HONDA ELEMENT 2010 1.G Repair Manual
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Other LATCH-compatible seats have
a flexible-type connector as shownabove.4. Whatever type you have, follow the child seat maker's instructions for
adjusting or tightening the fit.5. Remove the head restraint (seepage 85). Make sure the removed
head restraints are secured in the
cargo area, and reinstalled when
the child seat is removed.
6. Route the tether strap over the top of the seat-back, making sure the
strap is not twisted.7. Slide the anchor cover open.
Flexible-typeANCHOR COVER TETHER ANCHOR
CONTINUED
Installing a Child Seat
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8. Attach the tether strap hook to thetether anchor, then tighten the
strap as instructed by the child
seat maker.
If the tether strap is too long and
cannot be tightened firmly, find a
route where the strap can be
tightened securely.
9. Push and pull the child seat forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure. Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/
Shoulder Belt
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 childseat.1. 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 and remove any slack from
the lap portion of the belt.
TETHER STRAP HOOK
TETHER ANCHOR
Installing a Child Seat
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2. To activate the lockable retractor,slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt feed back into theretractor.
3. After 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
the belt out, it is not locked, and
you will need to repeat these steps.4. After confirming that the belt islocked, 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 put
weight on the child seat, or push
on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.5. Push and pull the child seatforward and from 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 fully, then repeat thesesteps.
To deactivate the lockable retractor
and remove a child seat, unlatch the
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract.
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Installing a Child Seat with a Tether
A child seat with a tether can be
installed in either back seat, using
one of the anchor points shownabove.
Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required oravailable.
1. After securing the child seat in thedesired position (see page 46),
remove the head restraint (see
page 85), then route the tether
strap over the top of the seat-back.
2. Slide the anchor cover open as shown.3. Attach the tether strap hook to theanchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
4. 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.
TETHER ANCHORAGE POINTS
TETHER ANCHOR
ANCHOR COVER
TETHER ANCHOR
TETHER STRAP HOOK
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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 the lap/
shoulder belt.
The following pages give instructions
on how to check proper seat belt fit,
what kind of booster seat to use if one
is needed, and important precautions
for a child who must sit in front.
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 beltproperly.Checking Seat Belt FitTo determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly fits a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask yourself:
1. Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably over the edge of the seat? 3. Does the shoulder belt cross
between the child's neck and arm?
4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as possible, touching the child'sthighs?
5. Will the child be able to stay seated like this for 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.
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Using a Booster Seat
A child who has outgrown a forward-
facing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat until
the lap/shoulder belt fits them
properly without the booster.
Some states, Canadian provinces and
territories 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, provinces or
territories where you intend to drive.Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster meets federal
safety standards and that you follow
the booster seat maker's instructions.
If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in front, move the vehicle
seat as far back as possible and be
sure the child is wearing the seat beltproperly.
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.
When Can a Larger Child Sit inFront
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
aged 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
If the passenger's front airbag
inflates in a moderate to severe
frontal 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.
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 seriousinjuries.
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Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can safely ride in front,
there are other important factors you
should consider.
Maturity
To safely ride in front, a child must
be able to follow the rules, including
sitting properly, and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.
Physical Size
Physically, a child must be large
enough for the lap/shoulder belt to
properly fit (see pages 14 and 49). If
the seat belt does not fit properly,
with or without the child sitting on a
booster seat, the child should not sit
in front.If you decide that a child can safely
ride up front, be sure to:
● Carefully read the owner's manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all safetyinformation.
● 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 floor.
● Check that the child's seat belt is
properly and securely positioned.
● Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to fasten the seat belts
or sit properly. Additional Safety Precautions
●
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across the neck.
This could result
in serious neck injuries during acrash.
●
Do not let a child put the shoulder part of a seat belt behind the back
or under the arm.
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.
●
Two children should never use the same seat belt.If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in acrash.
●
Do not put any accessories on a seat belt.Devices intended to
improve a child's comfort or
reposition the shoulder part of a
seat belt can make the belt less
effective and increase the chance
of serious injury in a crash.
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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
follow the information on this page.
Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever:● The vehicle is raised for an oilchange.
● You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
● The vehicle was in a collision that
may have damaged the underside.
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.
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. With the tailgate or hatch open, air
flow can pull exhaust gas into your
vehicle's interior and create a
hazardous condition. If you must
drive with the tailgate or hatch open,
open all the windows and set the
heating and cooling system as shownbelow.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle
with the engine running, even in an
unconfined area, adjust the heating
and cooling system as follows:
1. Select the fresh air mode.
2. Select the
mode.
3. Turn the fan on high speed.
4. Set the temperature control to a comfortable setting.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
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These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that could cause serious injury or death.
Read these labels carefully.
If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except for the U.S. dashboard label which may be removed by the owner),
contact your dealer for a replacement.
U.S. models only
Canadian models
U.S. models
SUN VISOR
DASHBOARD
U.S. models only
CONTINUED
Safety Labels
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U.S. models Canadian modelsRADIATOR CAPDOORJAMBS
Safety Labels
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