battery HONDA ELEMENT 2010 1.G User Guide

This section explains why it is important
to keep your vehicle well maintained and
how to follow basic maintenance safety
precautions.
This section also includes instructions
on how to read the maintenance minder
messages on the information display,
and instructions for simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to
perform more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want to
purchase the service manual. See page
325 for information on how to obtain a
copy, or see your dealer.
U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance, replacement, or repair
of emissions control devices and
systems may be done by any
automotive repair establishment or
individual using parts that are‘‘certified ’’to EPA standards.Maintenance Safety .....................242
Maintenance Minder ..................
243
Fluid Locations ........................... 250
Adding Engine Oil ......................
251
Changing the Engine Oil and Filter ....................................... 252
Engine Coolant ........................... 254
Windshield Washers ...................255
Transmission Fluid .....................
256
Automatic Transmission Fluid ................................... 256
Manual Transmission Fluid ....257
Rear Differential Fluid .................
258
Brake and Clutch Fluid ...............258
Power Steering Fluid ..................
260
Cleaning the Body Panels ...........260
Lights .......................................... 261
Cleaning the Seat Belts ...............
268
Floor Mats .................................. 268
Dust and Pollen Filter .................
269
Wiper Blades .............................. 269
Wheels ........................................
271
Tires ........................................... 271
Checking the Battery ..................277Vehicle Storage
...........................
278
Maintenance
241
Maintenance

All service items not detailed in this
section should be performed by a
certified technician or other qualifiedmechanic.
Important Safety Precautions
To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions before you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.● Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is off.
● To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
● To reduce the possibility of fire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and flames away from the battery
and all fuel-related parts. ●
Wear eye protection and protective
clothing when working with the
battery or compressed air.
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle, or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner'smanual.
Potential Vehicle Hazards ● Carbon Monoxide poison from
engine exhaust. Be sure there is
adequate ventilation whenever you
operate the engine. ●
Burns from hot parts. Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
down before touching any parts.
● Injury from moving parts. Do not
run the engine unless instructed to
do so.
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner's manual.
Some of the most important safety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you should
perform a given task.
Maintenance Safety
242
Table of Contents

Check the condition of the battery
monthly by looking at the test indicator
window. The label on the battery
explains the test indicator's colors.
Check the terminals for 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 off with plain water. Dry off the
battery with a cloth or paper towel.
Coat the terminals with grease to help
prevent future corrosion.If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualified technician. WARNING:
Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
Wash your hands after handling.
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 189.
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 hurtyou.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
technician do the battery maintenance.
On EX and SC models
If your vehicle's battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the audio
system may disable itself. The next
time you turn on the radio, you willsee ‘‘ENTER CODE ’’in the
frequency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the code (see page188).
NEGATIVE TERMINAL
TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
POSITIVE TERMINAL
CONTINUED
Checking the Battery
277
Maintenance
Table of Contents

On vehicles with navigation system
The navigation system will also
disable itself. The next time you turn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter a PIN before
it can be used. Refer to the
navigation system manual.Vehicle Storage
If you need to park your vehicle for
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.
● Fill the fuel tank.
● Wash and dry the exterior completely.
● Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.
● Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic). ●
Block the rear wheels.
● If the vehicle is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
● Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being storedindoors).
● Disconnect the battery.
● Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch thewindshield.
● To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals.
Checking the Battery, Vehicle Storage
278
Table of Contents

Diagnosing why the engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III) position:● You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
● You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, you do not
hear the normal noise of the engine
trying to start. You may hear a
clicking sound, a series of clicks, or
nothing at all.
Check these things:
● Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the floor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, the shift
lever must be in Park or neutral.
● Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. Turn on the
headlights, and check their
brightness. If the headlights are
very dim or do not come on at all,
the battery is discharged (see
Jump Starting on page 291). ●
Turn the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the fuses. If the fuses
are OK, there is probably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to
determine the problem. See
Emergency Towing on page 303.
If the headlights dim noticeably or go
out when you try to start the engine,
either the battery is discharged or
the connections are corroded. Check
the condition of the battery and
terminal connections (see page 277).
You can then try jump starting the
vehicle from a booster battery (see
page 291).
CONTINUED
If the Engine Won't Start
289
Taking Care of the Unexpected
Table of Contents

Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take severalprecautions.
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct
procedure, seriously injuring
anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
You cannot start your vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it.
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
1. Open the hood, and check the physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or frozen, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze. Attempting
to jump start with a frozen battery can
cause it to rupture.
2. Turn off all the electricalaccessories: heater, A/C, audio
system, lights, etc. Put the
transmission in neutral (manual)
or Park (automatic), and set the
parking brake.
The numbers in the illustration
show you the order to connect the
jumper cables.
BOOSTER BATTERY
CONTINUED
Jump Starting
291
Taking Care of the Unexpected
Table of Contents

3. Connect one jumper cable to thepositive ( ＋) terminal on your
battery. Connect the other end to
the positive ( ＋) terminal on the
booster battery.4. Connect the second jumper cable to the negative ( －) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strap
on your vehicle as shown. Do not
connect this jumper cable to any
other part of the engine. 5. If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start that
vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
6. Start your vehicle. If the starter motor still operates slowly, check
that the jumper cables have good
metal-to-metal contact.
7. Once your vehicle is running, disconnect the negative cable from
your vehicle, then from the
booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable from your vehicle,
then from the booster battery.
Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the vehicle until everything is
disconnected. Otherwise, you may
cause an electrical short.
Jump Starting
292
Table of Contents

Low Oil Pressure Indicator
This indicator should never
come on when the engine is
running. If it starts flashing or stays
on, the oil pressure has dropped very
low or lost pressure. Serious engine
damage is possible, and you should
take immediate action.
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the vehicle stopped. 1. Safely pull off the road, and shut
off the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning lights.
2. Let the vehicle sit for a minute. Open the hood, and check the oil
level (see page 201). An engine
very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other drivingmaneuvers.
3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page 251).
4. Start the engine, and watch the oil pressure indicator. If it does not go
out within 10 seconds, turn off the
engine. There is a mechanical
problem that needs to be repaired
before you can continue driving(see Emergency Towing on page
303). Charging System Indicator
If the charging system
indicator comes on brightly
when the engine is running, the
battery is not being charged.
Immediately turn off 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 technicalassistance.
Low Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator
295
Taking Care of the Unexpected
Table of Contents

If this indicator comes on
while driving, it means one
of the engine's emissions control
systems may have a problem. Even
though you may feel no difference in
your vehicle's performance, it can
reduce your fuel economy and cause
increased emissions. Continued
operation may cause serious damage.
If you have recently refueled your
vehicle, the indicator coming on
could be due to a loose or missing
fuel fill cap. You will also see a ‘‘ CHECK FUEL CAP ’’message on
the information display. Tighten the
cap until it clicks at least once.
Tightening the cap will not turn the
indicator off immediately; it can take
several days of normal driving. If the indicator comes on repeatedly,
even though it may turn off as you
continue driving, have your vehicle
checked by your dealer as soon as possible.
If you keep driving with the malfunction
indicator lamp on, you can damage
your vehicle's emissions controls and
engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your vehicle's warranties.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the malfunction
indicator lamp may also come on
with the
‘‘D ’’indicator. Readiness Codes
Your vehicle has certain
‘‘readiness
codes ’’that are part of the on-board
diagnostics for the emissions
systems. In some states, part of the
emissions testing is to make sure
these codes are set. If they are not
set, the test cannot be completed.
If the battery in your vehicle has been
disconnected or gone dead, these
codes may be erased. It can take
several days of driving under various
conditions to set the codes again.
To check if they are set, turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, without starting the engine.
The malfunction indicator lamp will
come on for 20 seconds. If it then
goes off, the readiness codes are set.
If it blinks five times, the readiness
codes are not set. If possible, do not
take your vehicle for an emissions
test until the readiness codes are set.
Refer to Emissions Testing for more
information (see page 319).
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
296
Table of Contents

UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX
No. Amps.Circuits Protected
1 30 A Condenser Fan
2 15 A Small Light
3 7.5 A Interior Light
4 20 A Cooling Fan Motor
5 15 A Hazard
6 15 A FI ECU No. Amps.
Circuits Protected
7 15 A Horn, Stop
8 15 A DBW
9 10 A Back Up
10 30 A VSA Motor
11 20 A Rear Defroster
12 40 A Heater Motor No. Amps.
Circuits Protected
13 40 A Power Window Main
14 40 A Option
15 15 A Left Headlight
16 15 A Door Lock
17 15 A Right Headlight
18 30 A VSA F/S
19 100 A Battery
20 50 A IG1 Main
21 － 25 7.5 A －30 ASpare Fuses
Fuse Locations
302
Table of Contents