fuel HONDA ELEMENT 2003 1.G Owner's Manual

If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the
areas you will be traveling in to f ind
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.
If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline
in your Honda will af f ect perf or-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. and
Canadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your vehicle back
into compliance will require the re-
placement of several components,
such as the oxygen sensors and the
three way catalytic converter. These
replacements are not covered under
warranty.
Driving in Foreign Countries
T echnical Inf ormation312

The exhaust emissions controls
include three systems: PGM-FI,
Ignition Timing Control, and Three
Way Catalytic Converter. These
three systems work together to
control the engine’s combustion and
minimize the amount of HC, CO, and
NOx that comes out the tailpipe. The
exhaust emissions control systems
are separate from the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control
systems.The emissions control systems are
covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your vehicle. Read your
warranty manual f or more informa-
tion. The emissions control systems are
designed and certif ied to work to-
gether in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions
remain low, you should use only new
genuine Honda replacement parts or
their equivalent f or repairs. Using
lowerqualitypartsmayincreasethe
emissions f rom your vehicle.
This system constantly adjusts the
ignition timing, reducing the amount
of HC, CO, and NOx produced. The PGM-FI System uses sequential
multiport f uel injection.
It has three subsystems: Air Intake,
Engine Control, and Fuel Control.
The Engine Control Module (ECM)
or the Powertrain Control Module
(PCM) uses various sensors to
determine how much air is going
into the engine. It then controls how
much f uel to inject under all operat-
ing conditions.
The three way catalytic converter is
in the exhaust system. Through
chemical reactions, it converts HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine’s exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO ), nitrogen
(N ), and water vapor.
2
2
Replacement Parts
Exhaust Emissions ControlsPGM-FI Syst em
Ignit ion T iming Cont rol Syst emThree Way Catalytic Converter
Emissions Cont rols
T echnical Inf ormation314

CONT INUED
......................
Power Door Locks .87
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 308
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission .176
.......................................
Drive Belt .248
...........................................
Driving .171
....................................
Economy .164
.........................
In Bad Weather .189
................
In Foreign Countries . 312
........................
Driving Guidelines .172
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 246
..............................
Economy, Fuel .164
............
Emergencies on the Road . 275
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 285
...........
Brake System Indicator . 294
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 277
.....
Charging System Indicator . 291
..................
Checking the Fuses . 296
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 290
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 292
..................
Overheated Engine . 288
.........................
Emergency Brake .111
......................
Emergency Flashers .81 ......................
Emergency Towing .301
.......................
Emissions Controls .313
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 316
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 74
...................................
Drive Belt .248
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 177,182
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .66, 292
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 66,290
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 221
...............................
Overheating .288
............................
Specif ications .306
.......................................
Starting .174
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .311
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 313
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .60
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .21
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 268
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .271
...................................
Fan, Interior .118 Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience .117
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 159
Filters ................................
Air Cleaner .236
.........................
Dust and Pollen .246
...............................................
Oil .223
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 232
................................
Shif ting the .176
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 81
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 277
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 231
..........................................
Brake .234
.........................................
Clutch .235
..............
Manual Transmission . 232
..........................
Power Steering .235
.......................
Rear Differential .233
..................
Windshield Washer . 230
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .143
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .99
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 312
Index
E
F
III

.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 258
................................................
Hatch .89
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 81
Headlights ........................................
Aiming .258
............
Daytime Running Lights . 77
..................
High Beam Indicator . 69
........................
Reminder Beeper .76
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 258
...................................
Turning on .76
..............................
Head Restraints .94
.....................
Heating and Cooling .118
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 175
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 76
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 263
....................................
Hood Latch .237
.......................
Hood, Opening the .160 ..............................................
Horn .3,75
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch .235
.................................
Hydroplaning .190
..........................
Four-way Flashers .81
............................
Front Airbags .10, 54
.................................................
Fuel .158
......................
Fill Door and Cap .159
...........................................
Gauge .73
................
Octane Requirement . 158
...............................
Oxygenated .311
........................
Reserve Indicator .69
........................
Tank, Filling the .159
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .296
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 164
..........................................
Gasohol .311
.........................................
Gasoline .158
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 69
...........................................
Gauge .73
................
Octane Requirement . 158
........................
Tank, Filling the .159
................
Gas Station Procedures . 159
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 74
...............................................
Fuel .73
...............................
Speedometer .72
.................................
Tachometer .72 Gearshif t Lever Positions
..........
Automatic Transmission . 179
5-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .177
..............................
Glass Cleaning .272
........................................
Glove Box .91
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 304
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .83
...........................................
Switch .85
............
Timing Control System . 314
........................
Immobilizer System .84
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 65
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .34
......................................
Inf ant Seats .34
......
LATCH Anchorage System . 47
...........................
Lower Anchors .47
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 46
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 249
.........................
Normal Driving .250
.................................
Inside Mirror .106
.............................
Inspection, Tire .251
............................
Instrument Panel .65
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 77
...........................
Interior Cleaning .271
Index
G H
I
IV

CONT INUED
...............................
Interior Lights .114
........................................
Introduction .i
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 279
.......................................
Jack, Tire .277
................................
Jump Starting .285
..................................................
Keys .83
..................................
Maintenance .207
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 219
.................................
Record .217-218
......................
Required Indicator .70
..........................................
Saf ety .208
.............................
Schedule .212-216
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 66,292
...................
Manual Transmission . 176
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 232
.........................
Meters, Gauges .65, 72
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 310........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .106
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 180
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 158
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .177
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 304
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 158
.........................................
Odometer .73
...............................
Odometer, Trip .73
..............
Of f -Highway Guidelines . 200
Oil ........................
Change, How to .223
......................
Change, When to .212
......................
Checking Engine .162
..............
Pressure Indicator . 66,290
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .222
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 86
.......................
Label, Certif ication .304
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 77
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 17,50
...........
LATCH Anchorage System . 47
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .258
.......................................
Indicator .65
.........................................
Parking .76
..................................
Turn Signal .77
.....................................
Load Limit .168
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 85Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 85
............................
Fuel Fill Door .159
....................................
Glove Box .91
.................................
Power Door .87
........................................
Tailgate .90
........................
Low Coolant Level .163
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .69
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 66,290
................................
Lower Anchors .47
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 306
.........................................
Luggage .167
Index
LM K J N
O
V

Î
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor....................................
Recovery .313
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 312
............................
Outside Mirrors .106
.......................................
Overdrive .181
....................
Overheating, Engine .288
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 219
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .311
..............................
Paint Touch-up .270
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 77
........................
Park Gear Position .179
...........................................
Parking .184
...............................
Parking Brake .111
Parking Brake and Brake .................
System Indicator . 66,294
.................................
Parking Lights .76
Parking Over Things that ....................................
Burn .184, 314
.............................
PGM-FI System .314
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 269
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 12
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 21
............................
Protecting Adults .13 ...
Additional Safety Precautions . 22
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 21
........................
Protecting Children .24
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .34
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 42
.........
Protecting Small Children . 38
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .46
.............................
Using LATCH .47
...................
Radiator Overheating . 288
.....
Radio/CD Sound System . 126,137
...........................
Readiness Codes .293
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid . 233
.......................................
Rear Doors .88
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 261
............................
Rear Seat Access .95
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding .99
..........................
Rear View Mirror .106
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 81
.
Rear Window Wiper and Washer . 80
...............
Reclining the Seat-Backs . 92
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 177
.............................
Reminder Lights .65 ............
Removing the Rear Seats . 101
Replacement Inf ormation .................
Air Cleaner Element . 236
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 246
..........................
Engine Coolant .227
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 223
..........................................
Fuses .296
................................
Light Bulbs .258
....................................
Schedule .210
................................
Spark Plugs .238
...........................................
Tires .253
.............................
Wiper Blades .242
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .53
Reserve Tank, Engine ...............................
Coolant .163, 225
...............................
Restraint, Child .24
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 180
...........................
Reverse Lockout .183
................................
Rotation, Tire .252
..................................
Saf ety Belts .8, 50
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 322
...........
Saf ety Checklist, Pre-Drive . 12
Index
R
P
S
VI

Î
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 168
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .306
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 304
.............................
Vehicle Storage .266
.....................................
Ventilation .121
.................................................
VIN .304
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .271
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .222
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .273
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .275
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 308
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .158
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .271
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 224
.....................................
Tachometer .72
Tailgate ............................
Open Indicator .70
.................................
Opening the .90
..........
Taillights, Changing Bulbs . 261
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 275
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 308
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 313
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .311
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .315
.......................
Temperature Gauge .74
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 46
............................
Thef t Protection .152
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 315
..................
Time, Setting the . 130,142
....................................
Tire Chains .255
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 277
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .310
...............................................
Tires .249
..............................
Air Pressure .249
.........................
Checking Wear .251
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 308......................................
Inf lation .249
..................................
Inspection .251
..............................
Maintenance .251
...................................
Replacing .253
......................................
Rotating .252
...........................................
Snow .254
............................
Specif ications .307
................................
Tire Chains .255
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 277
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .191
...............
Behind a Motorhome . 198
................................
Emergency .301
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .231
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .232
..................
Fluid Selection . 231,232
..............
Identif ication Number . 304
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 178
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 176
.....................................
Treadwear .308
.......................................
Trip Meter .73
....................................
Turn Signals .77 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 61
..................
Warranty Coverages .321
Index
T U
V
W
VIII

Service Inf ormat ion Summary
Gasoline:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:5-speed Manual Transmission
Fluid:
Rear Differential Fluid:Brake Fluid:
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Automatic Transmission Fluid: Power Steering Fluid:SpareTirePressure:
15.9 US gal (60
)
Unleaded gasoline, pump octane
number of 86 or higher.
Capacity (including differential): 32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ).
2.0 US qt (1.9
)
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page ).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
4.4 US qt (4.2
)
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) preferred, or
aDEXRON
III ATF as a
temporary replacement (see page ). Honda Dual Pump Fluid. Do not
use ATF (see page ).
Capacity:
1.1 US qt (1.0
)
Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page ). Honda Manual Transmission
Fluid preferred, or an SAE 10W-30
or 10W-40 motor oil as a
temporary replacement (see page ). Front:
Rear:34 psi (235 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm
)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
221
231 232
233
235 234