HONDA Element 2008 User Manual

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Introduction

2008 Element

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Congratulations! Your selection of a 2008 Honda Element was a wise investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so youcanrefertoitatanytime.

Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty booklet thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.

Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your vehicle. Your dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns.

As you read this manual, you will find inf ormation that is preceded by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your vehicle, other property, or the environment.

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Introduction

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California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

defects or other reproductive harm.

Event Data Recorders

This vehicle is equipped with one or more devices commonly referred to as event data recorders. These devices record front seat belt use, f ront passenger seat occupancy, airbag deployment data, and the f ailure of any airbag system component.

except as legally required or with the permission of the vehicle owner.

Service Diagnostic Recorders This vehicle is equipped with service-related devices that record information about powertrain performance. The data can be used to verify emissions law requirements and/or help technicians diagnose and solve service problems. It may also be combined with data f rom other sources for research purposes, but it remains confidential.

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth

This data belongs to the vehicle owner and may not be accessed by anyone else

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AFewWordsAboutSafety

2008 Element

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Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility.

To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This inf ormation alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You must use your own good judgement.

You will f ind this important safety information in a variety of forms, including:

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Safety Labels Safety Messages

three signal words: , , or . These signal words mean:

Safety Headings

Safety Precautions.

Safety Section Instructions

This entire book is f illed with important saf ety information please read it carefully.

on the vehicle.

−

preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

−

such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

−

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

−

how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

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iii

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Important Handling Information

2008 Element

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Your Element has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use only on pavement. Higher ground clearance has many advantages for off-highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.

These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a high center of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.

For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read ‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page of this manual and the

Off-Highway Driving Guidelines

control or an accident.

section on page . Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of

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2008 Element Online Reference Owner's Manual

Contents

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... i

A Few Words About Safety .............................................................................................................................. iii

Important Handling Information .................................................................................................................... iv

Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) .................................................................................................... 4

Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) .................................................... 7

Instruments and Controls

Features (heating and cooling

Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ..................................................................... 139

Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 155

Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 183

Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) ............................. 221

Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 245

Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ... 261

Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 265

Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I

(indicators, gauges, dashboard, and steering column) , audio, steering wheel, and cruise control )

........................................................... 101

............................................ 57

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)

00X31-SCV-6502

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Page 7

Overview of Contents

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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 Saf ety

Important information about the proper use and care of your vehicle’s seat belts, an overview of the supplemental restraint system, and valuable inf ormation 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 steering column.

Features

How to operate the heating and air conditioning system, the audio system, and other convenience

features.

Before Driving

What gasoline to use, how to breakin 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 detailed information.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)

How to order manuals and other technical literature.

Index

Service Information Summary

A summary of the information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

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Your Vehicle at a Glance

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POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH (P.80)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES

(P.91)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P.142)

A/T model is shown.

MIRROR CONTROLS (P.92)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MANUAL TRANSMISSION

(P.159)

(P.161)

INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES(P.66)

(P.59)

DRIVER’S FRONT AIRBAG

PASSENGER’S FRONT AIRBAG (P.11, 34)

HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS (P.102)

PARKING BRAKE (P.93)

(P.11, 27)

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Your Vehicle at a Glance

2008 Element

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HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS (P.71)

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS (P.134)

＊

CRUISE CONTROL MASTER BUTTON (P.135)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST(VSA) SYSTEM ON/OFF SWITCH (P.172)

A/T model is shown.

＊＊To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.1:

2 : If equipped

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS (P.70)

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR (P.34)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P.107) DIGITAL CLOCK (P.132)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER (P.73)

ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET (P.98)

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON

HORN

＊

(P.73)

STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS (P.74)

(P.135)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

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Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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This section gives you important information about how to protect yourself and your passengers. It shows you how to use seat belts. It explains how your airbags work. And it tells you how to properly restrain infants and children in your vehicle.

.........Important Safety Precautions . 8

.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 9

.....................................Seat Belts . 10

.........................................Airbags . 11

.........Protecting Adults and Teens . 13

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 13

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 14

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 15

5. Fasten and Position the

............................Seat Belts . 16

6. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 17

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 18

...Additional Safety Precautions . 18

Additional Information About Your

.................................Seat Belts . 20

..Seat Belt System Components . 20

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 21

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 22

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 22

Additional Information About Your

.....................................Airbags . 24

......Airbag System Components . 24

How Your Front Airbags

.........................................Work . 27

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 30

How Your Side Curtain Airbags

.........................................Work . 32

How the SRS Indicator

.......................................Works . 33

How the Side Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 34

How the Passenger Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 34

.............................Airbag Service . 35

...Additional Safety Precautions . 36

Protecting Children General

All Children Must Be

All Children Should Sit in a

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................................Guidelines . 37

...............................Restrained . 37

.................................Back Seat . 38

The Passenger’s Front Airbag

If You Must Drive with Several

...................................Children . 40

If a Child Requires Close

..................................Attention . 40

Protecting Infants and

.........................Small Children . 42

.......................Protecting Infants . 42

.....................Selecting a Child Seat . 44

....................Installing a Child Seat . 45

...............................With LATCH . 46

..............................With a Tether . 50

...............Checking Seat Belt Fit . 51

..................Using a Booster Seat . 52

When Can a Larger Child Sit in

.........................................Front . 52

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 54

...................................Safety Labels . 55

.........Can Pose Serious Risks . 38

Driver and Passenger Safety

...Additional Safety Precautions . 41

.........Protecting Small Children . 43

.........With a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 48

...........Protecting Larger Children . 51

...Additional Safety Precautions . 53

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Important Safety Precautions

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You’ll find many saf ety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. Therecommendationsonthispage are the ones we consider to be the most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly (see page ).

Restrain All Children

Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the front seat. Infants and smallchildrenshouldberestrained in a child seat. Larger children should use a booster seat and a lap/ shoulder belt until they can use the belt properly without a booster seat (see pages ).37 53

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to f ollow all instructions and warnings in this manual.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with

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every additional drink. So don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either.

Control Your Speed

Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted.

Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance (see page ).

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(5)

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(7)

(11)

(8)

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

Your vehicle is equipped with many

(4)(3)

(9)

(1)

features that work together to protect you and your passengers during a crash.

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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

(2)

(10)

(8)

(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)

(2)

However, you and your passengers can’t take full advantage of these features unless you remain sitting in a proper position and

your seat belts

features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.

The f ollowing pages explain how you cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting yourself and your passengers.

. In fact, some safety

always wear

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Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

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Seat Belts

Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts in all seating positions.

Your seat belt system also includes an indicator on the instrument panel and a beeper to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

Why Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand larger children. (Infants and smaller children must be properly restrained in child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.

In addition, most states and all Canadian provinces require you to wear seat belts.

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.

Be sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts and wear them properly.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Keep you connected to the vehicle so you can take advantage of the vehicle’s built-in safety features.

Help protect you in almost every type of crash, including frontal, side, and rear impacts and rollovers.

Help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the vehicle and against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown out of the vehicle.

Help keep you in a good position should the airbags ever deploy. A good position reduces the risk of injury from an inflating airbag and allows you to get the best advantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannot completely protect you in every crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts can reduce your risk of serious injury.

What You Should Do:

Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly.

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Airbags

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Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

Driver and Passenger Safety

Your vehicle has a supplemental restraint system (SRS) with front airbags to help protect the heads and chests of the driver and a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe f rontal collision (see page

for more information on how

your front airbags work).

Your vehicle also has side airbags to help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe side impact (see page for more

information on how your side airbags

In addition, your vehicle has side curtain airbags to help protect the heads of the driver, front passenger, and passengers in the outer rear seating positions during a moderate to severe side impact (see page

work).27 32

your side curtain airbags work).

for more information on how

CONTINUED

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Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

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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 off er no protection in rear impacts, or minor frontal or side collisions.

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous f orce. 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 inf ormation 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 airbags deploy.

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The f ollowing pages provide

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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.

5337

See pages for important

−

guidelines on how to properly protect infants, small children, and larger children who ride in your vehicle.

After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure the doors are closed and locked.

Your vehicle has a door and

tailgate open monitor on the instrument panel to indicate when a specific door or the tailgate or the hatch is not tightly closed.

Locking the doors reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the vehicle during a crash, and it helps prevent passengers f rom accidentally opening a door and falling out.

Locking the doors also helps prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.

See page for how to lock the doors, and page for how the door

and tailgate monitor system works.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Adjust theFront SeatsClose and Lock the DoorsIntroduction 2.1.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the rear as possible while allowing you to maintain f ull 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

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Protecting Adults and Teens

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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 ).

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 for how to adjust the front seats.

Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

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 seatbacks should also adjust their seatback to a comfortable, upright position.

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Protecting Adults and Teens

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Adjust the Head Restraints4.

Reclining the seat-back too far can result in serious injury or death in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to an upright position, and sit well back in the seat.

Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the occupant’s chest reduces the protective capability of the belt. It also increases the chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a seat-back is reclined, the greater the risk of injury.

See page for how to adjust the seat-backs.

Adjust the driver’s head restraint so the center of the back of your head rests against the center of the restraint.

Have passengers adjust their head restraints properly as well. Taller persons should adjust their restraint as high as possible.

Improperly positioning head restraints reduces their effectiveness and you can be seriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints are in place and positioned properly before driving.

Properly adjusted head restraints will help protect occupants from whiplash and other crash injuries.

See page for how to adjust the head restraints.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Adults and Teens

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Fasten and Position the Seat

5. Belts

Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the belt is securely latched. Check that the belt is not twisted, because a twisted belt can cause serious injuries in a crash.

Position the lap part of the belt as low as possible across your hips, then pull up on the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic bones take the force of a crash and reduces the chance of internal injuries.

If necessary, pull up on the belt again to remove any slack, then check that the belt rests across the center of your chest and over your shoulder.

This spreads the forces of a crash over the strongest bones in your upper body.

Improperly positioning the seat belts can cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.

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Protecting Adults and Teens

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Never place the shoulder portion of a lap/shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.

This could cause

very serious injuries in a crash.

If a seat belt does not seem to work properly, it may not protect the occupant in a crash.

No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat belt.

Using a seat belt that is not working properly can result in serious injury or death. Have your dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

See page for additional

information about your seat belts and how to take care of them.

Maintain a Proper Sitting

6. Position

After all occupants have adjusted their seats and head restraints, and put on their seat belts, it is very important that they continue to sit upright, well back in their seats, with their feet on the floor, until the vehicle is parked and the engine is off.

Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased.

In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or f atally injured in a crash by striking interior parts of the vehicle or being struck by an inflating front airbag.

Sitting improperly or out of position can result in serious injury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back in the seat, with your feet on the floor.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Adults and Teens

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Advice for Pregnant Women Additional Safety Precautions

When driving, remember to sit upright and adjust the seat as far back as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. When riding as a front passenger, adjust the seat as far back as possible.

This will reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating front airbag.

Never let passengers ride in the cargo area or on top of a foldeddown back seat.

If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Passengers should not stand up or change seats while the vehicle is moving.

A passenger who is not wearing a seat belt during a crash or emergency stop can be thrown against the inside of the vehicle, against other occupants, or out of the vehicle.

If you are pregnant, the best way to

Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to

drive. protect yourself and your unborn child when driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt, and keep the lap part of the belt as low as possible across the hips.

Two people should never use the same seat belt.

If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

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Protecting Adults and Teens

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Do not put any accessories on seat belts.

Devices intended to improve occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability of the seat belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.

Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on the f ront airbag covers.

Objects on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ could interf ere with the proper operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inf late.

Do not attach hard objects on or near a door.

If a side airbag or a side curtain airbag inflates, a cup holder or other hard object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone.

Keep your hands and arms away from the airbag covers.

If your hands or arms are close to an airbag cover, they could be injured if the front airbag inflates.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Seat Belt System Components

Your seat belt system includes lap/ shoulder belts in all four seating positions. The front seat belts are also equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners.

This system uses the same sensors as the front airbags to monitor whether the front seat belts are latched or unlatched, and how much weight is on the front passenger’s seat (see pages and ).

instrument panel and a beeper to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

This system monitors the front seat belts. If you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position before your seat belt is fastened, the beeper will sound and the indicator will flash. If your seat belt is not fastened bef ore

29 30

The seat belt system includes an indicator on the

the beeper stops, the indicator will stop flashing but remain on.

If a front passenger does not fasten their seat belt, the indicator will come on about 6 seconds after the ignition switch is turned to the ON (II) position.

If either the driver or a front passenger does not fasten their seat belt, the beeper will sound and the indicator will flash again at regular intervals.

When no one is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, or a child or small adult is riding there, the indicator should not come on and the beeper should not sound.

If the indicator comes on or the beeper sounds when the driver’s seat belt is latched and there is no front seat passenger and no items on the front seat, something may be interfering with the monitoring system. Look f or and remove:

Any items under the f ront passenger’s seat.

Any object(s) hanging on the seat or in the seat-back pocket.

Any objects, such as a folded-down back seat, that are touching the rear of the seat-back.

If no obstructions are found, have your vehicle checked by a dealer.

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Lap/Shoulder Belt

The lap/shoulder belt goes over your shoulder, across your chest, and across your hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is latched (see page for how to properly position the belt).

To unlock the belt, press the red PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide the belt across your body so that it retracts completely. Af ter exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the way and will not get closed in the door.

All seat belts have an emergency locking retractor. In normal driving, the retractor lets you move freely in your seat while it keeps some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop, the retractor automatically locks the belt to help restrain your body.

The seat belts in all positions except the driver’s have a lockable retractor that must be activated to secure a child seat (see page ).

If the shoulder part of the belt is pulled all the way out, the lockable retractor will activate. The belt will retract, but it will not allow the passenger to move freely.

To deactivate the lockable retractor, unlatch the buckle and let the seat belt fully retract. To refasten the seat belt, pull it out only as far as needed.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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For added protection, the front seat belts are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners. When activated, the tensioners immediately tighten the belts to help hold the driver and a front passenger in position.

The tensioners are designed to activate in any collision severe enough to cause the front airbags to deploy, or if a sensor detects your vehicle is about to roll over (see page

If a side airbag or side curtain airbag deploys during a side impact, the tensioner on that side of the vehicle will also deploy.

The tensioners can also be activated during a collision in which the front airbags . In this case, the airbags would not be needed, but the additional restraint could be helpful.

When the tensioners are activated, the seat belts will remain tight until they are unbuckled.

do not deploy

Seat Belt MaintenanceAutomatic Seat Belt Tensioners

For safety, you should check the condition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check that the latches work smoothly and the belts retract easily. If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem (see page

209

). Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide good protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.

Honda provides a limited warranty on seat belts. See your

Warranty Information

details.

Honda

booklet for

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If a seat belt is worn during a crash,

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it must be replaced by your dealer. A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of protection in a subsequent crash.

The dealer should also inspect the anchors for damage and replace them if needed. If the automatic seat belt tensioners activate during a crash, they must be replaced.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have any problem corrected as soon as possible.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Airbag System Components

(1) Driver’s Front Airbag (2) Passenger’s Front Airbag (3) Control Unit (4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners (5) Side Airbags (6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor (7) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors (8) Front Impact Sensors (9) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator (10) Side Impact Sensors (First) (11) Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors (12) Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator (13) Rollover Sensor (14) Seat Belt Buckle Tensioners (15) Rear Safing Sensor

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(1)

(8) (2)(9)

(3)

(5)

(6)

(10)

(4)

(13)

(15)

(10)

(14)

(11)

(5)

(4)

(7)

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(16) Side Curtain Airbags (17) Side Impact Sensors (Second)

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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’sairbagisstoredinthe dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Two side airbags, one for the driver and one for a front passenger. The airbags are stored in the outer edges of the seatbacks. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE

(17)

AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Two side curtain airbags, one f or 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

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Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Automatic front seat belt tensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe front impact, side impact, or rollover.

Sensors that can detect whether a child is in the passenger’s side airbag path and signal the control unit to turn the airbag off (see page ).

Sensors that can detect whether the driver’s seat belt and the front passenger’s seat belt are latched or unlatched (see page ).

A driver’s seat position sensor that monitors the distance of the seat from the front airbag. If the seat is too far forward, the airbag will inflate with less force (see page

Weight sensors that monitor the weight on the front passenger’s seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant or small child), the passenger’s front airbag will be turned off (see page ).

A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors and records information about the sensors, the control unit, the airbag activators, the seat belt tensioners, and driver and f ront passenger seat belt use when the ignition switch is in the ON (II) position.

An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with your airbags, sensors, or seat belt tensioners (see page ).

An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you that the passenger’s side airbag has been turned off (see page ).

An indicator on the dashboard that alerts you that the passenger’s front airbag has been turned off (see page ).

Emergency backup power in case your vehicle’s electrical system is disconnected in a crash.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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How Your Front Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to severe f rontal collision, sensors will detect the vehicle’s rapid deceleration.

If the rate of deceleration is high enough, the control unit will instantly inflate the driver’s and front passenger’s airbags, at the time and with the force needed.

During a frontal crash, your seat belt restrains your lower body and torso, and the f ront airbag helps protect your head and chest.

Although both airbags normally inflate within a split second of each other, it is possible for only one airbag to deploy.

This can happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin, or threshold, that determines whether or not the airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

Only the driver’s airbag can deploy if there is no passenger in the front seat, or if the advanced airbag system has turned the passenger’s airbag off (see page ).29

Driver and Passenger Safety

After inflating, the front airbags immediately deflate, so they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility, or the ability to steer or operate other controls.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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The total time for inflation and deflation is one-tenth of a second, so fast that most occupants are not aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see what looks like smoke. This is actually powder from the airbag’s surface. Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problems mayexperiencesometemporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of the vehicle as soon as it is saf e to do so.

Your front airbags are dual-stage airbags. This means they have two inflation stages that can be ignited sequentially or simultaneously, depending on crash severity.

more severe

In a crash, both stages will ignite simultaneously to provide the quickest and greatest protection.

less severe

In a crash, one stage will ignite first, then the second stage will ignite a split second later. This provides longer airbag inflation time with a little less force.

Dual-Threshold AirbagsDual-Stage Airbags

Your front airbags are also dualthreshold airbags. Airbags with this feature have two deployment thresholds that depend on whether sensors detect the occupant is wearing a seat belt or not.

If the occupant’s belt is ,

not latched

the airbag will deploy at a slightly lower threshold, because the occupant would need extra protection.

If the occupant’s belt is , the

latched

airbag will inf late at a slightly higher threshold, when the airbag would be needed to supplement the protection provided by the seat belt.

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Advanced Airbags

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Your front airbags are also advanced airbags. The main purpose of this feature is to help prevent airbagcaused injuries to short drivers and children who ride in front.

For both advanced airbags to work properly:

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Driver and Passenger Safety

Occupants must sit upright and wear their seat belts properly.

Do not spill any liquids on or under the seats, cover the sensors, or put any objects or metal items under the f ront seats.

Back-seat passengers should not put their feet under the front seats.

Failure to follow these instructions could damage the sensors or prevent them from working properly.

DRIVER’S SEAT POSITION SENSOR

The driver’s advanced front airbag system includes a seat position sensor under the seat. If the seat is too far forward, the airbag will inflate with less force, regardless of the severity of the impact.

If there is a problem with the sensor, the SRS indicator will come on, and the airbag will inflate in the normal manner regardless of the driver’s seating position.

PASSENGER’S SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR

The passenger’s advanced f ront airbag system has weight sensors under the seat. Although Honda does not encourage carrying an infant or small child in front, if the sensors detect the weight of an infant or small child (up to about 65 lbs or 29 kg), the system will automatically turn the passenger’s front airbag off. Be aware that objects placed on the passenger’s seat can also cause the airbag to be turned off.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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When the airbag is turned off, a ‘‘passenger airbag off’’ indicator in the center of the dashboard comes on (see page ).

If the weight sensors detect there is no passenger in the front seat, the airbag will be off. However, the passenger airbag off indicator will not come on.

To ensure that the passenger’s advanced front airbag system will work properly,

that would increase or decrease the weight on the front passenger’s seat.

This includes:

A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger’s seat.

do not do anything

Moving the front seat forcibly back against cargo on the seat or floor behind it.

Hanging heavy items on the front passenger seat, or placing heavy items in the seat-back pocket.

Moving the front seat or seat-back forcibly back against the f olded rear seat.

If your vehicle has optional f loor mats,makesurethematbehindthe front passenger’s seat is hooked to thefloormatanchor(seepage ). If it is not, the mat may interfere with the proper operation of the sensors and operation of the seat.

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How Your Side Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to severe side impact, sensors will detect rapid acceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inf late either the driver’s or the passenger’s side airbag and activate the seat belt tensioner on the affected side.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Only one airbag will deploy during a side impact. If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the passenger’s side airbag will deploy even if there is no passenger.

To get the best protection from the side airbags, front seat occupants should wear their seat belts and sit upright and well back in their seats.

Side Airbag Cutoff System

Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoff system designed primarily to protect a child riding in the front passenger’s seat.

Although Honda does not encourage children to ride in front, if the position sensors detect a child has leaned into the side airbag’s deployment path, the airbag will shut off.

Thesideairbagmayalsoshutoffifa short adult leans sideways, or a larger adult slouches and leans sideways into the airbag’s deployment path.

Objects placed on the front passenger seat can also cause the side airbag to be shut off.

If the side airbag off indicator comes on (see page ), have the passenger sit upright. Once the passenger is out of the airbag’s deployment path, the system will turn the airbag back on, and the indicator will go out.

There will be some delay between the moment the passenger moves into or out of the airbag deployment pathandwhentheindicatorcomes on or goes off.

A front seat passenger should not use a cushion or other object as a backrest. It may prevent the cutoff system f rom working properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG

In a Side Impact

In a moderate to severe side impact, sensors will detect rapid acceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inflate the side curtain airbag and activate the seat belt tensioner on the driver’s or the passenger’s side of the vehicle.

If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the passenger’s side curtain airbag will inflate even if there are no occupants on that side of the vehicle.

In a Rollover

If the rollover sensor detects your vehicle is about to roll over, it signals the control unit, which immediately deploys both side curtain airbags and activates both front seat belt tensioners.

The airbag on the passenger’s side will deploy, and the seat belt tensioner will activate, even if there are no passengers on that side of the vehicle.

To get the best protection from the side curtain airbags, occupants should wear their seat belts and sit upright and well back in their seats.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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How the SRS Indicator Works

The SRS indicator alerts

you to a potential problem with your airbags or seat belt tensioners.

When you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position, this indicator comes on briefly then goes off. This tells you the system is working properly.

If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, you should have the system checked by your dealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator does not come on after you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position.

If the indicator stays on after the engine starts.

If the indicator comes on or flashesonandoffwhileyoudrive.

If you see any of these indications, the airbags and seat belt tensioners may not work properly when you need them.

Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in serious injury or death if the airbag systems or tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts you to a possible problem.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works

CanadaU.S.

This indicator alerts you that the passenger’s side airbag has been automatically shut off. It does

not

mean there is a problem with your side airbags.

When you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position, the indicator should come on briefly and go off (see page ). If it doesn’t come on,

stays on, or comes on while driving without a passenger in the front seat, have the system checked.

How the Passenger Airbag Off Indicator Works

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR

U.S. Canada

This indicator alerts you that the passenger’s front airbag has been shut off because weight sensors detect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant or small child) on the front passenger’s seat. It does there is a problem

not mean

with the airbag.

Be aware that objects placed on the front seat can cause the indicator to come on.

If no weight is detected in the front seat, the airbag will be automatically shut off. However, the indicator will not come on.

The passenger airbag off indicator maycomeonandoffrepeatedlyif the total weight on the seat is near the airbag cutoff threshold.

If an adult or teenage passenger is riding in front, move the seat as far to the rear as possible, and have the passenger sit upright and wear the seat belt properly.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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If the indicator comes on with no front seat passenger and no objects on the seat, or with an adult riding there, something may be interfering with the weight sensors. Look for and remove:

Any items under the f ront passenger’s seat.

Any object hanging on the seat or in the seat-back pocket.

Any object, such as a folded-down back seat, that is touching the rear of the seat-back.

If no obstructions are found, have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible.

Airbag Service

Your airbag systems are virtually maintenance free, and there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have your vehicle serviced if:

An airbag ever inflates.

Any airbag that has deployed must be replaced along with the control unit and other related parts. Any seat belt tensioner that activates must also be replaced.

Do not try to remove or replace anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust be done by an authorized dealer or a knowledgeable body shop.

The SRS indicator alerts you to a problem.

Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as possible. If you ignore this indication, your airbags may not operate properly.

If your vehicle has a moderate to severe impact.

Even if your airbags do not inflate, your dealer should inspect the driver’s seat position sensor, the front passenger’s weight sensors, the front seat belt tensioners, and all seat belts worn during a crash to make sure they are operating properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Additional Safety Precautions

Donotattempttodeactivateyour airbags.

Together, airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.

Do not tamper with airbag components or wiring for any reason.

Tampering could cause the airbags to deploy, possibly causing very serious injury.

Do not expose the f ront passenger’s seat-back to liquid.

If water or another liquid soaks into the seatback, it can prevent the side airbag cutoff system from working properly.

Do not cover or replace front seatback covers without consulting your dealer.

Improperly replacing or covering front seat-back covers can prevent your side airbags from inflating during a side impact.

Do not remove or modif y a front seat without consulting your dealer.

This could make the driver’s seat position sensor or the front passenger’s weight sensors ineffective. If it is necessary to remove or modif y a f ront seat to accommodate a person with disabilities, first contact Honda Automobile Customer Service at (800) 999-1009.

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Children depend on adults to protect

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them. However, despite their best intentions, many adults do not know how to properly protect child passengers.

If you have children, or ever need to drive with a child in your vehicle, be sure to read this section. It begins with important general guidelines, then presents special information for infants, small children, and larger children.

Protecting Children General Guidelines

All Children Must Be Restrained

Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In f act, vehicle accidents are the number one cause of the death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state and Canadian province requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride in a vehicle.

Infants and small children must be restrained in an approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle

(see pages ).

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Children who are unrestrained or improperly restrained can be seriously injured or killed in a crash.

Any child too small for a seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat. A larger child should be properly restrained with a seat belt and use a booster seat if necessary.

Larger children must be restrained with a lap/shoulder belt and ride on a booster seat until the seat belt f its them properly

(see pages ).

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Protecting Children General Guidelines

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All Children Should Sit in a Back Seat

According to accident statistics, children of all ages and sizes are safer when they are restrained in a back seat. The National Highway Traff ic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children age 12 and under be properly restrained in a back seat. Some states have laws restricting where children may ride.

Children who ride in back are less likely to be injured by striking interior vehicle parts during a collision or hard braking. Also, children cannot be injured by an inflating front airbag when they ride in the back.

The Passenger’s Front Airbag Can Pose Serious Risks

Front airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate to severe f rontal collision. To do this, the passenger’s front airbag is quite large, and it can inflate with enough force to cause very serious injuries.

Even though your vehicle has an advanced front airbag system that automatically turns the passenger’s front airbag off (see page ),

please follow these guidelines:

Infants Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger’s front airbag.

If the airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or very seriously injure an infant.

Small Children Placing a f orward-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger’s front airbag can be hazardous.

If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown f orward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can strike the child with enough force to kill or very seriously injure a small child.

Larger Children Children who have outgrown child seats are also at risk of being injured or killed by an inflating passenger’s front airbag.

Whenever possible, larger children should sit in the back seat, on a booster seat if needed, and be properly restrained with a seat belt (see page f or important

information about protecting larger children).

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Protecting Children General Guidelines

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To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag hazards, and that children must be properly restrained in a back seat, your vehicle has warninglabelsonthedashboard (U.S. models) and on the front visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

U.S. Models

SUN VISORS

Canadian Models

SUN VISORS

DASHBOARD

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Children General Guidelines

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If You Must Drive with Several Children

Your vehicle has two back seats where children can be properly restrained. If you ever have to carry a group of children, and a child must ride in front:

Place the largest child in the front seat, provided the child is large enough to wear the lap/shoulder belt properly (see page ).

Move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible (see page ).

Have the child sit upright and well backintheseat(seepage ).

Make sure the seat belt is properly positioned and secured (see page

If a Child Requires Close Attention

Many parents say they prefer to put an infant or a small child in the front passenger seat so they can watch the child, or because the child requires attention.

Placing a child in the front seat exposes the child to hazards in a frontal collision, and paying close attention to a child distracts the driver from the important tasks of driving, placing both of you at risk.

If a child requires physical attention or frequent visual contact, we strongly recommend that another adult ride with the child in the back seat. The back seat is far safer for a child than the front.

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Protecting Children General Guidelines

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Additional Safety Precautions

Neverholdaninfantorchildon your lap.

If you are not wearing a seat belt in a crash, you could be thrown forward and crush the child against the dashboard or a seat-back. If you are wearing a seat belt, the child can be torn from your arms and be seriously hurt or killed.

Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child.

During a crash, the belt could press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.

Never let two children use the same seat belt.

If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Make sure any unused seat belt that a child can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor is activated, and the belt is fully retracted and locked.

If a child wraps a loose seat belt around their neck, they can be seriously or fatally injured. (See pages and for how to

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activate and deactivate the lockable retractor.)

Do not leave children alone in a vehicle.

Leaving children without adult supervision is illegal in most states and Canadian provinces, and can be very hazardous.

For example, infants and small childrenleftinavehicleonahot day can die from heatstroke. A child left alone with the key in the ignition switch can accidentally set the vehicle in motion, possibly injuring themselves or others.

Lock all doors, the tailgate and the hatch when your vehicle is not in use.

Children who play in vehicles can accidentally get trapped inside. Teach your children not to play in or around vehicles.

Keep vehicle keys and remote transmitters (on some models) out of the reach of children.

Even very young children learn how to unlock vehicle doors, turn on the ignition, and open the tailgate or hatch, which can lead to accidental injury or death.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Inf ants and Small Children

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Protecting Infants

Child Seat Type

An infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the child reaches the seat maker’s weight or height limit for the seat, and the child is at least one year old.

Only a rear-facing child seat provides proper support for a baby’s head, neck, and back.

Two types of seats may be used: a seat designed exclusively for infants, or a convertible seat used in the rearfacing, reclining mode.

Do not put a rear-f acing child seat in a forward-facing position.

If placed facing forward, an infant could be very seriously injured during a frontal collision.

Rear-f acing Child Seat Placement

A rear-facing child seat can be placed in any seating position in the back seat, but not in the front.

rear-f acing child seat in the f ront seat.

Never put a

If the passenger’s front airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough f orce to kill or seriously injure an inf ant.

When properly installed, a rearfacing child seat may prevent the driver or a front passenger from moving their seat as far back as recommended, or f rom locking their seat-back in the desired position.

It could also interfere with proper operation of the passenger’s advanced front airbag system.

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Protecting Inf ants and Small Children

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In any of these situations, we strongly recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front passenger’s seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied. Or, you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.

Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death during a collision.

Always place a rear-facing child seat in the back seat, not the front.

Protecting Small Children

Child Seat Type

A child who is at least 1 year old, and who fits within the child seat maker’s weight and height limits, should be restrained in a forward-facing, upright child seat.

Of the different seats available, we recommend those that have a fivepoint harness system as shown.

We also recommend that a small child use the child seat as long as possible, until the child reaches the weight or height limit for the seat.

Child Seat Placement

We strongly recommend placing a forward-facing child seat in a back seat, not the front.

Placing a f orward-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger’s airbag can be hazardous.

If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown f orward during a collision, an inflating airbag can strike the child with enough force to cause very serious or fatal injuries.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Inf ants and Small Children, Selecting a Child Seat

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Even with advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passenger’s front airbag off (see page ), a back seat is the safest

place for a small child.

If it is necessary to put a forwardfacing child seat in the f ront, move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible, and be sure the child seat is firmly secured to the vehicle and the child is properly strapped in the seat.

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death if the front airbag inflates.

Ifyoumustplaceaforwardfacing child seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible, and properly restrain the child.

Selecting a Child Seat

When buying a child seat, you need to choose either a conventional child seat, or one designed for use with the lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system.

Conventional child seats must be secured to a vehicle with a seat belt, whereas LATCH-compatible seats are secured by attaching the seat to hardware built into the two second row seats.

Since LATCH-compatible child seats are easier to install and reduce the possibility of improper installation, we recommend selecting this style.

In seating positions and vehicles not equipped with LATCH, a LATCHcompatible child seat can be installed using a seat belt.

Whatever type of seat you choose, to provide proper protection, a child seat should meet three requirements:

The child seat should meet U.S. or

Canadian Motor Vehicle Saf ety Standard 213.

Look f or FMVSS

213 or CMVSS 213 on the box.

The child seat should be of the

proper type and size to fit the child.

Rear-facing for infants, forwardfacing for small children.

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The child seat should f it the

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3. vehicle seating position (or positions) where it will be used.

Before purchasing a conventional child seat, or using a previously purchased one, we recommend that you test the seat in the specific vehicle seating position or positions where the seat will be used.

Selecting a Child Seat, Installing a Child Seat

Installing a Child Seat

After selecting a proper child seat and a good place to install the seat, there are three main steps in installing the seat:

Properly secure the child seat to

1. the vehicle.

secured to the vehicle with the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt or with the LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) system. A child whose seat is not properly secured to the vehicle can be endangered in a crash.

Make sure the child seat is firmly

2. secured.

seat, push and pull the seat forward and from side-to-side to verify that it is secure.

A child seat secured with a seat belt should be installed as firmly as possible. However, it does not need to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ Some side-to-side

All child seats must be

After installing a child

movement can be expected and should not reduce the child seat’s effectiveness.

If the child seat is not secure, try installing it in a different seating position, or use a diff erent style of child seat that can be firmly secured.

Secure the child in the child seat.

Make sure the child is properly strappedinthechildseat according to the child seat maker’s instructions. A child who is not properly secured in a child seat can be seriously injured in a crash.

The f ollowing pages provide guidelines on how to properly install a child seat. A f orward-facing child seat is used in all examples, but the instructions are the same for rearfacing child seats.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Installing a Child Seat

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Installing a Child Seat with LATCH

MARKS

LOWER ANCHORS

Your vehicle is equipped with LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) at the rear seats. The lower anchors are located between the seat-back and seat bottom, and are to be used only with a child seat designed for use with LATCH. The location of each lower anchor is indicated by a small button above the anchor point.

ANCHOR COVER

To install a LATCH-compatible child seat:

1. pulling forward.

Make sure there are no objects near the anchors that could prevent a secure connection between the child seat and the anchors.

Rigid-type

Place the child seat on the vehicle seat, then attach the seat to the lower anchors according to the child seat maker’s instructions.Remove both anchor covers by

Some LATCH-compatible seats have a rigid-type connector as shown above.

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Installing a Child Seat

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Flexible-type

Other LATCH-compatible seats have a flexible-type connector as shown above.

Whatever type you have, follow the child seat maker’s instructions for adjusting or tightening the fit.

Remove the head restraint (see

page ). Make sure the removed head restraints are secured in the cargo area, and reinstalled when the child seat is removed.

Route the tether strap over the top of the seat-back, making sure the strap is not twisted.

TETHER ANCHOR

ANCHOR COVER

Slide the anchor cover open.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Installing a Child Seat

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TETHER ANCHOR

TETHER STRAP HOOK

Attach the tether strap hook to the

8. tether anchor, then tighten the strap as instructed by the child seat maker. If the tether strap is too long and cannot be tightened firmly, f ind a route where the strap can be tightened securely. Push and pull the child seat

9. forward and from side-to-side to verify that it is secure.

Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/ Shoulder Belt

When not using the LATCH system, all child seats must be secured to the vehicle with the lap part of a lap/ shoulder belt.

In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in all seating positions except the driver’s have a lockable retractor that must be activated to secure a child seat.

With the child seat in the desired seating position, route the belt through the child seat according to the seat maker’s instructions, then insert the latch plate into the buckle.

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Installing a Child Seat

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Driver and Passenger Safety

To activate the lockable retractor, slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all the way out until it stops, then let the belt feed back into the retractor.

After the belt has retracted, tug on

3. it. If the belt is locked, you will not be able to pull it out. If you can pull thebeltout,itisnotlocked,and you will need to repeat these steps.

After confirming that the belt is

4. 5.2. locked, grab the shoulder part of the belt near the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack from the lap part of the belt. Remember, if the lap part of the belt is not tight, the child seat will not be secure.

To remove slack, it may help to putweightonthechildseat,or push on the back of the seat while pulling up on the belt.

Push and pull the child seat forward and from side-to-side to verify that it is secure enough to stay upright during normal driving maneuvers. If the child seat is not secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to retract fully, then repeat these steps.

To deactivate the lockable retractor and remove a child seat, unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let the belt fully retract.

Page 54

Installing a Child Seat

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Installing a Child Seat with a Tether

ANCHOR POINTS

TETHER ANCHOR

A child seat with a tether can be installed in either back seat, using one of the anchor points shown above.

Since a tether can provide additional security to the lap/shoulder belt installation, we recommend using a tether whenever one is required or available.

ANCHOR COVER

After securing the child seat in the desired position (see page ),

remove the head restraint (see

page ), then route the tether strap over the top of the seat-back.

Slide the anchor cover open as shown.

TETHER STRAP HOOK

Attach the tether strap hook to the anchor, making sure the strap is not twisted.

Tighten the strap according to the seat maker’s instructions. Make sure the removed head restraint is secured in the cargo area. Reinstall the head restraint in place when you remove the child seat.

Page 55

Protecting Larger Children

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

When a child reaches the recommended weight or height limit for a forward-facing child seat, the child should sit in a back seat on a booster seat and wear a lap/shoulder belt. The f ollowing pages give instructions on how to check proper seat belt fit, what kind of booster seat to use if one is needed, and important precautions for a child who must sit in front.

Allowing a child age 12 or under to sit in front can result in injury or death if the passenger’s front airbag inflates.

If a child must ride in front, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible, use a booster seat if needed, have the child sit up properly and wear the seat belt properly.

Checking Seat Belt Fit

properly fits a child, have the child put on the seat belt, then ask yourself:

Does the child sit all the way back

1. against the seat?

Do the child’s knees bend

2. comfortably over the edge of the seat?

Does the shoulder belt cross

3. between the child’s neck and arm?

Is the lap part of the belt as low as

4. possible, touching the child’s thighs?

Will the child be able to stay

5. seated like this f or the whole trip?

If you answer yes to all these questions, the child is ready to wear the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a booster seat.To determine if a lap/shoulder belt

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 56

Protecting Larger Children

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Using a Booster Seat When Can a Larger Child Sit in

A child who has outgrown a forwardfacing child seat should ride in a back seat and use a booster seat until the lap/shoulder belt f its them properly without the booster. Some states and Canadian provinces also require children to use a booster seat until they reach a given age or weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be sure to check current laws in the states or provinces where you intend to drive.

Booster seats can be high-back or low-back. Whichever style you select, make sure the booster meets federal safety standards and that you follow the booster seat maker’s instructions.

If a child who uses a booster seat must ride in f ront, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible and be sure the child is wearing the seat belt properly.

A child may continue using a booster seat until the tops of their ears are even with the top of the vehicle’s or booster’s seat-back. A child of this height should be tall enough to use the lap/shoulder belt without a booster seat.

Front

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children aged 12 and under be properly restrained in a back seat.

If the passenger’s front airbag inflates in a moderate to severe frontal collision, the airbag can cause serious injuries to a child who is unrestrained, improperly restrained, sitting too close to the airbag, or out of position.

A side airbag also poses risks. If any part of a larger child’s body is in the path of a deploying side airbag, the child could receive possibly serious injuries.

Page 57

Protecting Larger Children

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Of course, children vary widely. And while age may be one indicator of when a child can safely ride in f ront, there are other important factors you should consider.

Maturity

To safely ride in front, a child must be able to f ollow the rules, including sitting properly, and wearing the seat belt properly throughout a ride.

Physical Size

Physically, a child must be large enough for the lap/shoulder belt to properly fit (see page ). If the seat

belt does not fit properly, with or without the child sitting on a booster seat, the child should not sit in front.

If you decide that a child can safely ride up front, be sure to:

Carefully read the owner’s manual, and make sure you understand all seat belt instructions and all safety information.

Move the vehicle seat to the rearmost position.

Have the child sit up straight, back against the seat, and feet on or near the floor.

Check that the child’s seat belt is properly and securely positioned.

Supervise the child. Even mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten the seat belts or sit properly.

Additional Safety Precautions

Do not let a child wear a seat belt across the neck.

This could result in serious neck injuries during a crash.

Do not let a child put the shoulder part of a seat belt behind the back or under the arm.

This could cause very serious injuries during a crash. It also increases the chance that the child will slide under the belt in a crash and be injured.

Two children should never use the same seat belt.

If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Do not put any accessories on a seat belt.

Devices intended to improve a child’s comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can make the belt less effective and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 58

Carbon Monoxide Hazard

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas. Carbon monoxide should not enter the vehicle in normal driving if you maintain your vehicle properly and follow the information on this page.

Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks whenever:

The vehicle is raised for an oil change.

You notice a change in the sound of the exhaust.

The vehicle was in an accident that may have damaged the underside.

Carbon monoxide gas is toxic. Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and even kill you.

Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that expose you to carbon monoxide.

High levels of carbon monoxide can collect rapidly in enclosed areas, such as a garage. Do not run the engine with the garage door closed. Even with the door open, run the engine only long enough to move the vehicle out of the garage.

With the tailgate or hatch open, air flow can pull exhaust gas into your vehicle’s interior and create a hazardous condition. If you must drive with the tailgate or hatch open, openallthewindowsandsetthe heating and cooling system as shown below.

If you must sit in your parked vehicle with the engine running, even in an unconfined area, adjust the heating and cooling system as follows:

Select the fresh air mode.

1. Select the mode.

2. Turn the fan on high speed.

3. Set the temperature control to a

4. comfortable setting.

Page 59

Safety Labels

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that could cause serious injury or death. Read these labels carefully.

If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except for the U.S. dashboard label which may be removed by the owner), contact your dealer for a replacement.

DASHBOARD

U.S. models only

SUN VISOR

U.S. models

Driver and Passenger Safety

Canadian models

U.S. models only

CONTINUED

Page 60

Safety Labels

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

HOOD

U.S. models Canadian modelsU.S. models

Canadian models

RADIATOR CAP

DOORJAMBS

Page 61

Instruments and Controls

2008 Element

Main Menu

This section gives inf ormation about the controls and displays that contribute to the daily operation of your vehicle. All the essential controls are within easy reach.

...........................Control Locations . 58

............................Instrument Panel . 59

.............................................Gauges . 66

...................................Trip Meter . 66

.....................................Odometer . 66

..................................Fuel Gauge . 67

...................Temperature Gauge . 68

..................Maintenance Minder . 68

Controls Near the Steering

...........................................Wheel . 69

.................Hazard Warning Button . 73

.................Rear Window Def ogger . 73

...............................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

..........Instrument Panel Indicators . 60

..........Check Fuel Cap Message . 67

.Windshield Wipers and Washers . 70

...........Turn Signal and Headlights . 71

........Instrument Panel Brightness . 72

..........Steering Wheel Adjustment . 74

.................................................Seats . 83

........................Seat Adjustments . 83

Driver’s Seat Height

..............................Adjustment . 84

...................FrontSeatArmrests .84

..........................Head Restraints . 85

..........Reclining the Front Seats . 86

...............Folding the Rear Seats . 87

..........Removing the Rear Seats . 89

..............................Power Windows . 91

.............................................Mirrors . 92

.................................Rear Windows . 93

.................................Parking Brake . 93

............................................Skylight . 93

.................................Interior Lights . 96

................................Ceiling Light . 96

.....................................Spotlights . 96

........................Cargo Area Light . 96

..................Ignition Switch Light . 96

...........Interior Convenience Items . 97

.......................Beverage Holders . 98

..........Accessory Power Sockets . 98

....................................Glove Box . 98

......................................Sun Visor . 99

..............................Vanity Mirror . 99

Instruments and Controls

....Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 92

Page 62

Control Locations

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH (P.80)

MIRROR CONTROLS (P.92)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES (P.91)

CRUISE CONTROL MASTER BUTTON (P.135)

A/T model is shown.

＊＊: If equipped

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS (P.134)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P.142)

INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES

(P.66)

(P.59)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST(VSA) SYSTEM ON/OFF SWITCH (P.172)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P.107)

HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS (P.102)

CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS (P. 135)

PARKING BRAKE (P.93)

Page 63

Instrument Panel

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR

(P.60, 236)

LAMP

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR (P.63)

CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR (P.60)

VSA ACTIVATION INDICATOR (P.64)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST(VSA) SYSTEM INDICATOR

(P.64)

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) INDICATOR

＊ The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif ferences for the Canadian models are noted in the text.:

LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR

LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

(P.61)

(P.64)

TPMS INDICATOR

(P.60, 235)

DOOR AND TAILGATE OPEN MONITOR (P.63)

MAINTENANCE MINDER INDICATOR (P.61)

(P.65)

SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR

IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM INDICATOR (P.62)

LIGHT ON INDICATOR

(P.61)

PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR

(P.63)

SEAT BELT REMINDER INDICATOR

(P.60)

CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR

(P.60, 237)

(P.62)

LOW FUEL INDICATOR (P.63)

(P.61)

Instruments and Controls

Page 64

Instrument Panel Indicators

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

The instrument panel has many indicators that give you important information about your vehicle.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

See page .

The engine can be severely damaged if this indicator flashes or stays on when the engine is running. For more information, see page .

If this indicator comes on when the engine is running, the battery is not being charged. For more information, see page .

236

Low Oil Pressure Indicator

235

Charging System Indicator

235

U.S. Canada

This indicator has two functions:

Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe

1. ignition switch to the ON (II) position. It is a reminder to check the parking brake. A beeper sounds if you drive with the parking brake not fully released. Driving with the parking brake not fully released can damage the brakes and tires.

If it remains on after you have

2. fully released the parking brake while the engine is running, or if it comes on while driving, there could be a problem with the brake system. For more information, see

237

page .

Parking Brake and Brake System Indicator (Red)

Seat Belt Reminder Indicator

This indicator comes on when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position. It reminds you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts. A beeper also sounds if you have not fastened your seat belt.

If you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position before fastening your seat belt, the beeper sounds and the indicator flashes. If you do notfastenyourseatbeltbeforethe beeper stops, the indicator stops flashing but remains on.

If your front passenger does not fasten their seat belt, the indicator comes on about 6 seconds after the ignition switch is turned to the ON (II) position.

Page 65

Instrument Panel Indicators

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

If either of you do not fasten your seat belt while driving, the beeper will sound and the indicator will flash again at regular intervals. For more information, see page .

Supplemental Restraint System Indicator

This indicator comes on briefly when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position. If it comes on at any other time, it indicates a potential problem with your front airbags. This indicator will also alert you to a potential problem with your side airbags, passenger’s side airbag cutoff system, side curtain airbags, automatic seat belt tensioners, driver’s seat position sensor, or the front passenger’s weight sensors. For more inf ormation, see page .

U.S.

Canada

Indicator

This indicator comes on when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position. If it comes on at any other time, it indicates that the passenger’s side airbag has automatically shut off. For more information, see page .

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) 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. If it comes on at any other time, there is a problem with the ABS. If this happens, have your vehicle checked at a dealer. With this indicator on, your vehicle still has normal braking ability but no anti-lock function. For more information, see page .

168

Maintenance Minder IndicatorSide Airbag Off

This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position. It remindsyouthatitistimetotake your vehicle in for scheduled maintenance. The maintenance main items and sub items will be displayed in the information display. See page

for more information on the

185

maintenance minder.

This indicator goes of f when your dealer resets it after completing the required maintenance service.

Instruments and Controls

Page 66

Instrument Panel Indicators

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

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 ).

This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignition switch f rom the ON (II) position to the ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0) position.

Turn Signal and Hazard Warning Indicators

The lef t 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 ). Replace the bulb as soon as possible, since other drivers cannot see that you are signaling.

When you press the hazard warning button, both turn signal indicators and all turn signals on the outside of the vehicle flash.

204

‘‘Daytime Running Lights’’ Indicator

Canadian models only

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 in the circuit. Have your vehicle checked by your dealer.

Cruise Control Indicator

This indicator comes on when you set the cruise control. See page

for information on operating the

135

cruise control.

Page 67

Instrument Panel Indicators

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Lights On Indicator

This indicator reminds you that the exterior lights are on. It comes on when the light switch is in either the

or position. If you turn the ignition switch to the ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0) position without turning off the light switch, this indicator will stay on. A reminder chime will also sound when you open the driver’s door.

High Beam Indicator

This indicator comes on with the high beam headlights. For more information, see page .

On Canadian models, this indicator comes on with reduced brightness when the daytime running lights (DRL) are on (see page ).

Washer Level Indicator

Canadian models only

This indicator comes on when the washer fluid level is low. Add washer fluid when you see this indicator come on (see page ).

197

Low Fuel Indicator

LOW FUEL INDICATOR

This indicator comes on as a reminder that you must refuel soon.

When the indicator comes on, there is about 2.8 U.S. gal (10.5

)offuel remaining in the tank bef ore the needle reaches E. There is a small reserve of f uel remaining in the tank when the needle does reach E.

Door and Tailgate Open Monitor

The appropriate indicator comes on in this display if the tailgate or any door is not closed tightly.

All of the indicators in the monitor display come on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position.

Instruments and Controls

Page 68

Instrument Panel Indicators

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Vehicle Stability Assist VSA Activation Indicator

(VSA) System Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position.

Ifitcomesonandstaysonatany 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. Have your vehicle checked by your dealer. Without VSA, your vehicle still has normal driving ability, but will not have VSA traction and stability enhancement. See page for more information on the VSA system.

171

This indicator has three functions:

Itcomesonasareminderthatyou

1. have turned off the vehicle stability assist (VSA) system.

It flashes when VSA is active (see

2. page ).

171

It comes on along with the VSA

3. system indicator if there is a problem with the VSA system.

This indicator normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position. For more information, see page .

171

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 on pressure.

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 ), and have the flat tire repaired as soon as possible. If two or more tires are underinflated, call a professional towing service (see page ). For more information, see page .

222

243

169

Page 69

Tire Pressure Monitoring

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

System (TPMS) Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position.

If this indicator comes on and stays on at any other time, or if it does not come on when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position, there is a problem with the TPMS; the system that monitors tire pressure. With this indicator on, the low tire pressure indicator will not come on when a tire loses pressure. Take the vehicle to your dealer to have the system checked.

Instrument Panel Indicators

Instruments and Controls

Page 70

Gauges

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGETACHOMETER

Trip Meter

This shows the number of miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada) driven since you last reset it.

There are two trip meters: Trip A and Trip B. Switch between these displays by pressing the select/reset knob repeatedly.

SELECT/RESET KNOB

TEMPERATURE GAUGEODOMETER/TRIP METER

Each trip meter works independently, so you can keep track of two diff erent distances.

When you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position, the last selection is displayed.

To reset a trip meter, display it, and then press and hold the select/reset knob until the number resets to ‘‘0.0’’.

Odometer

The odometer shows the total distance your vehicle has been driven. It measures miles in U.S. models and kilometers in Canadian models. It is illegal under U.S. federal law and Canadian provincial regulations to disconnect, reset, or alter the odometer with the intent to change the number of miles or kilometers indicated.

Page 71

Gauges

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Fuel Gauge Check Fuel Cap Message

This shows how much fuel you have. It may show slightly more or less than the actual amount. The needle returns to the bottom after you turn off the ignition.

Avoid driving with an extremely low f uel level. Running out of f uel could cause the engine to misf ire, damaging the catalytic converter.

Your vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system will detect a loose or missing fuel fill cap as an evaporative system leak. The first time a leak is detected a ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’ message appears on the information display.

Turn the engine off, and confirm the fuel fill cap is installed. If it is, loosen it, then retighten it until it clicks at least once. The message should go off after several days of normal driving once you tighten or replace the fuel fill cap. To scroll to another display, press the select/reset knob.

The ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’ message will appear each time you restart the engine until the system turns the message off.

If the system still detects a leak in your vehicle’s evaporative emissions system, the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) comes on. If the fuel fill cap was not already tightened, turn the engine of f, and check or retighten the fuel fill cap until it clicks at least once. The MIL should go off after several days of normal driving once the cap is tightened or replaced. If the MIL does not go of f, have your vehicle inspected by a dealer. For more information, see page .

236

Instruments and Controls

Page 72

Gauges

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Maintenance MinderTemperature Gauge

This shows the temperature of the engine’s coolant. During normal operation, the pointer should rise to about the middle of the gauge. In severe driving conditions, the pointer may rise to the upper zone. If it reaches the red (hot) mark, pull safely to the side of the road. Turn to page f or instructions and

233 185

precautions on checking the engine’s cooling system.

The inf ormation display in the instrument panel shows you the engine oil life and maintenance service items when the ignition switch is in the ON (II) position. This information helps to keep you aware of the periodic maintenance your vehicle needs f or continued troublefree driving. Refer to page for more information.

Page 73

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS (P.71)

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS (P.134)

CRUISE CONTROL MASTER BUTTON (P.135)

VSA OFF SWITCH (P.172)

A/T model is shown.

＊＊To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.1:

2 : If equipped

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS (P.70)

SHIFT LEVER (A/T) (P.161)

Instruments and Controls

＊

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER (P.73)

＊

HORN

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON

(P.74)

CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS

(P.73)STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT

(P.135)

Page 74

Windshield Wipers and Washers

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Windshield Wiper

MIST

OFF

−

INT Intermittent

−

LO Low speed

−

HI High speed

Windshield washers

Push the right lever up or down to select a position.

−

MIST

speed until you release the lever.

OFF

INT

few seconds.

Windshield Washer

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.

The wipers run at high

The wipers are not activated.

−

The wipers operate every

The wipers run at low speed.

−

The wipers run at high speed.

−

Pull the

Rear Window Wiper and Washer

Rotate the switch clockwise to

1. turn the rear window wiper ON. Hold past ON to turn the window

2. wiper on and the window washer on. OFF

3. Rotate the switch

4. counterclockwise and hold to spray the window washer and operate the wiper.

Page 75

Turn Signals and Headlights

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Turn Signal

1. OFF

2. Parking and interior lights

3. Headlights on

4. High Beams

5. Flashhighbeams

Turn Signal Headlights

lever to signal a left turn and up to signal a right turn. To signal a lane change, push lightly on the lever, and hold it. The lever will return to

−−Push down on the

the ‘‘ ’’ position turns on the parking lights, taillights, instrument panel lights, side-marker lights, and

rear license plate lights. center when you release it or complete a turn.

Turning the switch to the ‘‘ ’’

position turns on the headlights.

When the light switch is in the

‘‘ ’’ or ‘‘ ’’ position, the

lights on indicator comes on as a

reminder. This indicator stays on if

you leave the light switch on and

turn the ignition switch to the

ACCESSORY (I) or the LOCK (0)

position.

If you leave the lights on with the

key removed from the ignition

switch, you will hear a reminder

chime when you open the driver’s

door.

Turning the switch to

Instruments and Controls

CONTINUED

Page 76

Turn Signal and Headlights, Instrument Panel Brightness

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

High Beams Daytime Running Lights Instrument Panel Brightness

untilyouhearaclicktoturnonthe high beams. The blue high beam indicator will come on (see page ). Pull the lever back again to low beams.

To flash the high beams, pull the lever back lightly, then release it. The high beams will stay on as long as you hold the lever back.

− Push the lever back

Canadian models only

With the headlight switch of f or in the position, the high beam headlights and the high beam indicator come on with reduced brightness when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position and release the parking brake. They remain on until you turn the ignition switch off, even if you set the parking brake.

The headlights revert to normal operation when you turn them on with the switch.

You can change the instrument panel

brightness only when the light

switch is on.

To adjust the brightness, turn the

knob on the instrument panel.

Page 77

Instrument Panel Brightness, Hazard Warning Button, Rear Window Defogger

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

You will hear a beep when maximum or minimum brightness is reached. You will also hear a beep when the maximum level is canceled by turning the knob a click to the left.

Push the button next to the shift levertoturnonthehazardwarning lights (four-way flashers). This causes all four outside turn signals and both turn indicators in the instrument panel to flash. Use the hazard warning lights if you need to park in a dangerous area near heavy traf fic, or if your vehicle is disabled.

Rear Window DefoggerHazard Warning Button

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 of f

after about 15 minutes. It also shuts

off when you turn of f the ignition

switch. You have to turn the

defogger on again when you restart

the vehicle.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

Page 78

Rear Window Defogger, Steering Wheel Adjustment

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Make sure the rear window is clear and you have good visibility before starting to drive.

Thedefoggerwiresontheinsideof 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 inacrash.

Adjust the steering wheel only when the vehicle is stopped.

To adjust the steering wheel upward

or downward:

Push the lever under the lef t side

1. of the steering column all the way down.

Move the steering wheel up or

2. down to the desired position. Make sure you can see the instrument panel gauges and the indicators.

Page 79

Steering Wheel Adjustment, Keys and Locks

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Push the lever up to lock the

3. steering wheel in that position.

Make sure you have securely

4. locked the steering wheel in place by trying to move it up and down.

Keys and Locks

KEY NUMBER TAG

MASTER KEYS (BLACK)

VALET KEY (LIGHT GRAY)

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.

Youshouldhavereceivedakey number tag with your set of keys. You will need this key number if you ever have to get a key replaced. Use only Honda-approved key blanks.

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Instruments and Controls

Page 80

Keys and Locks, Immobilizer System

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Table Of Contents

Main Menu

These keys contain electronic circuits that are activated by the immobilizer system. They will not work to start the engine if the circuits are damaged.

Protect the keys from direct sunlight, high temperature, and high humidity.

Donotdropthekeysorsetheavy objects on them.

Keep the keys away from liquids. If they get wet, dry them immediately with a soft cloth.

The keys do not contain batteries. Do not try to take them apart.

See page for an explanation of the remote transmitter’s operation.

Immobilizer System

The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from theft. If an improperly-coded key (or other device) is used, the engine’s fuel system is disabled.

When you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position, the immobilizer system indicator should come on for afewseconds,thengooff.Ifthe indicator starts to blink, it means the system does not recognize the coding of the key. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK (0) position, remove the key, reinsert it, and turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position again.

The system may not recognize your key’s coding if another immobilizer key or other metal object (i.e. key fob) is near the ignition switch when you insert the key.

If the system repeatedly does not recognize the coding of your key, contact your dealer.

Do not attempt to alter this system or add other devices to it. Electrical problems could result that may make your vehicle undrivable.

If you have lost your key and cannot start the engine, contact your dealer.

Always take the ignition key with you whenever you leave the vehicle alone.

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Immobilizer System, Remote Transmitter

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Main Menu

As required by the FCC: This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmf ul interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This device complies with Industry Canada Standard RSS-210. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Remote Transmitter

LED LOCK

UNLOCK BUTTON

LOCK

−

Press this button once to

BUTTON

PANIC BUTTON

lock both doors and hatch. Some exterior lights will flash. When you push LOCK twice within 5 seconds, you will hear a beep to verify that the doors are locked. You cannot lock it if any door is not fully closed or key is in the ignition switch.

−

UNLOCK

Pressthisbuttononce to unlock the driver’s door. Push it twice to unlock the passenger’s door and the hatch. Some exterior lights will flash twice each time you press the button. If you do not open either door or the hatch within 30 seconds, they will automatically relock.

Pressthisbuttonfor

PANIC

−

about 1 second to attract attention; thehornwillsoundandtheexterior lights will flash f or about 30 seconds. To cancel panic mode, press any other button on the remote transmitter, or turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position.

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Instruments and Controls

Page 82

Remote Transmitter

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Remote Transmitter Care

Avoid dropping or throwing the transmitter. Protect the transmitter from extreme temperature. Do not immerse the transmitter in any liquid. If you lose a transmitter, the replacement needs to be reprogrammed by your dealer.

Replacing the Transmitter Battery

ROUND COVER

BATTERY

If it takes several pushes on the button to lock or unlock the doors and the hatch, replace the battery as soon as possible.

Battery type: CR2025

To replace the battery, remove the round cover on the back of the transmitter by turning it counterclockwise with a coin. Insert a new battery with the side facing

＋

up, and reinstall the cushion ring. Align the mark on the cover with the mark on the

▽

◎

transmitter. Set the cover in place andturnitclockwise.

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Remote Transmitter, Ignition Switch

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

Ignition Switch

The ignition switch has four positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY (I), ON (II), and START (III).

You can insert or

LOCK (0)

−

remove the key only in this position. To turn the key, push it in slightly. If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the shift lever must also be in park.

If the front wheels are turned, the anti-theft lock may make it dif ficult to turn the key. Firmly turn the steering wheel to the left or right as you turn the key.

You can

ACCESSORY (I)

−

operate the audio system and the accessory power sockets in this position.

This is the normal key

ON (II)

−

position when driving. Several of the indicators on the instrument panel come on as a test when you turn the ignition switch from the ACCESSORY (I) to the ON (II) position.

Use this position

START (III)

−

only to start the engine. The switch returns to the ON (II) position when you let go of the key.

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Instruments and Controls

Page 84

Ignition Switch, Door Locks

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

You will hear a reminder beeper if you leave the key in the LOCK (0) or the ACCESSORY (I) position and open the driver’s door. Remove the key to turn off the beeper.

If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the shift lever must be in Park before you can remove the key from the ignition switch.

Removing the key from the ignition switch while driving locks the steering. This can cause you to lose control of the vehicle.

Remove the key from the ignition switch only when parked.

Power Door Locks

DOOR LOCK SWITCH

LOCK TAB

To lock all of the doors and hatch, press the door lock switch on the driver’s door, or press the lock tab down on the driver’s door, or use the keyontheoutsidelock.Pressingup on the door lock switch will unlock all of the doors and the hatch.

The lock tab on the passenger’s door locks and unlocks only that door. Pulling up on the driver’s door lock tab only unlocks the driver’s door.

To lock the driver’s door, remove the key from the ignition switch, pull the outside door handle and push the lock tab down or push the door lock switch down. Release the handle, then close the door.

To unlock the driver’s door from the outside, turn the key and release it.

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Door Locks

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Main Menu

door handle located in the rear door edge. The rear door can be opened only when the front door is open.

To close the doors, close the rear door first, then the front door. The front door cannot be latched without first closing the rear door. Closing the rear door on the front door will damage both doors.

HatchRear Doors

UNLOCK

LOCK

To lock or unlock the hatch.To open the rear door, pull the rear

Useyourmasterkeytolockand unlock the hatch. Turn the key counterclockwise to lock the hatch, and clockwise to unlock it.

Lock the hatch by pushing down the lock tab on the driver’s door (see page ), or by using the

master key in the driver’s door lock.

Lock or unlock the hatch with the master door lock switch.

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Instruments and Controls

Page 86

Door Locks

2008 Element

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Main Menu

With the hatch unlocked, open it by pulling the handle and lifting up. To close the hatch, lower it, then press down on the back edge.

When both the hatch and tailgate are open, the hatch cannot be latched without first closing the tailgate.

Tailgate

Youcanopenthetailgateonlywhen the hatch is open. To open the tailgate, slide the lock lever to the left and swing down the tailgate. To close the tailgate, lift it up and push it firmly until it latches.

Before closing the tailgate, make sure the hatch is raised. Closing the tailgate on the lowered hatch can damage the hatch and the tailgate.

See page for information on cargo loading. Keep the tailgate and the hatch closed at all times while driving to avoid damaging them, and to prevent exhaust gas from getting into the interior. See

Monoxide Hazard

152

Carbon

on page .

Page 87

Seats

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Seat Adjustments

−See pages for important safety

13 15

information and warnings about how to properly position seats and seat-backs.

Make all seat adjustments before you start driving.

Front Seat

To adjust the seat forward and backward, pull up on the bar under the seat cushion’s front edge. Try to movetheseattomakesureitis locked in position.

Instruments and Controls

To change the seat-back angle of the front seat, pull up on the lever on the outside of the seat bottom. Adjust theseat-backandmakesureitlocks into position.

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Seats

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Driver’s Seat Height Adjustment Front Seat Armrests

To adjust the height of the driver’s seat, turn the dial on the outside of the seat bottom.

On EX model

Each front seat has an armrest on thesideoftheseat-back.Touseit, pivotitdown.

Rear Seat

SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP

To change the angle of the rear seatback, pull the strap at the inside edge of the seat cushion, make sure the seat-back locks into position.

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Seats

2008 Element

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Main Menu

Head Restraints

See page for important safety information and a warning about improperly positioning head restraints.

RELEASE BUTTON

Your vehicle is equipped with head restraints in all seating positions to help protect you and your passengers from whiplash and other injuries.

They are most effective when you adjust them so the center of the back of the occupant’s head rests against the center of the restraint.

The head restraints in the front and rear seating positions adjust f or height. You need both hands to adjust the restraint. To raise it, pull upward. To lower the restraint, push the release button sideways and push the restraint down.

Failure to reinstall the head restraints can result in severe injury during a crash.

Always replace the head restraints before driving.

Instruments and Controls

Page 90

Seats

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Reclining the Front Seats

You can recline the seat-backs on the front seats so they are level with the rear seat cushions, making a large cushioned area. To do this:

Remove the head restraints from

1. the front seats (see page ), and store them in the side pockets of the cargo area.

Adjust the front seats forward as

2. far as possible. Pull up the seatback angle adjustment lever and pivot the seat-back backward until it is level with the rear seat cushion.

Move the front seat backward until it touches the rear seat.

Adjust the rear seat-back to the desired position.

Reverse this procedure to return the front and rear seats to the upright position. Make sure you install the head restraints and the seats are locked securely before driving.

When you return the seat-back to its upright position, hold the seat-back to keep it from going up too quickly.

Page 91

Seats

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Folding the Rear Seats

To create more cargo space, you can fold up each rear seat to each side wall separately.

Lower the head restraint to its

1. lowest position.

SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP

Pull the seat-back adjustment

2. strap at the inside edge of the seat cushion and push the seat-back backward as far as it will go.

RELEASE STRAP

Pull the release strap on the seat

3. support, and pivot the seat toward the vehicle’s side wall.

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Instruments and Controls

Page 92

Seats

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

GRAB RAIL

FASTENING STRAP

A fastening strap is attached to the

4. inside of the seat cushion. While pushing the seat up and toward thesidewall,hookthefastening straptothegrabrail.

SEAT SUPPORT

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.

Page 93

Removing the Rear Seats

2008 Element

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Main Menu

Seats

RELEASE STRAP

Both seats can be removed to give more cargo capacity. To remove a seat:

Pull the release strap on the seat support to unlock the seat support.

TAB

COVER

Remove the cover between the seat cushion and the side wall by pulling the tab and pulling the cover straight up.

STEEL HANDLELOCK LEVER

3.2.

Push the lock lever forward to unlock the seat.

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Instruments and Controls

Page 94

Seats

2008 Element

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Main Menu

STEEL HANDLE

HANDLE STRAP

Hold the steel handle next to the

4. lock lever and the handle strap at the outside edge of the seat cushion, and remove the entire seat by pulling it up and backward.

Reverse this procedure to reinstall the seat. Make sure the seats are securely locked in place bef ore driving.

Always remove an unsecured seat from the vehicle before driving. A seat that is not locked in place could be thrown about and cause injury in a sudden stop or crash.

Page 95

Power Windows

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

DRIVER’S WINDOW SWITCH

MAIN SWITCH

Turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position to raise or lower either window. To open the window, push the switch down and hold it. Release the switch when you want the window to stop. Pull back on the switchandholdittoclosethe window.

Closing a power window on someone’s hands or fingers can cause serious injury.

Make sure your passenger is away from the window before closing it.

AUTO

−

To open/close the driver’s window, push the window switch firmly down or up to the second detent, and release it. The window will automatically go up or down all the way. To stop the window, pull/ push on the window switch briefly.

If the MAIN switch is OFF, the passenger’s window cannot be raised or lowered. Keep the MAIN switch offwhenyouhavechildreninthe vehicle so they do not injure themselves by operating the passenger’s window unintentionally.

AUTO REVERSE

−

If the driver’s window senses any obstacle while it is closing automatically, it will reverse direction, and then stop. To close the window, remove the obstacle, then use the window switch again. If your vehicle’s battery is disconnected or goes dead, or the driver’s window fuse is removed, the AUTO function may be disabled. If this happens, the power window system will need to be reset after reconnecting the battery or installing the fuse.

Start the engine. Push down and hold the driver’s window switch until the window is fully open.

Pull and hold the driver’s window switch to close the window completely, then hold the switch for about 2 seconds.

If the power windows do not operate properly af ter resetting, have your vehicle checked by your dealer.

Instruments and Controls

Page 96

Mirrors

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

TAB

Keeptheinsideandoutsidemirrors clean and adjusted for best visibility. Be sure to adjust the mirrors before you start driving.

The inside mirror has day and night positions. The night position reduces glare from headlights behind you. Flip the tab on the bottom edge of the mirror to select the day or night position.

Adjusting the Power Mirrors

SELECTOR SWITCH

ADJUSTMENT SWITCH

Turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position.

Move the selector switch to L (driver’s side) or R (passenger’s side).

Push the appropriate edge of the adjustment switch to move the mirrorright,left,up,ordown.

When you finish, move the selector switch to the center (off) position. This turns the adjustment switch off to keep your settings.

Page 97

Rear Windows, Parking Brake, Skylight

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Parking BrakeRear Windows Skylight

PARKING BRAKE LEVER

Instruments and Controls

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.

To 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 ).60

Driving the vehicle with the parking brake applied can damage the rear brakes and axles.

If equipped

Toliftuptherearoftheskylightfor ventilation, pull down the lever to unlock the skylight, then push it up until the skylight is locked in the tiltup position.

To close the skylight, pull down the lever to unlock the skylight, then push it back in place. Make sure the skylight is f ully closed and locked.

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Page 98

Skylight

2008 Element

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

If you try to tilt up the skylight in below-f reezing temperatures, or when it is covered with snow or ice, you can damage it.

Bef ore lif ting the skylight, make sure the roof of the vehicle is dry. Rain or remaining water after car-washing may get into the frame of the skylight. In winter, remove the buildup of snow on the roof .

To remove the skylight:

Turn of f the engine, and set the parkingbrake.Thenpulldownthe lever, squeeze both sides of the pivot while pushing up the red tab in the lever, and pull the lever assembly away from the ceiling.

Push up the rear of the skylight. Standing on the tailgate with the hatch down, hold both sides of the skylight and pull it toward you to remove it from the vehicle roof.

The maximum weight on the tailgate is 440 lbs (200 kg).

Page 99

An unsecured skylight can be

2008 Element

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Main Menu

thrown about and cause serious injury in a sudden stop or crash.

Make sure to store the skylight in its bag, and secure the bag to the hooks on the cargo area floor.

Skylight

Instruments and Controls

With the rear seats in their upright position, store the skylight, face down in its bag in the cargo area. Secure the bag with four hooks on the cargo area f loor. Do not store anything on top of the skylight.

To reinstall the skylight, make sure the air deflector is pushed down. When reinstalling the lever assembly, push in both red pivots, and align with the receptacle holes. Let the pivots move out until they rest in the holes securely. Make sure the skylight is f ully closed and latched.

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Interior Lights

2008 Element

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Main Menu

Ceiling Light Spotlights Cargo Area Light

OFF

DOOR ACTIVATED

The ceiling light has a three-position switch: ON, Door Activated, and OFF. In the Door Activated (center) position, the light comes on when you:

Open any door. Remove the key from the ignition. If you do not open a door, the light fades out in about 30 seconds. Unlock the doors with the key or remote transmitter.

On EX and SC models

Turn on the spotlight by pushing the lens. Push the lens again to turn it off . You can use the spotlights at all times.

The cargo area light has a threeposition switch. In the center position, the light comes on when you open the hatch.

Ignition Switch Light

The ignition switch light comes on when you unlock the driver’s door, and fades out about 30 seconds after you close the door.