats
.............
87
Refueling
....................................
143
Reminder Indicators
.....................
58
Remote Audio Controls
..............
135
Remote Transmitter
.....................
77
Replacement Information Dust and Pollen Filter
.............
210
Engine Oil and Filter
...............
194
Fuses
......................................
239
Light Bulbs
.............................
202
Spark Plugs
.............................
250
Tires
.......................................
215 Wiper Blades
..........................
210
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash
........................................
20
Reporting Safety Defects
............
266
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant
............................
145, 196
Restraint, Child
............................
35
Reverse Gear Position
................
162
Rotation, Tire
.............................
215
S
Safety Belts
..............................
8, 18
Safety Defects, Reporting
...........
266
Safety Features
..............................
7
Airbags
.................................
9, 22
Door Locks
..............................
11
Head Restraints
........................
13
Seat Belts
........................
8, 14, 18
Seats & Seat-Backs
..............
11, 12
Safety Labels, Location of
.............
53
Safety Messages
..........................
iii
Seat Adjustments
.........................
83
CONTINUED
Index
VII
INDEX
10/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu