instrument panel HONDA ELEMENT 2005 1.G User Guide

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Canadian models onlyThis indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for
scheduled maintenance.
This indicator comes on if any door
is not closed tightly. This indicator comes on if the
tailgate or the hatch is not closed
tightly. This indicator comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
f luid when you see this indicator
come on (see page ). Ref er to the maintenance schedules
f or normal and severe driving
conditions on pages
.
For the f irst 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
af ter the maintenance required
indicator is reset, it will come on f or
2 seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).
Between 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
and 10,000 miles (16,000 km), this
indicator will come on f or 2 seconds
when you first turn the ignition
switch to ON (II), and then flash for
10 seconds. Hold the button for about 10
seconds until the indicator goes
of f . Press and hold the Select/Reset
button on the instrument panel,
then turn the ignition switch to
ON (II). Turn of f the engine.
Your dealer will reset this indicator
af ter completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is
notdonebyyourdealer,resetthe
indicator as f ollows. If you exceed 10,000 miles (16,000
km) without having the scheduled
maintenance perf ormed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder.
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3.
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Washer L evel Indicator
Maintenance Required
Indicator
Door-open Indicator Tailgate and Hatch Open
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
57

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Push down on the
lef t lever to signal a lef t turn and up
to signal a right turn. To signal a lane
change, push lightly on the lever and
hold it. The lever will return to
center when you release it or
complete a turn. To f lash the high beams, pull the
lever back lightly, then release it.
The high beams will stay on as long
as you hold the lever back.
Turn Signal
OFF
Parking and interior lights
Headlights on
High Beams
Flashhighbeams Turning switch to the
position turns on the parking
lights, taillights, instrument panel
lights, side-marker lights, and rear
license plate lights. Turning the
switch to the position turns on
the headlights. If you leave the lights
on with the key removed from the
ignition switch, you will hear a
reminder tone when you open the
driver’s door. Push the lever back
untilyouhearaclicktoturnonthe
high beams. The blue high beam
indicator will come on (see page ).
Pull the lever back again to low
beams.
With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
switch of f , even if you set the
parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
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2.
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4.
5.
6. 56
Turn Signal
Daytime Running L ights
Headlights High Beams
(Canadian Models)
Turn Signal and Headlights
62

Push the button next to the shift
levertoturnonthehazardwarning
lights (f our-way f lashers). This
causes all f our outside turn signals
and both turn indicators in the
instrument panel to f lash. Use the
hazard warning lights if you need to
park in a dangerous area near heavy
traf f ic, or if your vehicle is disabled.The rear window def ogger will clear
fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the def ogger button to
turn it on and off. The indicator in
the button comes on to show the
def ogger is on. If you do not turn it
of f , the def ogger will shut itself of f
af ter about 15 minutes. It also shuts
of f when you turn of f the ignition
switch. You have to turn the
def ogger on again when you restart
the vehicle.
Push the button in the speedometer
repeatedly to adjust the brightness
of the instrument panel lights. There
are six brightness levels. A segment
display shows the current brightness
level.
CONT INUED
Instrument Panel Brightness
Rear Window Def ogger
Hazard Warning Button
Instrument Panel Brightness, Hazard Warning Button, Rear Window Def ogger
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63

Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.
Thedefoggerwiresontheinsideof
the rear window can be accidentally
damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side-to-side.Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving. Push the lever under the lef t side
of the steering column all the way
down.
To adjust the steering wheel upward
or downward:
Move the steering wheel up or
down to the desired position.
Make sure you can see the
instrument panel gauges and the
indicators.
1.
2. 3.
4.
Steering Wheel A djustment
Rear Window Def ogger, Steering Wheel A djustment
64
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.

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The ignition switch has f our
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III).
You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To turn the key, push it in slightly. If
your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shif t lever must
also be in park. If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may make it difficult
to turn the key. Firmly turn the
steering wheel to the lef t or right as
you turn the key.
You can
operate the audio system and the
accessory power sockets in this
position.
This is the normal key
position when driving. Several of the
indicators on the instrument panel
come on as a test when you turn the
ignition switch f rom ACCESSORY
(I) to ON (II).
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key. You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
the driver’s door. Remove the key to
turn of f the beeper.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shif t lever must be
in Park bef ore you can remove the
key f rom the ignition switch.
Ignition Switch
LOCK (0)
A CCESSORY (I)
ON (II)
ST A RT (III)
Inst rument s and Cont rols
69
Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle.
Remove the key from the
ignition switch only when
parked.

To open a rear window, pull the lever
towards you, then push it out until it
locks. To close the rear window pull
the lever towards you, then push it
back. Make sure the window is f ully
closed and locked.Toliftuptherearoftheskylightfor
ventilation, pull down the lever to
unlock the skylight, then push it up
until the skylight is locked in the tilt-
up position.
To close the skylight, pull down the
lever to unlock the skylight, then
push it back in place. Make sure the
skylight is f ully closed and locked.
To apply the parking brake, pull the
lever up f ully. To release it, pull up
slightly, push the button, and lower
the lever. The parking brake
indicator on the instrument panel
should go out when the parking
brake is f ully released (see page ).
54
CONT INUED
On 4WD models only
Rear Windows, Parking Brake, Skylight
Parking Brake
Rear Windows Skylight
Inst rument s and Cont rols
83
PARKING BRAKE LEVER
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles.

Accelerate to the desired cruising
speedabove25mph(40km/h).
Press and release the SET/
DECELbuttononthesteering
wheel. The indicator on the
instrument panel comes on to
show the system is now activated.Cruise control may not hold the set
speed when you are going up and
down hills. If your speed increases
going down a hill, use the brakes to
slow down. This will cancel cruise
control. To resume the set speed,
press the RES/ACCEL button. The
indicator on the instrument panel will
come back on.
Cruise control allows you to maintain
asetspeedabove25mph(40km/h)
without keeping your f oot on the
accelerator pedal. It should be used
f or cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended f or
city driving, winding roads, slippery
roads, heavy rain, or bad weather.
Push in the cruise control master
button. The indicator in the button
come on.
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2.
3.
If equipped
Cruise Control
Using Cruise Control
Features
119
CANCEL
BUTTON
RES/ACCEL BUTTON
SET/DECEL BUTTON
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open
highways in good weather.

You can increase the set cruising
speed in any of these ways:Press and hold the RES/ACCEL
button. When you reach the
desired cruising speed, release the
button.
Push on the accelerator pedal.
Accelerate to the desired cruising
speed, and press the SET/DECEL
button.
You can decrease the set cruising
speed in any of these ways: Press and hold the SET/DECEL
button. Release the button when
you reach the desired speed. To slow down in very small
amounts, tap the SET/DECEL
button. Each time you do this,
your vehicle will slow down about
1 mph (1.6 km/h).
Tap the brake or clutch pedal.
Push the CANCEL button on the
steering wheel.
Pushthecruisecontrolmaster
button.
To increase the speed in very
small amounts, tap the RES/
ACCEL button. Each time you do
this, your vehicle speeds up about
1 mph (1.6 km/h). Tap the brake or clutch pedal
lightly with your f oot. The
CRUISE CONTROL indicator on
the instrument panel goes out.
When the vehicle slows to the
desired speed, press the SET/
DECEL button.
Even with cruise control turned on,
you can still use the accelerator
pedal to speed up f or passing. Af ter
completing the pass, take your foot
of f the accelerator pedal. The vehicle
will return to the set cruising speed.
Resting your f oot on the brake or
clutch pedal causes cruise control to
cancel. You can cancel cruise control in any
of these ways:
When you push the CANCEL button,
or tap the brake or clutch pedal, the
system remembers the previously
set cruising speed. To return to that
speed, accelerate to above 25 mph
(40 km/h), then press and release
the RES/ACCEL button. The
indicator comes on, and the vehicle
accelerates to the same cruising
speed as bef ore.
Pressingthecruisecontrolmaster
button turns the system off and
erases the previous cruising speed.
Changing the Set Speed
Resuming the Set Speed Cancelling Cruise Control
Cruise Control
120

Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).Make sure the doors, hatch, and
tailgate are securely closed and
locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments bef ore you drive
your vehicle.
Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice. When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see page ).
Check that the hood is f ully closed.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or f astened down
securely.
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10.
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64
Preparing to Drive
Driving
137

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These indicators on the instrument
panel show which position the shif t
lever is in. To shif t f rom any position, press
f irmly on the brake pedal, push the
release button, and pull the lever
toward you. You cannot shif t out of
Park when the ignition switch is in
the LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position. This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page .
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If it
f lashes while driving (in any shif t
position), it indicates a possible
problem in the transmission. Avoid
rapid acceleration, and have the
transmission checked by your dealer
as soon as possible.
144
CONT INUED
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoN
NtoD Dto2 2to1
1to2
2toD
DtoN NtoR RtoP Do this:
Press the brake pedal, and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.Shif t L ever Position Indicators Shif ting
Park (P)Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission
Driving
141
SHIFT LEVER