check engine HONDA ELEMENT 2005 1.G Owner's Guide

Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (seeon page ).
If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page ). Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. Af ter the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off. Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (see
on page ).
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge or lower
bef ore checking the radiator. Start the engine, and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum heat. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
9.
8.
7. 6. 5.
11. 10.
217
126
217
Emergency
Towing
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
208
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

Let the vehicle sit f or a minute.
Open the hood, and check the oil
level (see page ). An engine
very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).If the charging system
indicator comes on brightly
when the engine is running, the
battery is not being charged.
Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories. Try not to use other
electrically operated controls such as
the power windows. Keep the engine
running; starting the engine will
discharge the battery rapidly.
Go to a service station or garage
where you can get technical
assistance.
Saf ely pull of f the road, and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning lights.
This indicator should never
come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing or stays
on, the oil pressure has dropped very
low. Serious engine damage is
possible and you should take
immediate action.
Start the engine, and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If it does not go
out within 10 seconds, turn of f the
engine. There is a mechanical
problem that needs to be repaired
bef ore you can continue driving
(seeon page
).
1.
2.
4. 3.
126
170
217
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
Charging System Indicator
Emergency T owing
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
209
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the vehicle stopped.

If you have recently ref ueled your
vehicle, the indicator coming on
could be due to a loose or missing
f uel f ill cap. Tighten the cap until it
clicks at least three times.
Tightening the cap will not turn the
indicator of f immediately; it takes at
least three days of normal driving.If the indicator comes on repeatedly,
even though it may turn of f as you
continue driving, have the vehicle
checked by the dealer as soon as
possible.
If your vehicle battery has been
disconnected or gone dead, these
codes are erased. It takes at least
three days of driving under various
conditions to set the codes again.
Your vehicle has certain ‘‘readiness
codes’’ that are part of the on-board
diagnostics f or the emissions
systems. In some states, part of the
emissions testing is to make sure
these codes are set. If they are not
set, the test cannot be completed.
If this indicator comes on
while driving, it means one
of the engine’s emissions control
systems may have a problem. Even
though you may f eel no dif f erence in
your vehicle’s perf ormance, it can
reduce your f uel economy and cause
increased emissions. Continued
operation may cause serious damage. To check if they are set, turn the
ignition to ON (II), without starting
the engine. The malf unction
indicator lamp will come on f or 20
seconds. If it then goes of f , the
readiness codes are set. If it blinks
f ive times, the readiness codes are
not set. If possible, do not take your
vehicle f or a state emissions test
until the readiness codes are set.
Refer to
f or more inf ormation (see page ).
230
Readiness Codes
State Emissions T esting
Malf unction Indicator L amp
210
If you keep driving with the
malf unction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your vehicle’s emissions
controls and engine. Those repairs may
not be covered by your vehicle’s
warranties.

Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
Remove the cover f rom the f use
box.
If something electrical in your
vehicle stops working, check f or a
blown f use f irst. Determine f rom the
chart on pages and , or the
diagram on the f use box lid, which
f use or f uses control that device.
Check those f uses f irst, but check all
the f uses bef ore deciding that a
blown f use is the cause. Replace any
blown f uses, and check if the device
works.
The interior f use box is underneath
the steering column. To remove the
f use box lid, turn the knobs
counterclockwise and pull the lid out
of its hinges.
The vehicle’s f uses are located in
two f use boxes. The under-hood f use
box is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side. To
open it, push the tabs as shown. 1.
2.215 216
Checking and Replacing Fuses
Fuses
212
TAB
INTERIOR
UNDER-HOOD

µµ
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(


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)
$
%

.
"

#
) This manual covers maintenance and recommended
procedures f or repair to engine and chassis components.
It is written f or the journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough f or most mechanically-inclined owners to under-
stand.
This manual describes the procedures involved in the
replacement of damaged body parts. This manual complements the service manual by
providing in-depth troubleshooting inf ormation f or each
electrical circuit in your vehicle.
Authorized Manuals
Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
238
NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name,
and also the name of the person to whose attention the shipment should
be sent. For purchases outside U.S.A. please write to the address shown
below for a quotation.
P.O. BOX 07280·DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207·1-800-782-4356
Customer Name Attention
Apartment Number
State & Zip Code
City
Daytime Telephone Number
Check or money order enclosed payable to Helm Inc U.S. funds only.
Do not send cash
Master
Card VISA
Check here if your billing address is different
from the shipping address shown above.
Account Number Expiration: Mo. Yr.
CUSTOMER SIGNATURE DATE
Street Address No P.O. Box Number
()
These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14
days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .128
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .69
..............
Accessory Power Sockets . 87
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 171
.............................
Airbag (SRS) .11, 23
...
Airbags, Additional Information . 23
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 29
.............................
Airbag Service .28
How the Side Airbag Cutof f ......................
Indicator Works .28
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 27
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .24
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 26
........................
SRS Components .23
................
Air Conditioning System . 91
............................................
Usage .91
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .188
.........................
Normal Driving .188
......................................
Antif reeze .173
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .55, 148
...................................
Operation .147 ..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 116
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 69
......................
Armrests, Front Seat .74
..................................
Audio System .94
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 21
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 119
..............
Automatic Transmission . 141
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .222
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 175
.......................................
Shif ting .141
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 141
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 141
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 144
......................
Auxiliary Input Jack .112
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .54, 209
............................
Jump Starting .205
..............................
Maintenance .193
............................
Specif ications .223
..............................
Bef ore Driving .121
..................................
Belts, Seat .10, 20
...........................
Beverage Holders .87 ...................................
Body Panels .178
..................................
Booster Seats .45
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 147
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 122
....................
Bulb Replacement .179
...........................................
Fluid .177
.........................................
Parking .83
.................
System Indicator . 54,211
........................
Wear Indicators .147
.............................
Braking System .146
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 122
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 63
........................
Brights, Headlights .62
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .182
..............................
Brake Lights .182
................
Front Parking Lights . 180
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 181
.................................
Headlights .179
............................
Specif ications .223
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 180
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .179
................................
Bungee Cords .133
Index
A
B
INDEX
I

Î
ÎÎ Î
............................
Capacities Chart .222
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 47
...............................
Carring Cargo .130
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
.........................................
CD Care .113
...................................
CD Changer .112
.......................
CD Error Message .114
.......
CD Changer Error Message . 115
.......................................
CD Player .106
.................................
Ceiling Pocket .86
........................
Certif ication Label .220
............................................
Chains .192
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .197
.................................
Changing Oil .171
........................................
How to .171
......................................
When to .165
...
Charging System Indicator . 54,209
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 137
.....................................
Child Saf ety .30
Child Seats ......
LATCH Anchorage System . 39
...........................
Lower Anchors .39
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 43
............
Cleaning the Body Panels . 178..............................................
Clock .117
.........................
Clock, Setting the .117
...................................
Clutch Fluid .177
........................
CO in the Exhaust .227
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 138
..............................
Compact Spare .196
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 234
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 51
Coolant ........................................
Adding .173
....................................
Checking .126
.........................
Proper Solution .173
...................
Temperature Gauge . 59
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .227
................
Cruise Control Indicator . 56
............
Cruise Control Operation . 119
.............
Customer Service Of f ice . 234
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard .4, 52
Daytime Running Lights ...................................
Indicator .56
.................................
Dead Battery .205 ............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 236
..........................
Def og and Def rost .91
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 63
................
Def rosting the Windows . 93
....................................
Dimensions .222
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 62
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 175
..................................
Engine Oil .126
..........................
Directional Signals .62
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 147
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .172
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 70
......................
Power Door Locks .70
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 224
Downshif ting, Manual .............................
Transmission .139
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 7
...........................................
Driving .135
....................................
Economy .127
........................
Driving Guidelines .136
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 185
Index
D
C
II

CONT INUED
..............................
Economy, Fuel .127
............
Emergencies on the Road . 195
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 205
...........
Brake System Indicator . 211
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 197
.....
Charging System Indicator . 209
..................
Checking the Fuses . 212
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers . 63
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 209
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 210
..................
Overheated Engine . 207
...........................
Emergency Brake .83
......................
Emergency Flashers .63
......................
Emergency Towing .217
.......................
Emissions Controls .227
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 230
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 59
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 140,143
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .54, 210
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 54,209
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 170
...............................
Overheating .207 ............................
Specif ications .222
.......................................
Starting .138
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 227
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .47
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .18
.....................................
Fan, Interior .90
...........................................
Features .89
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 124
Filters .........................
Dust and Pollen .185
...............................................
Oil .171
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 63
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 197
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 175
..........................................
Brake .177
.........................................
Clutch .177
..............
Manual Transmission . 176
..........................
Power Steering .178
..................
Windshield Washer . 174
FM Stereo Radio .....................................
Reception .98 ...........................
Folding Rear Seat .77
..........................
Four-way Flashers .63
..........................
Four-wheel Drive .136
............................
Front Airbags .11, 23
Front Seat ......................................
Adjusting .12
.........................................
Airbags .23
.................................................
Fuel .122
......................
Fill Door and Cap .124
...........................................
Gauge .58
................
Octane Requirement . 122
........................
Reserve Indicator .56
........................
Tank, Filling the .124
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .212
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 127
.........................................
Gasoline .122
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 56
...........................................
Gauge .58
................
Octane Requirement . 122
........................
Tank, Filling the .124
Index
E
F
G
INDEX
III

CONT INUED
....................................
Glove Box .87
.................................
Power Door .70
........................................
Tailgate .72
........................
Low Coolant Level .126
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .56
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 54,209
................................
Lower Anchors .39
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 139
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 222
.........................................
Luggage .130
..................................
Maintenance .161
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 164
.................................
Record .167-168
......................
Required Indicator .57
..........................................
Saf ety .162
.............................
Schedule .165-166
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 54,210
...................
Manual Transmission . 139
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 176
................................
Shif ting the .139
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 176
.........................
Meters, Gauges .53, 58
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .82 ...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 129
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 142
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 122
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .140
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 220
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 122
.........................................
Odometer .58
...............................
Odometer, Trip .58
....................
Of f -Highway Driving . 157
Oil ........................
Change, How to .171
......................
Change, When to .165
......................
Checking Engine .126
..............
Pressure Indicator . 54,209
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .170
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 69
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ....................................
Recovery .227 ..............................
Outside Mirrors .82
.......................................
Overdrive .143
....................
Overheating, Engine .207
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 164
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 63
........................
Park Gear Position .141
...........................................
Parking .145
.................................
Parking Brake .83
Parking Brake and Brake .................
System Indicator . 54,211
.................................
Parking Lights .62
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 145
................................
Playing a Disc .106
............
Playing the AM/FM Radio . 94
Playing the XM Satellite ..........................................
Radio .100
.............................
PGM-FI System .228
.................
Power Socket Locations . 87
..............................
Power Windows .81
..........................
Power Door Locks .70
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 18
TM
Index
M N
O
P
INDEX
V

Î
CONT INUED
.....................................
Snow Tires .191
..................................
Sound System .94
......................................
Spare Tire .196
......................................
Inf lating .196
............................
Specif ications .223
....................
Specif ications Charts . 222
................................
Speed Control .119
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 23
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 29
.............................
Airbag Service .28
How the Side Airbag Cutof f ......................
Indicator Works .28
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 27
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .24
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 26
........................
SRS Components .23
.............................
SRS Indicator .27 ,55
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 69
..............
State Emissions Testing . 230
.......................
Starting the Engine .138
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .138
................
With a Dead Battery . 205
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 207Steering Wheel
..................................
Adjustment .64
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 69
.....................
Stereo Sound System .94
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .194
Supplemental Restraint ................................
System .11, 23
......................................
Servicing .28
.........................
SRS Indicator .27 ,55
...................
System Components . 23
..................................
Synthetic Oil .171
Tailgate ............................
Open Indicator .57
.................................
Opening the .72
..........
Taillights, Changing Bulbs . 182
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 195
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 224
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 227
..........
State Emissions Testing . 230
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .229
.................................
Tire Labeling .226 .......................
Temperature Gauge .59
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 43
............................
Thef t Protection .116
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 229
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel . 64
..........................
Time, Setting the .117
....................................
Tire Chains .192
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 197
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .224
...............................................
Tires .187
..............................
Air Pressure .188
.........................
Checking Wear .189
..........................
Compact Spare .196
....
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 224
......................................
Inf lation .187
..................................
Inspection .189
..............................
Maintenance .189
...................................
Replacing .190
......................................
Rotating .190
...........................................
Snow .191
............................
Specif ications .223
................................
Tire Chains .192
Index
T
INDEX
VII