weight HONDA ELEMENT 2004 1.G User Guide

The total
weight of the trailer and everything
loaded in it must not exceed 1,500
lbs (680 kg). Towing a load that is
too heavy can seriously af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance.
It can also damage the engine and
drivetrain.
Theweightthatthe
tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer puts
on the hitch should be approximately
10 percent of the trailer weight. Too
little tongue load can make the
trailer unstable and cause it to sway.
Too much tongue load reduces f ront-
tire traction and steering control.
T otal T railer Weight:
Tongue Load:
Towing a Trailer
Driving136
—
—y


y
(+
y

y

µµ
Towing generally requires a variety
of supplemental equipment. To
ensure the best quality, we
recommend that you purchase
Honda equipment whenever possible.
Discuss any additional needs with
your trailer sales or rental agency,
and make sure all equipment is
properly installed, maintained, and
also meets state regulations.
Any hitch used on your vehicle must
be properly bolted to the underbody.
Always use saf ety chains. Make sure
they are secured to both the trailer
and hitch, and that they cross under
the tongue so they can catch the
trailer if it becomes unhitched.
Leave enough slack to allow the
trailer to turn corners easily, but do
not let the chains drag on the ground. Check trailer light requirements f or
the areas where you plan to tow.
Your vehicle has a trailer lighting
connector located behind the right
side panel in the cargo area. Ref er to
thedrawingaboveforthewiring
color code and purpose of each pin.
Electric brakes must be
electronically actuated. Do not
attempt to tap into your vehicle’s
hydraulic system. See your brake
manuf acturer f or more inf ormation
on installing electric brakes.
There are two common types of
trailer brakes: surge and electric.
Surge brakes are common f or boat
trailers, since the brakes will get wet.
Honda requires that any trailer with
a total trailer weight of 1,000 lbs (455
kg) or more has its own brakes.
If you use a non-Honda trailer
lighting harness and converter, you
can get the connector and pins that
mate with the connector in your
vehicle f rom your Honda dealer.
Connector 98530-00006-00
Terminal Kit 07JAZ-001-030A
CONT INUED
T owing Equipment and
A ccessories
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Hitches
Saf et y Chains T railer L ights
Trailer Brakes
137
GROUND
(BLACK)RIGHT TURN
SIGNAL
(GREEN/
YELLOW) TAILLIGHT
(RED/YELLOW)
BRAKE
LIGHT
(WHITE/
BLACK) LEFT TURN
SIGNAL
(GREEN/RED)
BACK-UP
LIGHT
(WHITE/
BLACK)
—
—y

y
(+
y
y

The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly.
Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inf lated (see page ),
and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
If you tow f requently, f ollow the
Severe Conditions maintenance
schedule.
The trailer has been properly
serviced and is in good condition.
All weights and loads are within
limits (see page ).
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure.
Allitemsonandinthetrailerare
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive.
Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.
136172
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Pre-T ow ChecklistTrailer Mirrors
138
—
—y

y
(+
y
y

CONT INUED
The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance,
so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques.Make turns more slowly and wider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses. Allow more time and
distance f or braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If youmuststopwhenfacinguphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others,taketimetopracticedriving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
discussed below. Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or vehicles with trailers.
If you have an automatic
transmission, use overdrive (O/D)
when towing a trailer on level roads.
Turn of f the overdrive (O/D) mode
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain.
(see ‘‘ ’’ in the next
column f or additional gear
inf ormation.)
If the automatic transmission shif ts
f requently between 3rd and 4th
gears while going up a hill, turn of f
the overdrive (O/D) mode (see page
).
129
Trailer Driving Tips
Driving
Driving Saf ely With a T railerT owing Speeds and Gears
Making T urns and Braking Driving on Hills
Driving on Hills
139
—
—y

y
(+
y
y

Unscrew and remove the engine oil
fill cap on top of the valve cover.
Pour in the oil slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill. Clean up any spills
immediately. Spilled oil could
damage components in the engine
compartment. Install the engine oil
f ill cap, and tighten it securely. Wait
a f ew minutes, and recheck the oil
level. Do not f ill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine.Oil is a major contributor to your
engine’s perf ormance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade 5W-20
detergent oil displaying the API
Certif ication Seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute’s latest requirements.
Honda Motor Oil is the pref erred
5W-20 lubricant f or your vehicle. It is
highly recommended that you use
Honda Motor Oil in your vehicle f or
optimum engine protection. Make
sure the API Certif ication Seal says
‘‘For Gasoline Engines’’.
The oil viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
5W-20 oil is f ormulated f or year-
round protection of your Honda to
improve cold weather starting and
f uel economy.
A dding Engine Oil
Maint enance
A dding Engine Oil Recommended Engine Oil
157
ENGINE OIL FILL CAP
API CERTIFICATION SEALAmbient Temperature
—
—y

y
(+
y
y

You may use a synthetic motor oil if
it meets the same requirements
given f or a conventional motor oil: it
displays the API Certif ication Seal
and it is the proper weight. You must
f ollow the oil and f ilter change
intervals given on the maintenance
schedule.
Your Honda does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect your engine’s or transmission’s
perf ormance and durability.Always change the oil and f ilter
according to the recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. The oil
and f ilter collect contaminants that
can damage your engine if they are
not removed regularly.
Changing the oil and f ilter requires
special tools and access f rom
underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
should be raised on a service station-
type hydraulic lif t f or this service.
Unless you have the knowledge and
proper equipment, you should have
this maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
Open the hood and remove the
engine oil f ill cap. Remove the oil
drain bolt and washer f rom the
bottom of the engine. Drain the oil
into an appropriate container.
Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
1. 2.
A dding Engine Oil, Changing the Oil and Filter
Maint enance
Synthetic Oil
Engine Oil A dditives Changing the Oil and Filter
158
WASHER
OIL DRAIN BOLT
—
—y
y
(+
y
y

Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherof theseconditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord.
Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires f or
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:
In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you f eel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed f rom the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance.
Excessive tread wear. Your tires
have wear indicators molded into
thetread.Whenyouseea3/8
inch (10 mm) wide band running
across the tread, there is less than
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread lef t on
the tire. A tire this worn gives very
little traction on wet roads.
Replace the tire if you can see
threeormoretreadwear
indicators on the tire.
Tires
Maint enance
Tire Inspection
Tire Maintenance
174
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS
On vehicles equipped with aluminum
wheels, improper wheel weights can
damage your wheels. Use only genuine
Honda wheel weights f or balancing.
—
—y
y
(+
y
y

ÎÎ ÎÎ Î
Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation204
Dimensions
Weights
Engine
Capacities
169.3 in (4,300 mm)
71.5 in (1,815 mm)
70.4 in (1,788 mm)
101.4 in (2,575 mm)
62.1 in (1,577 mm)
62.3 in (1,582 mm)
1.88 US gal (7.1
)
1.90 US gal (7.2
)
3.3 US qt (3.1
)
7.6 US qt (7.2
)
2.0 US qt (1.9
)
1.43 US gal (5.4
)
3.1 US qt (2.9
)
1.45 US gal (5.5
)
6.9 US qt (6.5
)
5.6 US qt (5.3
)
4.2 US qt (4.0)
4.4 US qt (4.2)
15.9 US gal (60
)
9.7 : 1
144 cu-in (2,354 cm
)
3.43 x 3.90 in (87.0 x 99.0 mm)
0.145 US gal (0.55
)4.8 US qt (4.5
)
2.6 US qt (2.5)
1.3 US qt (1.2
)
1.1 US qt (1.0)
2.4 US qt (2.3
)
2.3 US qt (2.2)
Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity:
Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track
Gross vehicle weight rating Type
BorexStroke
Displacement
Compression ratio
Spark plugs
Fuel tank
Engine oil
See the certification label attached
to the driver’s doorjamb (front
edge of rear door).
Water cooled 4-stroke DOHC
VTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine Engine
coolant Automatic
transmission
fluid Manual
transmission
fluid Rear
differential
fluid (4WD)
Windshield
washer
reservoir
IZFR6K-11SKJ20DR-M11
Approx.
FrontRear
Change
Without filter
Total 1: 2:ChangeTotal
Change Total
Change
4WD
2WD
Total
4WD
2WD
ChangeTotal 4WD
2WD
ChangeTotal
U.S. Vehicles
Canada
Vehicles
NGK:
DENSO:
Automatic Transmission
Manual Transmission
1 22
Including filter
—
—y
y
(+
yy

Î
.................
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
—
—y

y
(+
y
y