2011 HONDA ELEMENT wiper blades

This section explains why it is important
to keep your vehicle well maintained and
how to follow basic maintenance safety
precautions.
This section also includes instructions
on how to read the Maintenance Minder
messages on the information display,
and instructions for simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to
perform more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want to
purchase the service manual. See page
267 for information on how to obtain a
copy, or see your dealer.Maintenance, replacement, or repair
of emissions control devices and
systems may be done by any
automotive repair establishment or
individual using parts that are
‘‘
certified ’’to EPA standards.
Maintenance Safety
.....................
184
Maintenance Minder
TM
...............
185
Fluid Locations
...........................
192
Adding Engine Oil
......................
193
Changing the Engine Oil and Filter
.......................................
194
Engine Coolant
...........................
196
Windshield Washers
...................
197
Automatic Transmission Fluid
....
198
Brake Fluid
.................................
199
Power Steering Fluid
..................
200
Cleaning the Body Panels
...........
201
Lights
..........................................
201
Cleaning the Seat Belts
...............
209
Floor Mats
..................................
209
Dust and Pollen Filter
.................
210
Wiper Blades
..............................
210
Wheels
........................................
212
Tires
...........................................
212
Checking the Battery
..................
218
Vehicle Storage
...........................
219
Maintenance
183
Maintenance
10/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather.
When you refill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition them.Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir. Antifreeze
can damage your vehicle's paint, while
a vinegar/water solution can damage
the windshield washer pump. Use only
commercially-available windshield
washer fluid.Automatic Transmission Fluid
Check the fluid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
1. Park the vehicle on level ground.
Start the engine, let it run until the
radiator fan comes on, then shut
off the engine. For accurate
results, wait about 60 seconds (but
no longer than 90 seconds) before
doing step 2.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
from the transmission, and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
3. Insert the dipstick all the way intothe transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
4. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It should be between
the upper and lower marks.
DIPSTICK
UPPER
MARK
LOWER
MARK
Windshield Washers, Automatic Transmission Fluid19810/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

If you remove the driver's floor mat,
make sure to re-anchor it when you
put it back in your vehicle.
If you use non-Honda floor mats,
make sure they fit properly and that
they can be used with the floor mat
anchors. Do not put additional floor
mats on top of the anchored mats.Dust and Pollen Filter
This filter removes the dust and
pollen that is brought in from the
outside through the heating and
cooling system.
Have your dealer replace the filter
when this service is indicated by a
maintenance message on the
information display. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) if you drive primarily in
urban areas that have high
concentrations of soot in the air, or if
the flow from the heating and cooling
system becomes less than usual.Wiper Blades
Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every 6 months.
Replace them if you find signs of
cracking in the rubber, areas that are
getting hard, or if they leave streaks
and unwiped areas when used.
1. Front:
Raise the wiper arm off the
windshield.
Do not open the hood when the wiper
arms are raised, or you will damage the
hood and the arms.
Rear:
Raise the wiper arm off the hatch
glass and hold it.
Floor Mats, Dust and Pollen Filter, Wiper Blades21010/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

2. Disconnect the blade assemblyfrom the wiper arm by pushing in
the lock tab. Hold the lock tab in
while you push the blade assembly
toward the base of the arm.
If you are changing the rear wiper
blade, go to step 6.
3. Remove the blade from its holder by grabbing the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull up firmly until the tabs
come out of the holder.
4. Examine the new wiper blades. Ifthey have no plastic or metal
reinforcement along the back
edge, remove the metal
reinforcement strips from the old
wiper blade, and install them in the
slots along the edge of the new
blade.
5. Slide the new wiper blade into theholder until the tabs lock.
6. Slide the wiper blade assembly onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
7. Lower the wiper arm down against the windshield or the hatch glass.
LOCK TAB
BLADE
BLADE
REINFORCEMENT
Wiper Blades
211
Maintenance
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

Turn Signals
.................................
60
Turn Signals and Headlights
........
71
U
Unexpected, Taking Care of the
..........................................
221
Uniform Tire Quality Grading (U.S. only)
..............................
253
Unleaded Gasoline
.....................
142
Used Oil, How to Dispose of
......
195
V
Vanity Mirror
.............................
101
Vehicle Capacity Load
................
152
Vehicle Dimensions
...................
250
Vehicle Identification Number
...
248
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
®),
aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA OFF Indicator
..................
172
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
................................
172
VSA OFF Indicator
...................
62 VSA OFF Switch
.....................
173
VSA System Indicator
..............
62
Vehicle Storage
..........................
219
Ventilation
..................................
106
VIN
............................................
248
Viscosity, Oil
..............................
193
W
WARNING, Explanation of
...........
iii
Warning Labels, Location of
.........
53
Warranty Coverages
..................
265
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level
........
197
Operation
.................................
70
Wheels
.......................................
212
Adjusting the Steering
..............
74
Alignment and Balance
...........
215
Compact Spare
........................
222
Wrench, Nut
...........................
223
Windows Operating the Power
................
92
Rear, Defogger
.........................
74
Windshield Cleaning
...................................
70 Defroster
.................................
107
Washers
............................
70, 197
Wipers, Windshield Changing Blades
.....................
210
Operation
.................................
70
Worn Tires
.................................
214
Wrecker, Emergency Towing
....
244
IndexX10/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu