dashboard HONDA ELEMENT 2003 1.G User Guide

Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Two f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’
Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page ).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, and driver and
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is ON (II). If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inf late the
front airbags and activate the
automatic seat belt tensioners. Your vehicle is equipped with dual-
stage, dual-threshold airbags to help
reduce the chance of airbag-caused
injuries.
52 57
SRS Components
How Your Front A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety54

These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels caref ully.
If a label comes of f or becomes hard
to read, contact your Honda dealer
f or a replacement.
CONT INUED
U.S. models onlyU.S. models
Canadian modelsU.S. models only
Saf ety L abels
Driver and Passenger Saf ety61
SUN VISOR
DASHBOARD

Î
Î
Thetwoleversonthesteering
column contain controls f or driving
f eatures you use most of ten. The lef t
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
The hazard warning lights switch is
on the dashboard beside the shif t
lever.
The control under the lef t air vent is
f or the cruise control.
The tilt adjustment lever on the
underside of the steering column
allows you to tilt the steering wheel.
:
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols75
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/
WASHERS
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS
(P.76,
77)
(P.78,79) SHIFT LEVER (A/T)
HAZARD WARNING
LIGHTS
A/T model is shown. CRUISE CONTROL (P.179)
(P.81)
(P.153)
HORN
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
(P.81)
TILT ADJUSTMENT
(P.82)

Your vehicle has one or two
accessory power sockets, depending
on the model. All models have a
f ront accessory power socket on the
dashboard above the glove box.
To use the accessory power socket,
pull up the cover.The EX model has another
accessory power socket in the cargo
area on the right side.These sockets are intended to supply
power f or 12 volt DC accessories
that are rated 120 watts or less (10
amps). To power an accessory, the
ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).
They will not power an automotive
type cigarette lighter element.
When both sockets are being used,
the combined power rating of each
accessory should be 120 watts or less
(10 amps).
On EX models
A ccessory Power Socket s
Inst rument s and Cont rols113

Proper use of the Heating and
Cooling system can make the
interior dry and comf ortable, and
keep the windows clear f or the best
visibility.
Turning this dial clockwise increases
the f an’s speed, which increases air
flow.
Turning this dial clockwise increases
the temperature of the air flow.This button controls the source of
the air going into the system. When
the indicator in this button is lit, air
f rom the vehicle’s interior is sent
through the system again (Recircula-
tion mode). When the indicator is off,
air is brought in f rom outside the
vehicle (Fresh Air mode).
This button turns the rear window
def ogger on and of f (see page ).Use the MODE control dial to select
the vents the air flows from. Some
air will f low f rom the dashboard
vents in all modes.
This button turns the air condi-
tioning ON and OFF. The indicator
in the button lights when the A/C is
on. 81
On U.S. EX models, and Canadian DXand EX models
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Heating and Cooling
What Each Control Does
Fan Control Dial
T emperature Control Dials
Air Conditioning (A/C) Button Recirculation Button
Rear Window Def ogger ButtonMode Control Dial
118
FAN CONTROL
DIAL
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL DIAL
MODE CONTROL DIAL
RECIRCULATION
BUTTON AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
BUTTON

In these two modes, the A/C stays
on, but the indicator in the A/C
button stays off.
When you select or ,
the system automatically switches to
Fresh Air mode and turns on the
A/C.
Air f lows f rom the def roster
vents at the base of the windshield. Air f low is divided between
the f loor vents and the def roster
vents at the base of the windshield. Air f lows f rom the f loor
vents. Air f low is divided between
the vents in the dashboard and the
f loor vents. Air flows from the center
and side vents in the dashboard. The system automatically
turns on the A/C and switches to
Recirculation mode. Air f lows f rom
the center and side vents in the
dashboard.
EX models
EX models
Heating and Cooling
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures119

The direction of air f low f rom the
vents in the center and each side of
the dashboard is adjustable.
To adjust the air flow from each
center vent, move the tab up-and-
down and side-to-side.To adjust the air f low f rom each side
vent,movethetabinthecenterof
each vent side-to-side, and rotate the
vent with the tab.
Each side vent can be opened and
closed with the tab underneath the
vent.
Heating and Cooling
Vent Controls
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures120
CENTER VENTS
PASSENGER’S SIDE VENT
DRIVER’S SIDE VENT
Close Open Close
Open

An auxiliary input jack is located on
the dashboard next to the accessory
power socket.Your audio system will accept
auxiliary inputs f rom a portable
cassette player, CD changer, MP3
player, etc. To use the jack, turn
down the volume of the audio unit
and the portable unit. Then pivot the
cover up, plug in a mini-jack cable
between the portable unit and the
jack, and press the AUX button on
the audio unit.
Auxiliary Input Jack
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures151

Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Screw the f uel f ill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page ).
Standing in f ront of the vehicle,
put your f ingers between the f ront
edge of the hood and the f ront
grille. The hood latch handle is
above the ‘‘H’’ logo. Push this
handle up until it releases the
hood. Lif t the hood.
Push the f uel f ill door closed.
1. 2.
5.
6.
292
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Opening the Hood
160
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
LATCH

If a side airbag
inflates,acupholderorotherhard
object attached on or near the
door could be propelled inside the
vehicle and hurt someone.
Covering the outside edge of a
f ront seat-back, with a non-Honda
seat cover for example, could
prevent the side airbag f rom
inf lating properly.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with non-
Honda (af termarket) components
could seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, and reliability.
Some examples are:
Lowering the vehicle with an
aftermarket suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to impact speed
bumps or other raised objects,
which could cause the airbags to
deploy.
Raising the vehicle with an
af termarket suspension kit can
af f ect the handling and stability.
Af termarket wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components. Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Do not modif y your steering wheel
or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modif ications could make the
system inef f ective.
Any object
attached to or placed on the covers
marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG,’’ in the
center of the steering wheel and
on top of the dashboard, could
interf ere with the proper operation
of the airbags. Or, if the airbags
inf late, the objects could be
propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult with your Honda dealer.
Only on models equipped with side
airbagsModif ications
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Do not at t ach hard object s on ornear a f ront door.
Do not place any object s over t heoutsideedgeof afront seat-back.
Do not at t ach or place object s on the f ront airbag covers.
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving166