radiator HONDA ELEMENT 2011 1.G Owners Manual

RADIATOR CAPDOORJAMBS
Safety Labels5410/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

Oil CheckWait a few minutes after turning the
engine off before you check the oil.1. Remove the dipstick (orange tab).
2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean cloth or paper towel.
3. Insert it all the way back in its tube.
4. Remove the dipstick again, andcheck the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see Adding Engine Oil on page 193.Engine Coolant Check
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see
Adding
Engine Coolant on page 196 for
information on adding the proper
coolant.
Refer to Owner's Maintenance
Checks on page 190 for information
about checking other items on your
vehicle.
DIPSTICK
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
MIN
MAX RESERVE TANK
Service Station Procedures
145
Before Driving
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However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties in
effect. Maintenance may be done by
any qualified service facility or
person who is skilled in this type of
automotive service. Make sure to
have the service facility or person
reset the display as previously
described. Keep all receipts as proof
of completion, and have the person
who does the work fill out your
Honda Service History. Check your
warranty booklet for more
information.
We recommend using Honda parts
and fluids whenever you have
maintenance done. These are
manufactured to the same high
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be confident
of their performance and durability.According to state and federal
regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on the items marked
with
＃will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all
maintenance services should be
performed in accordance with the
intervals indicated by the information
display.
Owner's Maintenance Checks
You should check the following
items at the specified intervals. If you
are unsure of how to perform any
check, turn to the appropriate page
listed.
●Engine oil level －Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See page
145.●Engine coolant level －Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 145.●Automatic transmission －Check
the fluid level monthly. See page
198.
●Brakes －Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 199.●Tires －Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
212.●Lights －Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
and license plate lights monthly.
See page 201.
Maintenance Minder
TM
19010/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
ENGINE OIL
DIPSTICK
(Orange tab)
POWER
STEERING FLUID
(Red cap)
WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)
ENGINE
COOLANT
RESERVOIR
RADIATOR CAPBRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)
Fluid Locations19210/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

Adding Engine CoolantIf the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add
coolant to bring it up to the MAX
line. Inspect the cooling system for
leaks.Always use Honda Long-life Anti-
freeze/Coolant Type 2. This coolant
is pre-mixed with 50 percent
antifreeze and 50 percent distilled
water. Never add straight antifreeze
or plain water.
If Honda antifreeze/coolant is not
available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it
is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum
engines. Continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the cooling
system to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and
refilled with Honda antifreeze/
coolant as soon as possible.If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
RESERVE TANK
Engine Coolant19610/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

1. Make sure the engine and radiatorare cool.
2. Relieve any pressure in the cooling system by turning the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without
pressing down.
3. Remove the radiator cap by pushing down and turning
counterclockwise. 4. The coolant level should be up to
the base of the filler neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Pour the coolant slowly and
carefully so you do not spill any.
Clean up any spill immediately; it
could damage components in the
engine compartment.
5. Put the radiator cap back on and tighten it fully.
6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank. Fill it to halfway between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your vehicle's
cooling system. They may not be
compatible with the coolant or
engine components. Windshield Washers
Check the fluid level in the
windshield washer reservoir at least
monthly during normal use.
Check the reservoir's fluid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
level gauge attached to the cap.
RADIATOR CAP
LEVEL GAUGE
CONTINUED
Engine Coolant, Windshield Washers
197
Maintenance
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Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather.
When you refill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition them.Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir. Antifreeze
can damage your vehicle's paint, while
a vinegar/water solution can damage
the windshield washer pump. Use only
commercially-available windshield
washer fluid.Automatic Transmission Fluid
Check the fluid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
1. Park the vehicle on level ground.
Start the engine, let it run until the
radiator fan comes on, then shut
off the engine. For accurate
results, wait about 60 seconds (but
no longer than 90 seconds) before
doing step 2.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
from the transmission, and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
3. Insert the dipstick all the way intothe transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
4. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It should be between
the upper and lower marks.
DIPSTICK
UPPER
MARK
LOWER
MARK
Windshield Washers, Automatic Transmission Fluid19810/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

5. Look for any obvious coolantleaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Emergency
Towing on page 244).
6. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Add coolant
if the level is below the MIN mark.
7. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge or lower before
checking the radiator.
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
8. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off. 9. Start the engine, and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum heat. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the filler
neck. If you do not have the proper
coolant mixture available, you can
add plain water. Remember to
have the cooling system drained
and refilled with the proper
mixture as soon as you can.
10. Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine, and check
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (see Emergency
Towing on page 244).
11. If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has gone
down, add coolant to the MAX
mark. Put the cap back on tightly.
If the Engine Overheats23410/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu

Parking Brake and Brake SystemIndicator
...........................
58, 237
Parking Over Things that Burn
................................
165, 260
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
....
32
PGM-FI System
..........................
259
Playing a Disc
............................
119
Pollen Filter
...............................
210
Power Door Locks
.......................
80
Power Socket Locations
.............
100
Power Steering Fluid
.................
200
Power Windows
...........................
92
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts
........
16
Preparing to Drive
......................
159
Proper Seat Belt Usage
................
14
Protecting Adults and Teens
........
11
Additional Safety Precautions
...
16
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
16
Protecting Children
......................
35
General Guidelines
..................
35
Protecting Infants
.....................
40
Protecting Larger Children
......
49
Protecting Small Children
........
41
Using Child Seats with Tethers
.................................
48
Using LATCH
..........................
44 R
Radiator Overheating
.................
233
Radio/CD Sound System
...........
109
Radio Theft Protection
...............
132
Readiness Codes
........................
261
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement
...........................
206
Rear Seat, Folding
........................
88
Rearview Mirror
...........................
93
Rear Window Defogger
................
74
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
.....................................
70
Reclining the Front Seats
.............
87
Refueling
....................................
143
Reminder Indicators
.....................
58
Remote Audio Controls
..............
135
Remote Transmitter
.....................
77
Replacement Information Dust and Pollen Filter
.............
210
Engine Oil and Filter
...............
194
Fuses
......................................
239
Light Bulbs
.............................
202
Spark Plugs
.............................
250
Tires
.......................................
215 Wiper Blades
..........................
210
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash
........................................
20
Reporting Safety Defects
............
266
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant
............................
145, 196
Restraint, Child
............................
35
Reverse Gear Position
................
162
Rotation, Tire
.............................
215
S
Safety Belts
..............................
8, 18
Safety Defects, Reporting
...........
266
Safety Features
..............................
7
Airbags
.................................
9, 22
Door Locks
..............................
11
Head Restraints
........................
13
Seat Belts
........................
8, 14, 18
Seats & Seat-Backs
..............
11, 12
Safety Labels, Location of
.............
53
Safety Messages
..........................
iii
Seat Adjustments
.........................
83
CONTINUED
Index
VII
INDEX
10/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu