warning HONDA ELEMENT 2004 1.G User Guide

If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.Park the vehicle on f irm, level and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or Reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
the trailer.
Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
Open the hatch and the tailgate.
The spare tire, jack, and tools are
under the cargo area f loor.
1. 2.
3. 4.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed181
TOOLS
SPARE TIRE
JACK
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by thejack.
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If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running, and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn of f all accessories, and turn
on the hazard warning lights.
If the vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
1. 2.3. 4.
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed190
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.
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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.
This light 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. Saf ely pull of f the road, and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning lights.
Start the engine, and watch the oil
pressure light. If it does not go out
within ten seconds, turn off the
engine. There is a mechanical
problem that needs to be repaired
bef ore you can continue driving.
(See on page
).
1. 2. 4.
3. 113
157
195
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
Emergency T owingCharging System Indicator
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed192
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.
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µ
The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For
example: The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
All passenger car tires must conf orm
to Federal Saf ety Requirements in
addition to these grades.
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
T echnical Inf ormation
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading Treadwear Traction AA, A, B, C
206
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µWarning: The temperature grade f or
this tire is established f or a tire that
is properly inf lated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinf la-
tion, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire
f ailure.
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire f ailure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
perf ormance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Saf ety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of perf ormance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
T echnical Inf ormation
Temperature A,B,C
207
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CONT INUED
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 114
..................................
Emergencies . 179
............................
Jump Starting . 188
...........
Brake System Indicator . 194
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 181
.....
Charging System Indicator . 192
..................
Checking the Fuses . 196
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers . 63
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 192
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 193
..................
Overheated Engine . 190
.......................................
Towing . 195
...........................
Emergency Brake . 83
......................
Emergency Flashers . 63
.......................
Emissions Controls . 209
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 212 Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 59
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 126, 129
.............................. 186
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp . 54, 193
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 54, 192
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 157 ...............................
Overheating . 190
............................
Specif ications . 204
.......................................
Starting . 124
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 110
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 209
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 48
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 17
.....................................
Fan, Interior . 90
Features, Comfort and
................................
Convenience . 89
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 111
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 170
...............................................
Oil . 158
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 163
................................
Shif ting the . 125
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 63
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 181
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 162
..........................................
Brake . 164 .........................................
Clutch . 164
..............
Manual Transmission . 163
..........................
Power Steering . 165
..................
Windshield Washer . 161
FM Stereo Radio .....................................
Reception . 97
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 77
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 63
Front Seat
......................................
Adjusting . 11
.........................................
Airbags . 22
.................................................
Fuel . 110
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 111
...........................................
Gauge . 58
................
Octane Requirement . 110
........................
Reserve Indicator . 56
........................
Tank, Filling the . 111
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 196
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 114
..........................................
Gasohol . 110
If it won’t start
Index
E
F
G
III
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.........................................
Gasoline . 110
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 56
...........................................
Gauge . 58
................
Octane Requirement . 110
........................
Tank, Filling the . 111
................
Gas Station Procedures . 111
Gauges
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 59
...............................................
Fuel . 58
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 127
5-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission . 126
........................................
Glove Box . 87
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 166
................................................
Hatch . 71
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 63
Headlights
........................................
Aiming . 166
............
Daytime Running Lights . 62
..................
High Beam Indicator . 56
........................
Reminder Beeper . 62
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 166 ...................................
Turning on . 62
..............................
Head Restraints . 75
.......................
Heating and Cooling . 90
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 62
.......................
Hood, Opening the . 112
..............................................
Horn .3,60
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch . 164
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 202
Ignition
..............................................
Keys . 65
...........................................
Switch . 69
............
Timing Control System . 210
........................
Immobilizer System . 66
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
Indicators
..............
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake) . 55
Brake (Parking and Brake
............................
System) . 54, 194
........................
Charging System . 54
.............................
Cruise Control . 56
DRL (Daytime Running
......................................
Lights) . 56
...................................
High Beam . 56 ........
Key (Immobilizer System) . 55
......................................
Low Fuel . 56
........................
Low Oil Pressure . 54
...........................
Side Airbag Of f . 55
...............................................
SRS . 55
Turn Signal and Hazard
...................................
Warning . 56
..............................
Washer Level . 57
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 53
...............................
Inf ant Restraint . 34
......................................
Inf ant Seats . 34
......
LATCH Anchorage System . 39
...........................
Lower Anchors . 39
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 43
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 172
.........................
Normal Driving . 173
...................................
Inside Mirror . 82
.............................
Inspection, Tire . 174
............................
Instrument Panel . 53
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 63
........................................
Introduction . i
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 183
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 181
Index
H I
J
IV
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.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 118
......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 204
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 202 .............................
Vehicle Storage . 178
........................................
Ventilation . 92
.................................................
VIN . 202
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 157
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the . 179
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 206
........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 110
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 159 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 49
..................
Warranty Coverages . 215
Washers, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 161
.....................................
Operation . 61
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 64
............
Alignment and Balance . 174
......................................
Wrench . 183
Windows ..................
Operating the Power . 81
...........................
Rear, Def ogger . 63
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning . 61
.....................................
Def roster . 91
.....................................
Washers . 161
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades . 171
..........................
Time, Setting the . 105
....................................
Tire Chains . 176
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 181
...........................
Tire Inf ormation . 208
...............................................
Tires . 172
..............................
Air Pressure . 173
.........................
Checking Wear . 174
..........................
Compact Spare . 180
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 206
......................................
Inf lation . 172
..................................
Inspection . 174
..............................
Maintenance . 174
...................................
Replacing . 175
......................................
Rotating . 175
...........................................
Snow . 176
............................
Specif ications . 205
................................
Tire Chains . 176
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 181
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 135
...............
Behind a Motorhome . 141
................................
Emergency . 195
...
Equipment And Accessories . 137
.............................
Weight Limit . 135
.............................
Trailer Loading . 136
......................
Trailer Towing Tips . 139 Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic . 162
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual . 163
..................
Fluid Selection . 162, 163
..............
Identif ication Number . 202
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 127
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 125
.....................................
Treadwear . 206
.......................................
Trip Meter . 58
....................................
Turn Signals . 62
Index
U V W
VIII
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