seats HONDA ELEMENT 2003 1.G Owner's Manual

If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, the sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inf late
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.To get the best protection f rom the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Your vehicle is equipped with side
airbags f or the driver and a f ront
seat passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the f ront
seat-backs, and both are marked
‘‘SIDE AIRBAG.’’
Optional on EX model
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
How Your Side A irbags Work
56

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Honda. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .64
...............................
Indicator Lights .65
.............................................
Gauges .72
...............................
Speedometer .72 .................................
Tachometer .72
..............
Odometer/Trip Meter . 73
..................................
Fuel Gauge .73
...................
Temperature Gauge . 74
Controls Near the Steering .......................................
Wheel .75
...................................
Headlights .76
............
Daytime Running Lights . 77
....
Instrument Panel Brightness . 77
................................
Turn Signals .77
.....................
Windshield Wipers .78
..................
Windshield Washers . 79
Rear Window Wiper and .....................................
Washer .80
..........................
Hazard Warning .81
.............
Rear Window Def ogger . 81
......
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 82
...............................
Keys and Locks .83
..............................................
Keys .83
....................
Immobilizer System . 84
............................
Ignition Switch .85
......................
Power Door Locks .87
..................................
Rear Doors .88
............................................
Hatch .89
........................................
Tailgate .90
....................................
Glove Box .91 .................................................
Seats .92
.............
Front Seat Adjustments . 92
Driver’s Seat Height ..............................
Adjustment .93
................
Driver’s Seat Armrest . 93
..........................
Head Restraints .94
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Rear Seat Access .95
.......
Rear Seat-back Adjustment . 96
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Reclining the Front Seats . 97
...............
Folding the Rear Seats . 99
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Removing the Rear Seats . 101
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Power Windows .103
...............................
Rear Windows .105
...........................................
Mirrors .106
..
Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 106
..........................................
Skylight .107
.........................
Beverage Holders .110
...............................
Parking Brake .111
...............................
Ceiling Pocket .112
.......................................
Coin Tray .112
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 113
...............................
Interior Lights .114
..............................
Ceiling Light .114
...................................
Spotlights .114
......................
Cargo Area Light .115
................
Ignition Switch Light . 115
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols63

All doors and the hatch lock when
youpushdownthelocktabonthe
driver’s door, or lock the driver’s
door from the outside with the key.
Only the driver’s door unlocks when
you use the key or the lock tab. To
unlock the f ront passenger’s door,
use the master door lock switch or
the lock tab on the f ront passenger’s
door.The Element has no center pillars
between front and rear seats, and
the rear doors pivot at the rear.
The rear door handle is located in
the rear door edge. The rear door
canbeopenedonlywhenthefront
door is open. Pull the handle to open
the rear door.
To close the doors when both f ront
and rear doors are open, close the
rear door first, then the front door.
The f ront door cannot be latched
without f irst closing the rear door.
Closing the rear door on the f ront
door will damage both doors.
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Rear Doors
88

µ
See pages f or important saf ety
inf ormation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs. 13 15
Make all seat adjustments bef ore
you start driving.
To change the angle of the seat-back,
pull up on the lever on the outside of
the seat bottom. Move the seat-back
to the desired position and release
the lever. Let the seat-back latch into
the new position.
To adjust the seat forward and
backward, pull up on the bar under
the seat cushion’s f ront edge. Move
the seat to the desired position and
releasethebar.Trytomovetheseat
to make sure it is locked in position.
FrontSeatAdjustments
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols92

To adjust the height of the driver’s
seat, turn the dial on the outside of
the seat bottom.The driver’s seat has an armrest on
thesideof theseat-back.Touseit,
pivotitdown.On EX models
Driver’s Seat Height Adjustment Driver’s Seat Armrest
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols93

See page f or important saf etyinf ormation and a warning about how toproperly position the head restraints. 16
Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints in all seating positions.
The head restraints help protect you
and your passengers f rom whiplash
and other injuries. They are most
ef f ective when you adjust them so
the back of the occupant’s head rests
against the center of the restraint. A
taller person should adjust the
restraint as high as possible. To remove a head restraint f or
cleaning or repair, pull it up as f ar as
it will go. Push the release button,
then pull the restraint out of the seat-
back.
The head restraints adjust f or height.
You need both hands to adjust the
restraint. Do not attempt to adjust it
while driving. To raise it, pull upward.
To lower the restraint, push the
release button sideways, and push
the restraint down.
Head Restraints
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols94
RELEASE BUTTON

Although your vehicle has rear doors,
the rear seat passengers can get out
of the vehicle f rom the open f ront
passenger’s door. Push down on the
release lever at the base of the front
passenger’s seat-back, and push the
seat-back forward. The seat-back will
tilt f orward and the entire seat will
move forward to allow easier exit
through the f ront door.After you return the seat cushion to
the desired position, pull the seat-
back upright until it latches. Make
sure the seat is f ully latched bef ore
sitting in it.
Rear Seat Access
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols95
RELEASE LEVER

µ
See pages f or important saf ety
inf ormation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs. 13 15
Make all seat adjustments bef ore
you start driving.
The seat-back angle of each rear
seat can be adjusted separately.
To change the seat-back angle, pull
the strap at the inside edge of the
seat cushion, and move the seat-back
to the desired position, then release
the strap. Make sure the seat-back
latches in the new position.
Rear Seat-back Adjustment
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols96
SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP

Remove the head restraints f rom
the f ront seats (see page ).
You can recline the seat-backs on the
f ront seats to a f ully f lat position so
they are level with the rear seat
cushions, making a large cushioned
area.Todothis: Store the head restraints in the
side pockets of the cargo area.
1.
94
CONT INUED
Reclining the Front Seats
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols97

Adjust the f ront seats f orward as
f ar as they will go. Pull up the seat-
back angle adjustment lever and
pivot the seat-back backward.
Release the lever when the seat-
back is level with the rear seat
cushion.Move the f ront seat backward
until it touches the rear seat.
Adjust the rear seat-back to the
desired position.
Reverse this procedure to return the
f ront and rear seats to the upright
position. Make sure you install the
head restraints and the seats are
locked securely bef ore driving.
When you return the seat-back to
the upright position, hold the seat-
back to keep it f rom going up too
quickly.
2.
3.4.
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols98
SLIDE BAR SEAT-BACK ANGLE
ADJUSTMENT LEVER