tow HONDA ELEMENT 2005 1.G Owners Manual

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Push the right lever up or down to
select a position.
The wipers are not activated.
The wipers run at low speed.
The wipers run at high speed. Rotate the switch clockwise to
turn the rear window wiper ON.
OFF
Rotate the switch
counterclockwise to spray the
window washer without activating
the wiper.
MIST
OFF
INT Intermittent
LO Low speed
HI High speed
Windshield washers The wipers run at high
speed until you release the lever.
The wipers operate every
f ew seconds.
Pull the
wiper control lever toward you and
hold it. The washers spray until you
release the lever. The wipers run at
low speed, then complete one more
sweep after you release the lever. Hold past ON to turn the window
wiper on and the window washer
on.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. 1.
2.
3.
4.
Windshield Wiper
OFF
LO
HIRear Window Wiper and Washer
MIST
INT
Windshield Washer
Windshield Wipers and Washers
Inst rument s and Cont rols
61

To create more cargo space, you can
fold up each rear seat to each side
wall separately.Lower the head restraint to its
lowest position.
Pull the seat-back adjustment
strap at the inside edge of the seat
cushion and push the seat-back
backward as f ar as it will go.Pull the release strap on the seat
support, and pivot the seat toward
the vehicle’s side wall.
1.
2.3.
CONT INUED
Folding the Rear Seats
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols
77
SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP RELEASE STRAP

A fastening strap is attached to the
inside of the seat cushion. While
pushing the seat up and toward
thesidewall,hookthefastening
straptothegrabrail.Fold down the seat support.Reverse this procedure to return the
rear seat to the upright position.
When not in use, store the fastening
strap hook in the f abric pocket on
the bottom of the seat cushion.
Make sure the seat is locked
securely.
4. 5.
Seats
78
GRAB RAIL
FASTENING STRAP SEAT SUPPORT

To open a rear window, pull the lever
towards you, then push it out until it
locks. To close the rear window pull
the lever towards you, then push it
back. Make sure the window is f ully
closed and locked.Toliftuptherearoftheskylightfor
ventilation, pull down the lever to
unlock the skylight, then push it up
until the skylight is locked in the tilt-
up position.
To close the skylight, pull down the
lever to unlock the skylight, then
push it back in place. Make sure the
skylight is f ully closed and locked.
To apply the parking brake, pull the
lever up f ully. To release it, pull up
slightly, push the button, and lower
the lever. The parking brake
indicator on the instrument panel
should go out when the parking
brake is f ully released (see page ).
54
CONT INUED
On 4WD models only
Rear Windows, Parking Brake, Skylight
Parking Brake
Rear Windows Skylight
Inst rument s and Cont rols
83
PARKING BRAKE LEVER
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles.

Turn of f the engine, and set the
parkingbrake.Thenpulldownthe
lever, squeeze both sides of the pivot
while pushing up the red tab in the
lever, and pull the lever assembly
away from the ceiling.Push up the rear of the skylight.
Standing on the tailgate with the
hatch down, hold both sides of the
skylight and pull it toward you to
remove it f rom the vehicle roof .
To remove the skylight:
Skylight
84
Bef ore lif ting the skylight, make sure
the roof of the vehicle is dry. Rain or
remaining water af ter car-washing may
get into the f rame of the skylight. In
winter, remove the buildup of snow on
the roof . If you try to tilt up the skylight in
below-f reezing temperatures, or when
it is covered with snow or ice, you can
damage it.
The maximum weight on the tailgate is
440 lbs (200 kg).

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not tow a trailer.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Your vehicle is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise that can lead to engine damage.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.
You may hear a knocking noise from
the engine if you drive the vehicle at
low engine speed (below about 1,000
rpm) in a higher gear. To stop this,
raise the engine speed by shif ting to
a lower gear. We recommend quality gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
On vehicles with manual transmission
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
122

Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.Remove the dipstick (orange tab).
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its tube. Remove the dipstick again, and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page . Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see
on page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant.
Refer to on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
vehicle.
1.
2.
3. 4.
170 173
164
Oil Check
A dding OilEngine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Service Station Procedures
126
DIPSTICK
UPPER MARKLOWER MARK RESERVE TANK
MAX
MIN

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Steps f or determining correct load
limit:
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 675 lbs (308 kg). This f igure
includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, and accessories,
and the tongue load if you are towing
a trailer.
Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 675
lbs’’ on your vehicle’s placard.
[The placard is on the driver’s
doorjamb.]
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
675 pounds or 308 kilograms.Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not saf ely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity in
step 4.
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
For example, if the maximum load
is 675 lbs and there will be f our
150 lb. passengers in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 75 lbs.
(675 600 (4 150) = 75 lbs.)
If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, the load f rom your trailer
will be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
yourvehicle(seepage ).
1.
2.
5.
6.
3.
4. 149
CONT INUED
Carrying Cargo
Load Limits
Bef ore Driving
131
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important
information on parking your vehicle,
the braking system, and f acts you
need if you are planning to tow a
trailerordriveoff-highway.........................
Driving Guidelines .136
........................
Preparing to Drive .137
.......................
Starting the Engine .138
...................
Manual Transmission . 139
..............
Automatic Transmission . 141
..................................
Parking Tips .145
.............................
Braking System .146
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 147
...........................
Towing a Trailer .149
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a ................................
Motorhome .155
Of f -Highway Driving ..................................
Guidelines .157
Driving
Driving
135

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These indicators on the instrument
panel show which position the shif t
lever is in. To shif t f rom any position, press
f irmly on the brake pedal, push the
release button, and pull the lever
toward you. You cannot shif t out of
Park when the ignition switch is in
the LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position. This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page .
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If it
f lashes while driving (in any shif t
position), it indicates a possible
problem in the transmission. Avoid
rapid acceleration, and have the
transmission checked by your dealer
as soon as possible.
144
CONT INUED
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoN
NtoD Dto2 2to1
1to2
2toD
DtoN NtoR RtoP Do this:
Press the brake pedal, and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.Shif t L ever Position Indicators Shif ting
Park (P)Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission
Driving
141
SHIFT LEVER