HONDA ELEMENT 2008 1.G Workshop Manual

Whatever type you have, f ollow
the child seat maker’s instructions
f or adjusting or tightening the f it.Remove the head restraint (see
page ). Make sure the removed
head restraints are secured in the
cargo area, and reinstalled when
the child seat is removed.
Slide the anchor cover open.
Route the tether strap over the top
of the seat-back, making sure the
strap is not twisted.
Other LATCH-compatible seats have
a f lexible-type connector as shown
above.
5.
4. 6.7.
85
CONT INUED
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
47
TETHER ANCHOR
ANCHOR COVER
Flexible-type
\f—\f—y

y
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

With the child seat in the desired
seating position, route the belt
through the child seat according
to the seat maker’s instructions,
then insert the latch plate into the
buckle.
When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.
In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in
all seating positions except the
driver’s have a lockable retractor
that must be activated to secure a
child seat.
Attach the tether strap hook to the
tether anchor, then tighten the
strap as instructed by the child
seat maker.
If the tether strap is too long and
cannot be tightened f irmly, f ind a
route where the strap can be
tightened securely.
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify that it is secure. 1.
8.
9. Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt
Installing a Child Seat
48
TETHER ANCHOR
TETHER STRAP HOOK
\f—\f—y
y
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify that it is secure enough to
stay upright during normal driving
maneuvers. If the child seat is not
secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to
retract f ully, then repeat these
steps.
Af ter conf irming that the belt is
locked, grab the shoulder part of
the belt near the buckle, and pull
up to remove any slack from the
lap part of the belt. Remember, if
the lap part of the belt is not tight,
the child seat will not be secure.
To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.
To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt f eed back into the
retractor.
Af ter the belt has retracted, tug on
it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
thebeltout,itisnotlocked,and
you will need to repeat these steps.
To deactivate the lockable retractor
and remove a child seat, unlatch the
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract.
4. 5.
2.
3.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
49
\f—\f—y
y
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.Af ter securing the child seat in the
desired position (see page ),
remove the head restraint (see
page ), then route the tether
strap over the top of the seat-back.
Slide the anchor cover open as
shown.
Attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
A child seat with a tether can be
installed in either back seat, using
one of the anchor points shown
above.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions. Make
sure the removed head restraint is
secured in the cargo area.
Reinstall the head restraint in
place when you remove the child
seat.
1.
2.
3.
4.
48
85
Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
Installing a Child Seat
50
TETHER STRAP HOOK
ANCHOR POINTS
TETHER ANCHOR
ANCHOR COVER TETHER ANCHOR
\f—\f—y
y
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

Does the shoulder belt cross
between the child’s neck and arm?
Is the lap part of the belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s
thighs?
Will the child be able to stay
seated like this f or the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these
questions, the child is ready to wear
the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If
you answer no to any question, the
child needs to ride on a booster seat.
To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly f its a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask
yourself :
Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?
Do the child’s knees bend
comf ortably over the edge of the
seat?
When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in a back seat on a
booster seat and wear a lap/shoulder
belt.
The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt f it, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions f or a child
who must sit in f ront.
1.
2.3.
4.
5.
Checking Seat Belt Fit
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
51
Allowing a child age 12 or under
to sit in front can result in injury
or death if the passenger’s front
airbag inflates.
If a child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, have the child
sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly.
\f—\f—y
y
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

A side airbag also poses risks. If any
part of a larger child’s body is in the
path of a deploying side airbag, the
child could receive possibly serious
injuries.
If the passenger’s front airbag
inf lates in a moderate to severe
f rontal collision, the airbag can cause
serious injuries to a child who is
unrestrained, improperly restrained,
sitting too close to the airbag, or out
of position.
Some states and Canadian provinces
also require children to use a booster
seat until they reach a given age or
weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be
sure to check current laws in the
states or provinces where you intend
to drive. Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster meets f ederal
saf ety standards and that you f ollow
the booster seat maker’s instructions.
If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in f ront, move the vehicle
seat as far back as possible and be
sure the child is wearing the seat
belt properly.
A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of their ears are
even with the top of the vehicle’s or
booster’s seat-back. A child of this
height should be tall enough to use
the lap/shoulder belt without a
booster seat.
A child who has outgrown a forward-
f acing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat
until the lap/shoulder belt f its them
properly without the booster. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
aged 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
Using a Booster Seat When Can a L arger Child Sit in
Front
Protecting L arger Children
52
\f—\f—y
\f
y
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride up f ront, be sure to:Caref ully read the owner’s manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all saf ety
inf ormation.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position.
Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the f loor.
To saf ely ride in f ront, a child must
be able to f ollow the rules, including
sitting properly, and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.
Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it (see page ). If the seat
belt does not f it properly, with or
without the child sitting on a booster
seat, the child should not sit in f ront.
Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly and securely positioned.
Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.
Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in f ront,
there are other important f actors you
should consider.
This could
cause very serious injuries during
a crash. It also increases the
chance that the child will slide
under the belt in a crash and be
injured. This could result
in serious neck injuries during a
crash.
If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.
Devices intended to
improve a child’s comf ort or
reposition the shoulder part of a
seat belt can make the belt less
ef f ective and increase the chance
of serious injury in a crash.
51 Additional Saf ety Precautions
Maturity
Physical Size Do not let a child put the shoulder
part of a seat belt behind t he backor under t he arm.
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across t he neck.
T wo children should never use thesame seat belt .
Do not put any accessories on aseat belt.
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
53
\f—\f—y

y
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. Carbon
monoxide should not enter the
vehicle in normal driving if you
maintain your vehicle properly and
f ollow the inf ormation on this page.High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the
underside. Select the f resh air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle
with the engine running, even in an
unconf ined area, adjust the heating
and cooling system as f ollows:
With the tailgate or hatch open, air
f low can pull exhaust gas into your
vehicle’s interior and create a
hazardous condition. If you must
drive with the tailgate or hatch open,
openallthewindowsandsetthe
heating and cooling system as shown
below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
54
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
\f—\f—y

y
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury or death. Read these labels
caref ully.
If a label comes of f or becomes hard
to read (except for the U.S.
dashboard label which may be
removed by the owner), contact your
dealer f or a replacement.
CONT INUED
U.S. modelsCanadian modelsU.S. models only
U.S. models only
Saf ety L abels
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
55
SUN VISOR
DASHBOARD
\f—\f—y
y
(+\fy\f\f\fy
2008 Element

Canadian models
U.S. models
Canadian models
U.S. models
Saf ety L abels
56
HOOD
RADIATOR CAPDOORJAMBS
\f—\f—y
y
(+\fy\f\f
y
2008 Element