maintenance HONDA ELEMENT 2008 1.G Owner's Guide

Replace your tires with radial tires of
the same size, load range, speed
rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall).
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.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires according to the
maintenance messages displayed on
the information display.
Move the tires to the positions
shown in the illustration each time
they are rotated. If you purchase
directional tires, rotate only f ront-to-
back.Mixing radial and bias-ply tires on
your vehicle can reduce braking
ability, traction, and steering
accuracy. Using tires of a dif f erent
size or construction can cause the
ABS and vehicle stability assist
system (VSA) to work inconsistently.
Both the ABS and VSA work by
comparing the speed of the wheels.
When replacing tires, use the same
size originally supplied with the
vehicle. Tire size and construction
can af f ect wheel speed and may
cause the ABS or VSA system to
activate.
CONT INUED
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tire Rotation
T ire Maintenance
Tires
Maint enance
215
Front
Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
On vehicles with aluminum wheels,
improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use
only Honda wheel weights f or
balancing.
\f—\f—y
\f\fy
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

µ
Check the condition of the battery
monthlybylookingatthetest
indicator window. The label on the
battery explains the test indicator’s
colors.
Check the terminals f or corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To
remove it, cover the terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water. It
will bubble up and turn brown. When
this stops, wash it of f with plain
water. Dry off the battery with a cloth or paper towel. Coat the
terminals with grease to help prevent
f uture corrosion.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualif ied technician.
Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle’s
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the time
setting may be lost. To reset the time,
see page . If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the audio
system may disable itself . The next
timeyouturnontheradio,youwill
see ‘‘ENTER CODE’’ in the
f requency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the code (see page
).
132
131
On EX and SC models
Checking the Battery
WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
218
TEST INDICATOR
WINDOW
POSITIVE TERMINAL NEGATIVE TERMINAL
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
technician do the battery
maintenance.
\f—\f—y
\fy
(+\fy\fy
2008 Element

µ
Always check the TPMS malf unction
telltale af ter replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to f unction
properly.
Your vehicle has also been equipped
with a TPMS malf unction indicator
to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS
malf unction indicator is provided by
a separate telltale, which displays the
symbol ‘‘TPMS’’ when illuminated.
When the malf unction indicator is
illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect
or signal low tire pressure as
intended.
TPMS malf unctions may occur f or a
variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS f rom
f unctioning properly.
Driving on a signif icantly under-
inf lated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inf lation also reduces f uel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
af f ect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inf lation has
not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Required Federal Explanation
Technical Inf ormation
255
\f—\f—y

\f

y
(+\fy\f\fy
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
\f—\f—y



y
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

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
\f—\f—y


y
(+\fy\fy
2008 Element

CONT INUED
...............................
Keys and Locks .75 .................
Jacking up the Vehicle .225
.......................................
Jack, Tire .223
................................
Jump Starting .231
.......................
Label, Certif ication .246
.................
Lane Change, Signaling .71
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .16,21
...........
LATCH Anchorage System .46
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement .202
.......................................
Indicator .59
.........................................
Parking .71
..................................
Turn Signal .71
....................................
Load Limits .150
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) .79
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column .79
....................................
Glove Box .98 ............................................
Hatch .81
........................................
Tailgate .82
........................
Low Coolant Level .143
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .63
................................
Lower Anchors .46
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a .159
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart .249
.........................................
Luggage .149
..................................
Maintenance .183
.........................
Minder Indicator .61
...
Owner Maintenance Checks .190
..........................................
Saf ety .184
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .60,236
...................
Manual Transmission .159
...............
Checking Fluid Level .199
.....
Recommended Shif t Points .160
................................
Shif ting the .159
........
Manual Transmission Fluid .199 .................................
Mirror, Vanity .99
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .92
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle .148
Monitor, Door and Tailgate
.............................................
Open .63
...................
Neutral Gear Position .162
..................
New Vehicle Break-in .140
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .160
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication .246
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline .140
.........................................
Odometer .66
...............................
Odometer, Trip .66
....................
Of f -Highway Driving .179
Index
N
O
M
J
K
L
INDEX
V
\f—\f—y



y
(+\fy\fy
LowOilPressureIndicator....60,235
Minder ........................................ .185
PowerDoor..................................80
LowTirePressure Indicator....64, 169
.........................
Meters, Gauges .59,66
2008 Element

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
\f—\f—y


y
(+\fy\fy
2008 Element

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
——y


y
(+yy
2008 Element

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
...................
Stereo Sound System .107
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .219
Supplemental Restraint
................................
System .11,24
......................................
Servicing .35
.........................
SRS Indicator .33,61
...................
System Components .24
..................................
Synthetic Oil .194
Tailgate
............................................
Locks .82
..............................
Open Monitor .63
..........
Taillights, Changing Bulbs .207
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected .221
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .251
.....
Emissions Control Systems .256
....................
Emissions Testing .259
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .258
.....................
Tensioners, Seat Belt .22
.......................
Temperature Gauge .68
..............
Tether Anchorage Points .50 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
..................................
(TPMS) .169
.......................................
Indicator .65
................
Thef t Protection, Radio .131
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .258
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel .74
..........................
Time, Setting the .132
....................................
Tire Chains .217
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .223
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .251
.................................
Tire Labeling .253
...............................................
Tires .212
..............................
Air Pressure .213
........................................
Chains .217
.........................
Checking Wear .214
..........................
Compact Spare .222
....
DOT Tire Quality Grading .251
......................................
Inf lation .212
..................................
Inspection .214
.....
Low Pressure Indicator .64,169
..............................
Maintenance .215
...................................
Replacing .215
......................................
Rotating .215
...........................................
Snow .216
............................
Specif ications .250
...................
VSA and Tire Sizes .172 ...................
Tools, Tire Changing .223
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer .173
................................
Emergency .243
...
Equipment And Accessories .175
.............................
Weight Limit .173
.....
Trailer, Driving Saf ely With a .177
.............................
Trailer Loading .174
...........................
Traction Devices .216
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .198
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .199
..................
Fluid Selection .198,199
..............
Identif ication Number .247
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .161
..................
Shif ting the Manual .159
......................
Transmitter, Remote .77
...................................
Treadwear .251
.......................................
Trip Meter .66
....................................
Turn Signals .71
Index
T
VIII
\f—\f—y

\fy
(+\fy\fy
2008 Element