steering HONDA ELEMENT 2010 1.G User Guide

Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together to protect
you and your passengers during acrash.
Some features do not require any
action on your part. These include a
strong steel framework that forms a
safety cage around the passenger
compartment, front and rear crush
zones, a collapsible steering column,
and tensioners that tighten the seat
belts in a crash.
However, you and your passengers
can't take full advantage of these
features unless you remain sitting in
the correct position and
always wear
your seat belts.
In fact, some safety
features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
The following pages explain how you
can take an active role in protecting
yourself and your passengers.
(5) (7)
(11) (8) (3) (4)
(9)
(1)
(2) (8)
(10) (2)
(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats and Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Front Airbags
(8) Side Airbags
(9) Side Curtain Airbags
(10) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(11) Door Locks (6)
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
7
Driver and Passenger Safety
Table of Contents

The most important things you need
to know about your airbags are:●
Airbags do not replace seat belts.
They are designed to supplement
the seat belts.
●
Airbags offer no protection in rear impacts, or minor frontal or sidecollisions.
●Airbags can pose serious hazards.
To do their job, airbags must
inflate with tremendous force. So
while airbags help save lives, they
can cause minor injuries or more
serious or even fatal injuries if
occupants are not properly
restrained or sitting properly.
What you should do:Always wear
your seat belt properly, and sit
upright and as far back from the
steering wheel as possible while
allowing full control of the vehicle. A
front passenger should move their
seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible. The rest of this section gives more
detailed information about how you
can maximize your safety.
Remember however, that no safety
system can prevent all injures or
deaths that can occur in a severe
crash, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbagsdeploy.
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
10
Table of Contents

Introduction
The following pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver, adult passengers,
and teenage children who are large
enough and mature enough to drive
or ride in the front.
See pages 35－51 for important
guidelines on how to properly protect
infants, small children, and larger
children who ride in your vehicle. 1. Close and Lock the Doors
After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors, the hatch,
and the tailgate are closed and locked.
Your vehicle has a door and
tailgate open indicator on
the instrument panel to indicate
when a specific door, the tailgate or
the hatch is not tightly closed.
Locking the doors, the hatch, and the
tailgate reduces the chance of
someone being thrown out of the
vehicle during a crash, and it helps
prevent passengers from accidentally
opening a door, the hatch, or the
tailgate and falling out.
Locking the doors, the hatch, or the
tailgate also helps prevent an
outsider from unexpectedly opening
a door when you come to a stop.
See page 80 for how to lock the
doors, and page 61 for how the door
and tailgate indicator system works. 2. Adjust the Front Seats
Adjust the driver's seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain full control of the vehicle.
Have a front passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.
If you sit too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard, you can be
seriously injured by an inflating front
airbag, or by striking the steering
wheel or dashboard.
CONTINUED
Protecting Adults and Teens
11
Driver and Passenger Safety
Table of Contents

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that drivers
allow at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the center of the steering
wheel and the chest. In addition to
adjusting the seat, you can adjust the
steering wheel up and down (see
page 74).
If you cannot get far enough away
from the steering wheel and still
reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some
type of adaptive equipment may help.
Sitting too close to a front
airbag can result in serious
injury or death if the front
airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the
front airbags as possible.Once a seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it back and forth to make sure it
is locked in position.
See page 83 for how to adjust the
front seats.
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs
Adjust the driver's seat-back to a
comfortable, upright position, leaving
ample space between your chest and
the airbag cover in the center of the
steering wheel.
Passengers with adjustable seat-
backs should also adjust their seat-
back to a comfortable, uprightposition.
Protecting Adults and Teens
12
Table of Contents

Your airbag system includes:● Two SRS (supplemental restraint
system) front airbags. The driver's
airbag is stored in the center of the
steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG ’’(see page 25).
● Two side airbags, one for the
driver and one for a front
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG ’’(see page 28).
● Two side curtain airbags, one for
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the ceiling,
above the side windows. The front
and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG ’’(see page 30).(16)
(17)
(16) Side Curtain Airbags
(17) Side Impact Sensors (Second)
CONTINUED
Additional Information About Your Airbags
23
Driver and Passenger Safety
Table of Contents

This section gives information about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations..........................56
Instrument Panel ..........................
57
Instrument Panel Indicators ..........58
Gauges ..........................................
64
Information Display ..................65
Odometer ..................................
65
Trip Meter ................................ 66
Fuel Gauge ............................... 66
Check Fuel Cap Message .........
66
Temperature Gauge ..................67
Maintenance Minder ................
67
Outside Temperature Indicator ............................... 68Controls Near the Steering
Wheel ....................................... 69
Windshield Wipers and Washers .................................... 70
Turn Signals and Headlights .........71
Instrument Panel Brightness ........
72
Hazard Warning Button ................73
Rear Window Defogger .................74
Steering Wheel Adjustment ..........
74
Keys and Locks ............................. 75
Immobilizer System ......................
76
Remote Transmitter ......................77
Ignition Switch ..............................
79
Door Locks ................................... 80
Power Door Locks ....................
80
Rear Doors ................................ 81
Hatch ........................................ 81
Tailgate .....................................
82
Seats ............................................. 83
Seat Adjustments ......................
83
Driver's Seat Height Adjustment ........................... 84
Front Seat Armrests ..................85
Head Restraints ......................... 85Reclining the Front Seats
..........
87
Folding the Rear Seats ..............
88
Removing the Rear Seats ..........90
Power Windows ............................
92
Mirrors ......................................... 93
Adjusting the Power Mirrors .....
93
Rear Windows ............................... 94
Parking Brake ............................... 94
Interior Lights ...............................
95
Light Control Switch .................95
Individual Map Lights ...............
95
Courtesy Light .......................... 96
Ceiling Light .............................
96
Cargo Area Light .......................96
Ignition Switch Light .................
96
Interior Convenience Items ...........97
Cooler Box ................................ 98
Beverage Holders .....................
99
Accessory Power Sockets .......100
Glove Box ...............................
100
Sun Visor ................................ 100
Vanity Mirror ..........................
101
Overhead Console ..................101
Instruments and Controls
55
Instruments and Controls

Immobilizer System Indicator
This indicator comes on for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. It will
then go off if you have inserted a
properly coded ignition key. If it is
not a properly coded key, the
indicator will blink, and the engine
will not start (see page 76).
This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch from the ON (II) position to
the ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0) position.Turn Signal and
Hazard WarningIndicators
The left or right turn signal indicator
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If the indicators do not blink
or they blink rapidly, it usually
means one of the turn signal bulbs is
burned out (see page 263). Replace
the bulb as soon as possible, since
other drivers cannot see that you aresignaling.
When you press the hazard warning
button, both turn signal indicators
and all turn signals on the outside of
the vehicle flash.Daytime Running Lights Indicator
If this indicator comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position and the parking brake is
released, it means there is a problem
with a circuit. Have your vehicle
checked by your dealer.
Cruise Control Indicator
This indicator comes on when you
set the cruise control. See page 193
for information on operating the
cruise control.
Cruise Main Indicator
This indicator comes on when you
turn on the cruise control system by
pressing the CRUISE button on the
steering wheel (see page 193).
Instrument Panel Indicators
60
Table of Contents

ꭧ1: To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
ꭧ 2: If equipped
ꭧ 3: Only on vehicles equipped with navigation system. Refer to the navigation system manual.
HAZARD WARNING BUTTON
(P. 73)
CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS (P. 193)
STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT (P. 74) HORN
ꭧ
1
A/T model with navigation system is shown. VSA OFF SWITCH
(P. 231)
NAVIGATION SYSTEM
VOICE CONTROLBUTTONS
ꭧ
3
REMOTE AUDIOCONTROLSꭧ2
(P. 191)
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS
(P. 71)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
(P. 70)
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER BUTTON
(P. 74)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
(P. 217) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
(P. 219) ACCESSORY
POWER SOCKET
(P. 100)
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
69
Instruments and Controls
Table of Contents

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger will clear
fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the defogger button to
turn it on and off. The indicator in the
button comes on to show the
defogger is on. If you do not turn it
off, the defogger will shut itself off
after about 15 minutes. It also shuts
off when you turn off the ignition
switch. You have to turn the
defogger on again when you restart
the vehicle.Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility before
starting to drive.
The defogger wires on the inside of
the rear window can be accidentally
damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side-to-side.
Steering Wheel Adjustment
Make any steering wheel adjustment
before you start driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
in a crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Rear Window Defogger, Steering Wheel Adjustment
74
Table of Contents

To adjust the steering wheel upward
or downward:1. Push the lever under the left side of the steering column all the way down.
2. Move the steering wheel up or down to the desired position.
Make sure you can see the
instrument panel gauges and theindicators. 3. Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
4. Make sure you have securely locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down. Keys and Locks
The master key fits all the locks on
your vehicle. The valet key works
only in the ignition and the door
locks. You can keep the glove box
and hatch locked when you leave
your vehicle and the valet key at a
parking facility.
KEY NUMBERTAG
MASTER
KEYS
(BLACK)VALETKEY(LIGHTGRAY)
CONTINUED
Steering Wheel Adjustment, Keys and Locks
75
Instruments and Controls
Table of Contents