engine HONDA ELEMENT 2008 1.G Manual PDF

Without touching the accelerator
pedal, start the engine, and let it
idle f or 20 seconds.
If you take your vehicle f or an
emissions test shortly af ter the
battery has been disconnected or
gone dead, it may not pass the test.
This is because of certain ‘‘readiness
codes’’ that must be set in the on-
board diagnostics f or the emissions
systems. These codes are erased
when the battery is disconnected,
and set again only after several days
of driving under a variety of
conditions. If the testing f acility determines that
the readiness codes are not set, you
will be requested to return at a later
date to complete the test. If you must
get the vehicle retested within the
next two or three days, you can
condition the vehicle f or retesting by
doing the f ollowing.
Make sure the f uel tank is nearly,
but not completely f ull (around
3/4).
Make sure the vehicle has been
parked with the engine of f f or 6
hours or more.
Make sure the ambient
temperature is between 40° and
95°F. Without touching the accelerator
pedal and let the engine idle f or 20
seconds.
Keep the vehicle in Park
(automatic transmission) or
Neutral (manual transmission).
Increase the engine speed to 2,000
rpm,andholditthereuntilthe
temperature gauge rises to at least
1/4of thescale(about3minutes).
1.
2. 4.
3. 5.
6.
CONT INUED
T esting of Readiness Codes
Emissions T esting
Technical Inf ormation
259
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2008 Element

Then drive in city/suburban
traffic for at least 10 minutes.
When traf f ic conditions allow, let
the vehicle coast f or several
seconds without using the
accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal.
Select a nearby lightly traveled
major highway where you can
maintain a speed of 50 to 60 mph
(80to97km/h)foratleast20
minutes. Drive on the highway in
D (Automatic) or 5th (Manual).
Do not use cruise control. When
traffic allows, drive for 90 seconds
without moving the accelerator
pedal. (Vehicle speed may vary
slightly; this is okay.) If you cannot
do this f or a continuous 90
seconds because of traf f ic
conditions, drive f or at least 30
seconds, then repeat it two more
times (for a total of 90 seconds). Make sure the vehicle has been
parked with the engine of f f or 30
minutes.
If the testing f acility determines the
readiness codes are still not set, see
your dealer.
7. 8.
9.
Emissions T esting
260
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2008 Element

T he publications shown below can be purchased f rom Helm
Incorporated. You can order by phone or online:Call Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356 (credit card orders only)
Go online at
If you are interested in other years or models, contact Helm Inc.
at 1-800-782-4356.Covers maintenance and recommended procedures f or
repair to engine and chassis components. It is written
f or the journeyman mechanic, but it is simple enough
f or most mechanically inclined owners to understand.
Complements the Service Manual by providing in-depth
troubleshooting inf ormation f or each electrical circuit
in your vehicle.
Describes the procedures involved in the replacement
of damaged body parts.
Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
(U.S. only)
Authorized Manuals
Authorized Manuals
265
Form Description
2008 Honda Element Service Manual 2008 Honda Element
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual
2008 Honda Element Body Repair Manual 2008 Honda Element Owner’s Manual
2008 Honda Element Honda Service History 2008 Honda Element Quick Start Guide Order Form for Previous Years-
Indicate Year and Model Desired
Publication
Form Number 61SCV06
61SCV06EL
61SCV30
31SCV650
31SCVM30 31SCVQ50 HON-R
www. helminc. com
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CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .147
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) .79
..............
Accessory Power Sockets .98
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .194
.........
Advice f or Pregnant Women .18
.............................
Airbag (SRS) .11,24
...
Airbags, Additional Information .24
...
Additional Safety Precautions .36
.............................
Airbag Service .35
How the Passenger Airbag Of f
......................
Indicator Works .34
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .34
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .33
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .27
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .30
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work .32
........................
SRS Components .24
..............
Air Conditioning System .102
.........................................
Usage .103
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .213 ......................................
Alignment .250
......................................
Antif reeze .196
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator .61,168
...................................
Operation .167
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .131
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock .79
......................
Armrests, Front Seat .84
................................
Audio System .107
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .22
.............
Automatic Speed Control .135
..............
Automatic Transmission .161
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .249
...............
Checking Fluid Level .198
.......................................
Shif ting .161
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .161
................
Shif t Lever Positions .161
....................
Shif t Lock Release .163
......................
Auxiliary Input Jack .125
Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator .60,235
............................
Jump Starting .231 ..............................
Maintenance .218
............................
Specif ications .250
..............................
Bef ore Driving .139
..................................
Belts, Seat .10,20
...........................
Beverage Holders .98
...................................
Body Panels .201
..................................
Booster Seats .52
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .167
.............
Break-in, New Linings .140
....................
Bulb Replacement .207
...........................................
Fluid .200
.........................................
Parking .93
.................
System Indicator .60,237
........................
Wear Indicators .167
.............................
Braking System .166
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle .140
..
Brightness Control, Instruments .72
........................
Brights, Headlights .71
Index
A
B
INDEX
I
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ÎÎÎ
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .207
..............................
Brake Lights .207
................
Front Parking Lights .204
........
Front Side Marker Lights .205
.................................
Headlights .202
....................
High-mount Brake .208
....................
Rear License Plate .208
............................
Specif ications .250
....................
Turn Signal Lights .204
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .202
................................
Bungee Cords .153
............................
Capacities Chart .249
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .54
.............................
Carrying Cargo .149
.............
CAUTION, Explanation of .iii
.........................................
CD Care .128
...................................
CD Changer .125
.......................
CD Error Message .126
.......
CD Changer Error Message .127
.......................................
CD Player .119
.................................
Ceiling Pocket .97
........................
Certif ication Label .246 ............................................
Chains .217
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .223
.................................
Changing Oil .194
........................................
How to .194
......................................
When to .185
...
Charging System Indicator .60,235
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .157
.....................................
Child Saf ety .37
Child Seats
......
LATCH Anchorage System .46
...........................
Lower Anchors .46
..........
Tether Anchorage Points .50
..........
Children, Protecting Larger .51
............
Cleaning the Body Panels .201
..............................................
Clock .132
.........................
Clock, Setting the .132
...................................
Clutch Fluid .201
........................
CO in the Exhaust .256
............
Cold Weather, Starting in .158
..............................
Compact Spare .222
.................
Consumer Inf ormation .262
.............
Controls, Instruments and .57
Coolant
........................................
Adding .196
....................................
Checking .143
.........................
Proper Solution .196 ...................
Temperature Gauge .68
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .256
................
Cruise Control Indicator .62
............
Cruise Control Operation .135
................
Cup (Beverage) Holders .98
.............
Customer Service Of f ice .262
...............
DANGER, Explanation of .iii
...................................
Dashboard .4,58
............
Daytime Running Lights .72
.......................................
Indicator .62
.................................
Dead Battery .231
.........
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .264
........................
Def og and Def rost .105
................
Def ogger, Rear Window .73
..............
Def rosting the Windows .105
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .200
....................................
Dimensions .248
...............
Dimming the Headlights .71
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .198
..................................
Engine Oil .143
..........................
Directional Signals .71
Index
D
C
II
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Î
CONT INUED
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .167
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .195
.
Door and Tailgate Open Monitor .63
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking .80
......................
Power Door Locks .80
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .251
Downshif ting, Manual
.............................
Transmission .159
..
Drive Gear Positions, D and D .162
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .7
...........................................
Driving .155
....................................
Economy .144
........................
Driving Guidelines .156
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .210
..............................
Economy, Fuel .144
............
Emergencies on the Road .221
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .231
...........
Brake System Indicator .237
................
Changing a Flat Tire .223
.....
Charging System Indicator .235
..................
Checking the Fuses .238
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers .73 .....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .235
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .236
..................
Overheated Engine .233
...........................
Emergency Brake .93
......................
Emergency Flashers .73
......................
Emergency Towing .243
.......................
Emissions Controls .256
........................
Emissions Testing .259
Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .68
......
Engine Speed Limiter .160,163
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .60,236
.........................
Oil Lif e Display .185
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .60,235
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .193
...............................
Overheating .233
............................
Specif ications .248
.......................................
Starting .158
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .256
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .54
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .18 ...................................
Fan, Interior .103
.........................................
Features .101
.................
First (1) Gear Position .163
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .141
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen .210
...............................................
Oil .194
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .73
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .223
.....................................
Floor Mats .209
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .198
..........................................
Brake .200
.........................................
Clutch .201
................................
Differential .200
..............
Manual Transmission .199
..........................
Power Steering .201
..................
Windshield Washer .197
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .111
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .87
..........................
Four-way Flashers .73
3
Index
E F
INDEX
III
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ÎÎ
..........................
Four-wheel Drive .156
............................
Front Airbags .11,27
Front Seat
......................................
Adjusting .13
...................................
Airbags .11,27
.................................................
Fuel .140
......................
Fill Door and Cap .141
...........................................
Gauge .67
................
Octane Requirement .140
........................
Reserve Indicator .63
........................
Tank, Filling the .141
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .238 .............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs .202
................................................
Hatch .81
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers .73
Headlights
........................................
Aiming .202
.......
Daytime Running Lights .72
..................
High Beam Indicator .63
........................
Reminder Beeper .71
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs .202
...................................
Turning on .71
..............................
Head Restraints .85
......................
Safety Information .15
.....................
Heating and Cooling .102
.............
High Altitude, Starting at .158
.................
High-Low Beam Switch .71
..
Hood, Opening and Closing the .142
..............................................
Horn .5,69
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch .201 ...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle .246
Ignition
..............................................
Keys .75
.............................................
Light .96
...........................................
Switch .79
............
Timing Control System .257
........................
Immobilizer System .76
.......
Immobilizer System Indicator .62
...
Important Handling Inf ormation .iv
.........
Important Safety Precautions .8
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel .60
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .42
......................................
Inf ant Seats .42
......
LATCH Anchorage System .46
...........................
Lower Anchors .46
..........
Tether Anchorage Points .50
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire .212
...................................
Inside Mirror .92
.............................
Inspection, Tire .214
............................
Instrument Panel .59
........
Instrument Panel Brightness .72
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators .60
.................................
Interior Lights .96
........................................
Introduction .i
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving .144
.........................................
Gasoline .140
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator .63
...........................................
Gauge .67
................
Octane Requirement .140
........................
Tank, Filling the .141
................
Gas Station Procedures .141
.............................................
Gauges .66
...
Engine Coolant Temperature .68
...............................................
Fuel .67 Gearshif t Lever Positions
..........
Automatic Transmission .161
..............
Manual Transmission .159
........................................
Glove Box .98
Index
I
H
G
IV
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Î
Oil........................
Change, How to .194
......................
Change, When to .185
......................
Checking Engine .143
..............
Pressure Indicator .60,235
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart .193
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) .79
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery .256
..............................
Outside Mirrors .92
....................
Overheating, Engine .233
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks .190
..............
Panel Brightness Control .72
........................
Park Gear Position .161
...........................................
Parking .165
.................................
Parking Brake .93
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator .60,237
.................................
Parking Lights .71
..
Parking Over Things that Burn .165
................................
Playing a Disc .119
..........
Playing the AM/FM Radio .107 Playing the XM Satellite
..........................................
Radio .113
.............................
PGM-FI System .257
..........................
Power Door Locks .80
.................................
Power Mirrors .92
.................
Power Socket Locations .98
....................
Power Steering Fluid .201
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts .18
........................
Preparing to Drive .157
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens .13
...
Additional Safety Precautions .18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women .18
........................
Protecting Children .37
Protecting Inf ants and Small
.......................................
Children .42
...........
Protecting Larger Children .51
.....................
Using Booster Seat .52
...................
Radiator Overheating .233
.............
Radio/CD Sound System .107
..................
RadioThef t Protection .131
................
Readiness Codes, State .259
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid .200
.......................................
Rear Doors .81 ..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement .207
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding .87
............................
Rear View Mirror .92
.................................
Rear Windows .93
......................................
Def ogger .73
......................
Wiper and Washer .70
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs .83
..............
Reclining the Front Seats .86
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds .160
...
Recommended Tire Pressures .213
.............................
Reminder Lights .59
...............
Removing the Rear Seats .89
.......................
Remote Transmitter .77
................
Remote Audio Controls .134
Replacement Inf ormation
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter .210
................
Engine Oil and Filter .194
..........................................
Fuses .238
................................
Light Bulbs .202
...........................................
Tires .212
.............................
Wiper Blades .210
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .23
..........
Reporting Saf ety Def ects .264
Reserve Tank, Engine
...............................
Coolant .143,196
Index
R
P
VI
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ÎÎ
CONT INUED
...............................
Restraint, Child .37
..................
Reverse Gear Position .162
......................................
Roof Rack .152
................................
Rotation, Tire .215
................................
Saf ety Belts .10,20
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting .264
.................................
Saf ety Features .9
.........................................
Airbags .11
.....................................
Seat Belts .10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of .55
..............................
Saf ety Messages .iii
................................
Satellite Radio .113
...................................
Seat Belts .10,20
...............
Additional Information .20
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners .22
.....................................
Cleaning .209
................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .16,21
................................
Maintenance .22
.....................
Reminder Light .20,60
.............
Replacing Af ter a Crash .23
...................
System Components .20
...............
Use During Pregnancy .18 ...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt .16
.........................
Seating Capacities .248
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .83
.............
Second (2) Gear Position .163
.....................
Selecting a Child Seat .44
...............................
Serial Number .246
...........................
Service Intervals .191
...........................
Service Manual .265
...........
Service Station Procedure .141
..........................
Setting the Clock .132
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .161
........................
Shif t Lock Release .163
....................................
Side Airbags .30
................................
Of f Indicator .34
Side Marker Lights, Bulb ..............................
Replacement .205
...............................
Signaling Turns .71
............................................
Skylight .93
.....................................
Snow Tires .216
................................
Sound System .107
......................................
Spare Tire .222
......................................
Inf lating .222
............................
Specif ications .250
....................
Specif ications Charts .248
................................
Speed Control .135 ..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation .24
...
Additional Safety Precautions .36
.............................
Airbag Service .35
How the Passenger Airbag Of f
......................
Indicator Works .34
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .34
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .33
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .27
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .30
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work .32
........................
SRS Components .24
.............................
SRS Indicator .33,61
....
START (Ignition Key Position) .79
.......................
Starting the Engine .158
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .158
................
With a Dead Battery .231
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine .233
Steering Wheel
..................................
Adjustment .74
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock .79
Index
INDEX
S
VII
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On 4WD model only
Service Inf ormation Summary
Gasoline:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:
Automatic Transmission Fluid:Brake Fluid:
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Manual Transmission Fluid:
SpareTirePressure:
Power Steering Fluid: Rear Differential Fluid:
15.9 US gal (60
)
Unleaded gasoline, pump octane
number of 87 or higher.
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page ).
filter): Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ).
Honda Manual Transmission
Fluid preferred, or an SAE 10W-30
or 10W-40 motor oil as a
temporary replacement (see page
).
Capacity (including differential):
2.0 US qt (1.9
) Front: 33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm
)
Rear: 35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm
)
Front/Rear: 32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page ). 1.1 US qt (1.0
)
Capacity: Honda Dual Pump Fluid II. Do not
use ATF.
4.4 US qt (4.2
) SC model All models except SC
193 199
201 200
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(see page 198 ).(Automatic
Transmission Fluid)
Honda ATF-Z1
2008 Element