battery HONDA ELEMENT 2011 1.G User Guide

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 Park.
●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 stored
indoors).●Disconnect the battery.●Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch the
windshield.●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.
●Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made from
a porous material such as cotton.
Non-porous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.●If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches full
operating temperature (the cooling
fans cycle on and off twice).
Preferably, do this once a month.
Vehicle Storage
219
Maintenance
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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.
The transmission must be in Park
or neutral or the starter will not
operate.●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 231).
●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 244.
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 218).
You can then try jump starting the
vehicle from a booster battery (see
page 231).
CONTINUED
If the Engine Won't Start
229
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Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
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 Park, and set the
parking brake.
The numbers in the illustration
show you the order to connect the
jumper cables.
BOOSTER BATTERY
CONTINUED
Jump Starting
231
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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 Starting23210/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

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 145). An engine
very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page 193).
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
244). 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 technical
assistance.
Low Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator
235
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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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.
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.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp23610/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOXNo. Amps.Circuits Protected1 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 Protected7 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 Protected13 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 Main21－ 25 7.5 A －30 A
Spare Fuses
Fuse Locations
243
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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Air ConditioningRefrigerant type HFC-134a (R-134a)
Charge quantity 17.6－19.4 oz (500 －550 g)
Lubricant type ND-OIL8
Lights Headlights 60/55 W (H4/HB2)
Daytime running lights 60 W (HB3)
Front turn signal/parking lights 27/8 W (Amber)
Front side marker lights 3 CP
Side turn signal lights 3 CP
Rear turn signal lights 21 W (Amber)
Rear side marker lights 3 CP
Stop/taillights 21/5 W
Back-up lights 21 CP
License plate lights 5 W
Ceiling light 8 W
ꭧ1
5W
ꭧ2
Spotlights 8 W
ꭧ2
Cargo area light 8 W
High-mount brake light 21 W
Battery Capacity 12 V－47 AH/20 HR
12 V －38 AH/5 HR Fuses
Interior See page 242 or the fuse label
attached to the inside of the fuse
box lid under the steering
column.
Under-hood See page 243 or the fuse box
cover.
Alignment Toe-in Front 0.0 in (0 mm)
Rear 0.08 in (2.0 mm)
Camber Front －0°13 ’
Rear －1°00 ’
Caster Front 1°50’
Tires Size Front/Rear P215/70R16 99S
Pressure Front 33 psi (230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm
2)
Rear 35 psi (240 kPa, 2.4 kgf/cm2)
Spare 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm2)
ꭧ 1: LX model
ꭧ 2: EX model
Specifications25210/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

Testing of Readiness Codes
If you take your vehicle for an
emissions test shortly after the
battery has been disconnected or
gone dead, it may not pass the test.
This is because of certain‘‘readiness
codes ’’that must be set in the on-
board diagnostics for the emissions
systems. These codes are erased
when the battery is disconnected,
and set again only after several days
of driving under a variety of
conditions. If the testing facility determines that
the readiness codes are not set, you
will be requested to return at a later
date to complete the test. If you must
get the vehicle retested within the
next two or three days, you can
condition the vehicle for retesting by
doing the following.
1. Make sure the fuel tank is nearly,
but not completely full (around
3/4).
2. Make sure the vehicle has been parked with the engine off for 6
hours or more.
3. Make sure the ambient temperature is between 40° and
95°F (4° and 35°C). 4. Without touching the accelerator
pedal, start the engine, and let it
idle for 20 seconds.
5. Keep the vehicle in Park. Increase the engine speed to 2,000 rpm, and
hold it there until the temperature
gauge rises to at least 1/4 of the
scale (about 3 minutes).
6. Without touching the accelerator pedal, let the engine idle for 20
seconds.
CONTINUED
Emissions Testing
261
Technical Information
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Your new vehicle is covered by these
warranties:New Vehicle Limited Warranty
－
covers your new vehicle, except for
the emissions control systems and
accessories, against defects in
materials and workmanship.
Emissions Control Systems Defects Warranty and Emissions
Performance Warranty
－ these two
warranties cover your vehicle's
emissions control systems. Time,
mileage, and coverage are
conditional. Please read your
warranty booklet for exact
information.
Seat Belt Limited Warranty
－ a seat
belt that fails to function properly is
covered by a limited warranty. Please
read your warranty booklet for
details.
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
－
all exterior body panels are covered
for rust-through from the inside for
the specified time period with no
mileage limit.
Accessory Limited Warranty
－
Honda accessories are covered
under this warranty. Time and
mileage limits depend on the type of
accessory and other factors. Please
read your warranty booklet for
details.
Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty
－ covers all Honda
replacement parts against defects in
materials and workmanship.
Replacement Battery Limited
Warranty
－ provides prorated
coverage for a replacement battery
purchased from your dealer.
Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty
－ provides
coverage for as long as the purchaser
of the muffler owns the vehicle.
Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the
2011 Honda warranty information
booklet that came with your vehicle
for precise information on warranty
coverages. Your vehicle's original
tires are covered by their
manufacturer. Tire warranty
information is in a separate booklet.
Warranty Coverages
265
Warranty and Customer Relations
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