tow HONDA ELEMENT 2010 1.G Owners Manual

Cup Holders................................. 99
Customer Service .......................322
D
DANGER, Explanation of .............iii
Dashboard ............................... 3, 56
Daytime Running Lights ..............72
Daytime Running Lights
Indicator ................................... 60
Dead Battery .............................. 291
Defects, Reporting Safety (U.S. only) ....................................... 324
Defogger, Rear Window ...............74
Dimensions ................................ 308
Dimming the Headlights ..............71
Dipstick Automatic Transmission .........256
Engine Oil ............................... 201
Directional Signals .................60, 71
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .......225
Disc Care ................................... 183
Disc Changer Error
Messages ............................... 126Disc Player Error
Messages ........................ 125, 148
Disposal of Used Oil ...................253
Doors
Indicator ................................... 11
Locking and Unlocking ............80
Power Door Locks ...................80
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles) ................................ 311
Downshifting, Manual Transmission .......................... 217
Driver and Passenger Safety ..........5
Driving ....................................... 213
Economy ................................. 202
Driving Guidelines .....................214
Dust and Pollen Filter ................269
E
Economy, Fuel ........................... 202
Emergencies on the Road ..........281
Battery, Jump Starting .............291
Brake System Indicator .....58, 297
Changing a Flat Tire ...............283Charging System
Indicator ........................ 58, 295
Checking the Fuses ................298
Driving with a Flat Tire ...........282
Hazard Warning Flashers ........73
Jump Starting .......................... 291
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator ........................ 58, 295
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ............................. 58, 296
Overheated Engine .................293
Towing .................................... 303
Emergency Brake ........................94
Emergency Flashers ....................73
Emergency Towing ....................303
Emissions Controls ....................316
Emissions Testing ......................319
CONTINUED
Index
III
INDEX

Tailgate........................................ 82
Open Indicator ......................... 61
Opening the ............................. 82
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in .....266
Taking Care of the Unexpected ............................ 281
Technical Descriptions
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles) ............................. 311
Emissions Control Systems .....316
Three Way Catalytic
Converter ............................ 318
Tire Labeling ........................... 313
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) －Required Federal
Explanation ...................... 314
Temperature Gauge .....................67
Tensioners, Seat Belts ..................20
Tether Anchorage Points .............48
Theft Protection, Radio ..............188
Three Way Catalytic
Converter ............................... 318
Tilt the Steering Wheel ................74
Time, Setting the ........................189
Tire Chains ................................ 276
Tire, How to Change a Flat ........283 Tire Information
.........................313
Tire Labeling .............................. 313
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ........................... 227, 314
Tires .......................................... 271
Air Pressure ............................ 272
Chains ..................................... 276
Checking Wear .......................273
Compact Spare ........................282
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles) ............................. 311
Inflation ................................... 271
Inspection ............................... 273
Labeling .................................. 313
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator ........................ 62, 227
Maintenance ........................... 274
Pressure Monitoring System ...227
Replacing ................................ 274
Rotating .................................. 274
Snow ....................................... 275
Specifications .......................... 310
Tools, Tire Changing .................283
Towing A Trailer .................................. 232
Emergency Wrecker ...............303TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring
System) .............................. 227
Indicator ............................ 63, 228
Required Federal
Explanation ......................... 314
Transmission Checking Fluid Level,
Automatic ............................ 256
Checking Fluid Level, Manual ................................ 257
Fluid Selection ................256, 257
Identification Number .............306
Shifting the Automatic .............219
Shifting the Manual .................217
Treadwear .................................. 311
Trip Meter ................................... 66
Turn Signals ................................. 60
Turn Signals and Headlights ........71
U
Unexpected, Taking Care of the .......................................... 281
Uniform Tire Quality Grading (U.S. only) .............................. 311
Index
X

Unleaded Gasoline.....................198
USB Flash Memory Device Error
Messages ............................... 182
Used Oil, How to Dispose of ......253
V
Vanity Mirror ............................. 101
Vehicle Capacity Load ................208
Vehicle Dimensions ...................308
Vehicle Identification Number ...306
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
®),
aka Electronic Stability
Control (ESC), System
VSA OFF Indicator ..................230
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System ................................ 230
VSA OFF Indicator ...................62
VSA OFF Switch .....................231
VSA System Indicator ..............62
Vehicle Storage .......................... 278
Ventilation .................................. 106
VIN ............................................ 306
Viscosity, Oil .............................. 251W
WARNING, Explanation of
...........iii
Warning Labels, Location of .........53
Warranty Coverages (U.S. only) ....................................... 323
Washer, Windshield
Checking the Fluid Level ........255
Fluid Level Indicator (Canada only) ..................................... 61
Operation ................................. 70
Wheels ....................................... 271
Adjusting the Steering ..............74
Alignment and Balance ...........274
Compact Spare ........................282
Wrench, Nut ........................... 283
Windows
Operating the Power ................92
Rear, Defogger ......................... 74
Windshield Cleaning ................................... 70
Defroster ................................. 107
Washers ............................ 70, 255
Wipers, Windshield
Changing Blades .....................269Operation
................................. 70
Worn Tires ................................. 273
Wrecker, Emergency Towing ....303
X
XM®Radio .......................... 113, 132
Index
XI
INDEX

Contents
A convenient reference to the
sections in this manual.
Your Vehicle at a Glance
A quick reference to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Important information about the
proper use and care of your vehicle's
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable information on how to
protect children with child restraints.
Instruments and Controls
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and
gauge, and how to use the controls
on the dashboard and steeringcolumn. Features
How to operate the heating and air
conditioning system, the audio
system, and other conveniencefeatures.Before Driving
What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo. Driving
The proper way to start the engine,
shift the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you're
planning to tow a trailer. Maintenance
The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance
service. There is also a list of things
to check and instructions on how to
check them.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience, and
details how to handle them.
Technical Information
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual for detailedinformation. Index
Service Information Summary
A summary of the information you
need when you pull up to the fuelpump.
Overview of Contents
2

Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA) System Indicator
This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position and when the ignition switch
is turned to the START (III) position.
It flashes when VSA is active (see
page 230).
If it comes on and stays on at any
other time, or it does not come on
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, there is a
problem with the VSA system. Take
your vehicle to a dealer to have it
checked. Without VSA, your vehicle
still has normal driving ability, but
will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement. See page 230
for more information on the VSAsystem.VSA OFF Indicator
It comes on as a reminder that you
have turned off the vehicle stability
assist (VSA) system.
This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position and when the ignition switch
is turned to the START (III) position.
See page 230 for more information
on the VSA system.Low Tire Pressure Indicator
This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)position.
If it comes on while driving, it
indicates that one or more of your
vehicle's tires are significantly low onpressure.
If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is safe, check which tire
has lost the pressure, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
replace the flat tire with the compact
spare (see page 282), and have the
flat tire repaired as soon as possible.
If two or more tires are underinflated,
call a professional towing service
(see page 303). For more
information, see page 227.
Instrument Panel Indicators
62
Table of Contents

Windshield Wiper
1. MIST
2. OFF
3. INT－Intermittent
3. LO －Low speed
5. HI －High speed
6. Windshield washers Push the right lever up or down to
select a position. MIST
－The wipers run at high
speed until you release the lever.OFF －The wipers are not activated.
INT －The length of the wipe
interval is varied automatically
according to vehicle's speed.
Vary the delay by turning the
adjustment ring. If you turn it to the
shortest delay (
position), the
wipers change to low speed
operation when the vehicle speed
exceeds 12 mph (20 km/h). LO －The wipers run at low speed.
HI －The wipers run at high speed.
Windshield Washer －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. Rear Window Wiper and Washer
1. Rotate the switch clockwise to turn
the rear window wiper ON.
2. Hold past ON to turn the window wiper on and the window washer on.
3. OFF
4. Rotate the switch counterclockwise and hold to
spray the window washer and
operate the wiper.
 




ADJUSTMENT RING




Windshield Wipers and Washers
70
Table of Contents

Folding the Rear Seats
To create more cargo space, you can
fold up each rear seat to each side
wall separately.1. Lower the head restraint to its lowest position.
2. Pull the seat-back adjustment strapat the inside edge of the seat
cushion and push the seat-back
backward as far as it will go.3. Pull the release strap on the seatsupport, and pivot the seat toward
the vehicle's side wall.
SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAPRELEASE STRAP
Seats
88
Table of Contents

4. A fastening strap is attached to theinside of the seat cushion. While
pushing the seat up and toward the
side wall, hook the fastening strap
to the grab rail.5. 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 fabric pocket on the
bottom of the seat cushion. Make
sure the seat is locked securely.
GRAB RAIL
FASTENING STRAPSEAT SUPPORT
Seats
89
Instruments and Controls
Table of Contents

Rear Windows
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 fully
closed and locked.Parking BrakeTo apply the parking brake, pull the lever
up fully. 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 fully released (see page 58).
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles. A beeper will sound if
the vehicle is driven with the parking
brake on.PARKING BRAKE LEVER
Rear Windows, Parking Brake
94
Table of Contents

Cooler Box
On EX model
There is a cooler box between the
driver's and passenger's seats.
To open the cooler box, slide the tab
backward, and pull up the lid.
The lid has a breakaway feature. If
the lid is rotated back too far it will
break away from the box withoutdamage.To reinstall the lid, vertically set the
rear lid hinge to the pins on the box
and push down. The lid must be
vertical as shown in the illustration.
To remove the cooler box, rotate the
handle up to the unlocked position.
Slide the console towards the rear of
the vehicle then lift the console.
TAB
Interior Convenience Items
98
Table of Contents